254 FIELD CROPS FOR THE COTTON-BELT 



event, however, the quahty of the forage would be very 

 poor. 



The Alabama Station has investigated the yields of 

 corn from different methods of harvesting with the results 

 shown in the following table: 



Table 24. Yields to the Acre op Corn from Different 

 Methods of Harvesting ' 



307. Yields of forage by different methods of harvest- 

 ing com. — The decrease in yield of grain due to pulling 

 the blades or cutting the tops from corn is not the only 

 objectional feature about these methods. They are slow, 

 laborious and expensive methods of securing forage. The 

 yield of forage to the acre seldom justifies the expenditure 

 in labor. With the present advance in the price of 

 farm labor, it is quite, evident that corn-growers can 

 no longer adhere to these unprofitable practices. The 

 same amount of time expended in growing and har- 

 vesting hay crops will be much more remunerative. 

 Yields of cured corn tops, stover and blades from the 

 different methods of harvesting are reported by the 

 Alabama Station: 



1 Ala. Agr. Exp. Sta., Bui. 134, p. 190. 



