462 



MAIZE 



CHAP. United States, the following figures were obtained, as to cost 

 and efficiency of picking by hand ; — 



Yield of maize on the ear, average per acre .... 44 bushels. 



Average quantity picked per man per day, 59 bushels, or at 70 lbs. 



per bushel of unshelled maize ...... 4i I 3° lbs. 



Cost per bushel for picking maize by hand, average . . . 3J cents, ifd. 



435. Cutting Maize by Hand. — A common method of 

 harvesting maize in the United States is to cut the stalks by 

 hand, close to the ground. The implement first used for 

 corn-cutting was the hoe, but as this was rather heavy and 

 awkward, the more progressive farmers substituted the corn 



Fig. i6g. — Harvested ears of maize carried to the headland ready for shelling. 



knife. At first this was made from scythe blades, but these 

 have been largely replaced by various sizes and shapes of 

 factory-made knives. A short-handled, short-bladed scythe- 

 like corn hook is much used in the States. In Natal the cane 

 knife (Fig. 1 70) used by the coolies for cutting sugar-cane is 

 now largely employed for maize-cutting, and its use has ex- 

 tended to the Transvaal. This tool is so constructed that the 

 weight of the falling knife is almost sufficient to sever a stalk, 

 which facilitates rapid work. 



In America one man is able to cut and shock by hand 

 about 34 shocks, 12 hills square, or nearly \\ acres of corn a 



