230 CORN CROPS 



and as nearly as possible, all air must be excluded. 



Corn too mature cannot be packed closely enough, 

 though sprinkling with water and 

 careful tramping will allow the 

 ensilaging of corn even when more 

 than half the ears might be con- 

 sidered ripe. As a general rule, 

 when the husks have mostly 

 turned yellow, and two to four 

 bottom leaves have turned, is the 



Fig. 75. — A modern silage ,. 



cutter, with blower at- proper time. 



tachment, for delivering Good silagc Contains about 75 



the cut silage. ^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^^^ ^^^ j^ j^ Jo^btful 



whether it would be practicable to ensile corn containing 

 less than 65 per cent moisture. 



METHODS OF HARVESTING 



157. The four methods of harvesting maize are as fol- 

 lows : — 



1. Stripping: leaves removed while green for forage, 

 and ears husked later. 



2. Topping : tops cut off above ear for forage, and ears 

 husked later. 



3. Ears only harvested, stalks left in field. 



4. Entire plant harvested for silage or fodder. 



Harvesting by hand 



158. Stripping and topping are practiced in the belief 

 that in this way the forage may be obtained while 

 green and in the right condition to harvest, while the 

 ears are allowed to remain and mature. It has been 



