308 FEEDING ANIMALS. 



But it is not necessary to success in this method of feed- 

 ing the corn crop to steam it ; for cutting, in the manner 

 mentioned, secures the remastication of every part, and 

 the cutter reduces the cob to so thin a scale that it can be 

 easily masticated. 



This system of feeding the corn crop will enable the 

 farmer to shock the crop while the stalks are still green ; 

 and thus the fodder will have thrice the value of stalks 

 standing on the hill with the life dried out of them. As 

 soon as the corn is sufficiently matured as not to spoil 

 in the shock, it should be cut and bound in small 

 shocks, so as to be easily handled when brought to 

 barn for cutting and feeding. If the corn is cut by hand, 

 it would be most convenient to bind in moderate-sized 

 bundles, and set these in shocks. These bundles would be 

 run through the cutter whole, and thus save time in han- 

 dling. The earlier the corn is cut, the more valuable will 

 be the fodder ; and corn does not require to be so far ad- 

 vanced in ripening as farmers usually suppose before it can 

 be safely put in shock. When the kernel is in the dough 

 state, it may safely be shocked if the weather is favor- 

 able. We have had corn ripen properly in shock when cut 

 in the milk, the butts being placed on moist ground. This 

 is a matter of the greatest importance; for the fodder, 

 when cut at the proper time, has a value nearly equal to 

 common hay; and after the corn has stood to fully ripen 

 on the hill the stalks have little value as food. When cut 

 early, the stalks make sufficient fodder to be given to fat- 

 tening cattle with the grain growing on the same ground, 

 and the cost of feeding is, therefore, much reduced. 



MODE OF CUTTING AND HANDLING. 



The straw-cutter should be arranged with a carrier, 

 which will deliver the chaff and corn in a feeding-car upon 

 the feeding-floor in the stable below. Over the feeding-car 



