90 FIELD CROPS 



desirable. It is often sown in low places that can not be 

 seeded early in the season. The seed bed for fodder corn 

 should be prepared in the same manner as for corn that is 

 grown for ears. Fodder corn is usually planted in single or 

 double drills from 36 to 44 inches apart, at the rate of from 20 

 to 50 pounds to the acre. It may be planted at almost any 

 time in the season up to midsummer, but it is desirable to 

 plant it early enough so that the plants can practically reach 

 maturity before frost. 



As fodder corn is usually planted later in the season than 

 field corn, it grows very rapidly and quickly shades the 

 ground. It is therefore not generally necessary to give 

 much cultivation. It is a very common practice to harrow 

 the field after it is planted and then cultivate it two or three 

 times until the corn shades the ground sufficiently to check 

 the growth of weeds and retard the evaporation of moisture. 



105. Harvesting. Fodder corn is commonly harvested 

 with a corn binder when the crop shows, either by the small 

 ears that it may have produced or by the drying of the 

 leaves, that it is practically mature. If the weather is 

 exceedingly wet, it is sometimes necessary to shock first in 

 small shocks and later to put two or three of the small shocks 

 into one larger one. In shocking, it is desirable to employ 

 some system. It is a good plan to set up two pairs of bundles, 

 all leaning together, then to set bundles around these in a 

 systematic manner until from 12 to 24 have been put into 

 the shock. Care should be used to put approximately the 

 same number of bundles on each side and to set them up 

 firm and snug so that the shock will be evenly balanced and 

 will stand straight. The shocks should be tied securely 

 near the top to help in keeping out the rain and to prevent 

 them from being blown down. 



