HARVESTING. 109 



says:'^ "Where they [the legs] join the main 

 piece, as shown at a in Fig. 35, 1 have nailed on 

 some light strips in such a way as to form a 

 little cage or box in which corn ties are carried, 

 each one with its string snugly wound on its 

 block." The stalks are placed against the corn 

 horse, when the cross stick forms four corners, 

 and the shock is built here. When it is com- 

 pleted the cross stick is pulled out, after which 

 the horse is withdirawn. . 



Tying the shocks. — After the shock is formed 

 it is tied near the top. A rope with a .pulley 

 on one end may be used to advantage for draw- 

 ing the cornstalks together tightly near the 

 top, after which the tie may be placed on the 

 shock. Rye straw cut in the bloom makes ex- 

 cellent tie bands. Cornstalks themselves are 

 too brittle. Binding twine is strong enough, 

 but m£(,y be cut by mice. Tarred twine is 

 strong and is not cut by mice, and may be 

 rapidly tied so as not to slip. When economy 

 is to be considered rye straw is about as satis- 

 factory a cheap tie as can be secured. In 

 Western New York willow twigs are popular 

 bauds. 



Stacking.— To stack to best advantage, or to 

 handle on the wagon or elsewhere, the corn 

 should be placed in small bundles and tied at 

 the center after curing in the shock. If string 



*Amencan Aqrk,\Munst^ Sept. 1,-1894. 



