INCIDENTAL CARE AND MANAGEMENT 



all the side shoots, in order that the remain- 

 ing corn may derive the full benefit from 

 the growth of the plant. It has been found 

 after many years of investigation that 

 where suckering is carried on, the plant 

 responds to this suckering in the production 

 of more marketable ears of corn to the 

 acre. It would then seem necessary, in 

 order to have increased yields, to carry on 

 the process. 



The general tendency with most men 

 when working through the corn field with 

 the hand hoe, as they come to a hill of 

 corn and find side shoots developing at 

 the base of the corn, is to grasp these 

 shoots firmly in the hand, and with a 

 side jerk to separate them froni the main 

 stalk. This work is called suckering. 

 Sometimes it is practical to use these 

 suckered stalks by feeding them to farm 

 animals. However, it entails some labor 

 to collect the stalks and carry them away, 

 and with the majority of farmers, they are 

 allowed to lie on the ground and wither. 

 Later, they are cultivated into the soil. 



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