corn-shocker

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. In agriculture, a horse-power machine for cutting standing Indian corn, gathering and binding the stalks into shocks, and depositing the shocks in an upright position upon the ground; a corn-harvester. It consists of a strong platform, mounted on wheels and fitted with machinery for cutting, gathering, bunching, and binding the stalks into an upright shock that stands upon the platform. Attached to the platform is a crane which, when the shock is bound and tied, can be used to lift it, swing it to one side, set it upon the ground, release the lifting apparatus, and return it to its position ready to lift the next shock. The machine is drawn by two horses and operated by one man, the forward movement of the machine, as in other harvesters, serving to move all the machinery except the crane, which is operated by hand. If desired, the shock when gathered can be transported on the machine to another place to leave the field clear for plowing.