CORN OR MAIZE 77 



only the grain is desired, the most common practice 

 of harvesting is that of husking the ears by hand from the 

 standing stalk. Usually the ears are thrown directly 

 into a wagon which accompanies one or two huskers. In 

 a field of good corn one man, depending of course upon 

 the individual, can husk and haul to the crib from 50 to 90 

 bushels per day. A machine has been placed on the 

 market that will husk the corn from the standing stalk, 

 and by means of a conveyor deliver the ears into a wagon 

 driven along beside the husker. A husker of this sort 

 requires six or eight horses to pull it. The machine 

 has not been regarded as a satisfactory one, and can only 

 be used in very large fields where few turns are necessary. 

 The machine is not in common use even among the growers 

 who harvest a large acreage. 



Sometimes the grower uses not only the ears, but also 

 the leaves and stalks. Corn fodder is the corn plant 

 cut off near the ground and consists of the stalk, ear, and 

 leaves. If, after cutting, the ears are husked out, the 

 leaves and stalks are called corn stover. Corn may be 

 cut either by hand or by means of corn cutting machinery. 

 The number of hills put into one shock varies from 100' to 

 144 or more. The cutting may be done by means of a 

 sled with a knife on either side, and drawn by a horse 

 walking between the two rows that are being cut. Two 

 men stand on the sled and catch the corn as it is cut off 

 by the knife. When they have secured an armful, the 

 horse is stopped while the fodder is set up into a shock 

 behind the sled. When the corn is down badly, this 

 method of cutting cannot be employed. Another type 

 of cutter, which is equipped with a large platform, permits 

 the shock to be set up on the platform, and when completed 

 is transferred by means of a lever to the ground behind 



