256 FIELD CROPS FOR THE COTTON-BELT 



ears and leaving the leaves and stalks to be subsequently 

 pastured or to be plowed into the soil, is highly commend- 

 able. The ears may be husked directly from the standing 

 stalks and thrown into a wagon at the same operation. 

 A "throwboard" about 3Q inches high should be put on 

 the wagon-box on the side opposite the husker. This 



Fig. 40. — Corn harvesting tools: 1, corn hook; 2 and 3, corn knives; 

 4, a sled cutter; 5, cutter having wheels substituted for the runners 

 and equipped with a seat. 



is the method most generally used throughout the corn- 

 belt states. 



310. Hand methods of cutting com. — When cutting 

 and shocking is resorted to in the cotton-belt the cutting 

 is usually done by hahd. Various types of hand cutters 

 are used. The short-handled hoe probably came into 

 use first. Later various types of corn knives and corn 

 "hooks" were used. Some of these simple devices are 

 shown in Fig. 40. Where the area to cut does not exceed 

 twenty acres or where the corn is very tall, hand-cutting 



