78 



FIELD CROP PRODUCTION 



the cutter. The corn binder now in general use cuts and 

 binds the fodder into bundles which are dropped off on 

 the ground, and later set up into shocks. The time of 

 cutting in order to secure the best yield of both grain and 

 stover is when the husks are dry and from one-third to 

 one-half of the leaves are still green. If cut before this 

 time, the feeding value is not so great, due to immaturity ; 



FIG. 22. Harvesting corn with a corn binder. 



and if cut much later, many of the leaves will drop off 

 during the cutting. When the ears only are desired, they 

 should be left on the stalk until fully mature. If removed 

 before maturity, all of the starch will not be transferred 

 from the leaves to the ear, and thus they will not have as 

 great a feeding value as when fully mature. 



Many corn growers do not husk out the ears after 

 cutting but feed the fodder to cattle, supplying them with 

 both roughage and grain. In almost all cases the ears 

 are husked out and fed separately from the stover. The 



