CORN HARVESTING 191 



An improvement consists in throwing the corn directly 

 into the wagon as it is pulled. This is more readily done 

 if a " throw-board," or side-board, 2 to 3 feet high, is placed 

 on top of the side of the wagon-body farthest from the men. 

 This necessitates loading the wagon from but one side 

 and keeps the ears from being thrown beyond the wagon 

 (Fig. 92). 



The wagon should also have a hind-gate that is readily 

 removable so as to permit the use of a grain shovel in 

 unloading the ears. 



When it is advisable to husk the corn as it is pulled from 

 the stalk, a husking-pin, buckled to the hand, is helpful. 

 The shucking of the corn before storing it is probably 

 useful in reducing the number of weevil introduced into 

 the crib. 



177. Stripping the blades. — In order that the forage 

 or " fodder," for which the blades are sometimes used, 

 may be of good quality, the blades are usually stripped 

 while most of the leaves are still green. The effect is to 

 reduce the jdeld of grain. The loss, as shown in many 

 tests, averaged nearly three bushels per acre. This reduc- 

 tion in yield of corn is due to the fact that some of the 

 material in the green leaf, if it had been left on the plant, 

 would have been carried in the circulation of the plant to 

 the ear, which is not mature at the time of " fodder pull- 

 ing." 



Another objection to the common custom of puUing fod- 

 der is the cost of the labor. The usual yield of cured leaves 

 ranges between 300 and 600 pounds per acre, or about 

 one fourth as many pounds of dry leaves as of shelled grain. 

 Fodder pulling is slow and extremely disagreeable work. 



