TIME AID METHOD OF HARVESTING 193 



Time of Harvesting. The season has much to do in pro- 

 longing the ripening period. A damp, cold autumn keeps the foliage 

 green and sappy. Early drought hastens the curing of the stalk and 

 leaves, and matures the ears. The effect of frosts is marked when 

 the freezing is severe. Early varieties which are intended for immed- 

 iate feeding may be husked before October ist in most sections of 

 the corn belt. 



Immature, sappy corn will mold because of the large amount of 

 moisture present. Corn husked in damp weather requires more aera- 

 tion than when the atmosphere is dry and windy. To insure safe 

 storage, October 20th to 25th is early enough. 



THE COMMON METHOD OF HUSKING CORN FROM THE FIELD. 

 One man with team and wagon gathers two rows each trip through the field. 



Method of Harvesting. Husking by hand is the chief means of 

 gathering the bulk of the corn crop. One man, with wagon and team, 

 will average 70 bushels per day in corn yielding 50 bushels per acre. 

 Larger averages are made by many farmers in high-yielding fields. 

 When no snow is on the ground and the husker is careful, very few 

 ears are left in the field. Corn that has blown down badly can be 

 gathered only by this method. 



From time to time different patented machines have been manu- 

 factured for the purpose of harvesting corn in the ear. Most of them 

 have proved very impracticable and wasteful. Where corn stands 

 up well and the rows are of sufficient length to justify the use, the 

 present cornhusker is a decided success. Besides the man to operate 



