HARVESTING THE CORN CROP 229 



the ear, so that in the fully matured corn crop, under 

 normal conditions, between 60 and 70 per cent of the 

 digestible nutrients will be in the ears. 



This ratio would not apply to corn planted thick for 

 silage, when the proportion of stover is increased without 

 decreasing the yield of ears. 



There is also considerable increase in total weight 

 between the time the ears are glazed and the time when 

 they are ripe, usually amounting to about 10 per cent. 

 The value of stover obtained must be decreased by what- 

 ever loss is occasioned by early harvesting. Charging 

 this loss against the stover, it would appear that the total 

 feeding value of the crop is increased about 25 per cent by 

 harvesting the stover when the ears are glazed, in com- 

 parison with allowing the crop to mature and harvesting 

 only the ears. 



In conclusion, corn should be permitted to become as 

 nearly mature before harvesting as is practicable. As 

 pointed out heretofore (page 227), two-thirds of the value 

 of the stover is in the leaves, and it is therefore important 

 to save these. In a humid climate, with fall rains, it is 

 often possible to allow corn to stand until most of the 

 ears are mature before cutting ; but in a region with dry 

 falls and windy weather the harvesting must be done 

 seven to ten days earlier, if the leaves are to be saved. 



TIME or HARVESTING FOR SILAGE 



156. When the silo first came into use, the custom was 

 to use very immature material. It was found in time 

 that silage from mature corn was better in quality and the 

 yield was greater. There is a hmit, however, in this 

 direction. Silage, in order to keep well, must pack closely, 



