The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1884-10-03
The Egis & Intelligencer
Bel Air, Nd, October 3, 1884.
A Visit TO Hyde's Canning Factory.
A Clean and Well Conducted Cannery.
Careful Packing is the Secret eft Mr..
HYde's Success.

by special invitation a number of gentlemen
from Baltimore city, Towsontown and Bel Air
visited the canning factory Of Messrs. s. N.
Hyde u Sons, at Hyde station, Maryland Central
Railroad. The genial proprietor met his guests
at the cars and escorted them through the build.
ings, explaining the entire process of canning
the famous Egyptian sweet corn.
The buildings consist of huskng shed 32
feet square; the factory and warehouse 100 by 32
feet, two stories in height; an extra warehouse,
- feet square, also two stories high, and neat,
comfortable quarters for hands.
The process of canning does not differ materi.
ally from that practced in other factories, with
which nearly every body in Hartford is familiar.
The first thing that strikes the visitor however,
is the ncatuess of the surroundings, and the per-
feet cleanliness of every part of the factory.
Everything is rs tidy and clean as well order
ed kitchen, and there is notable absence Of of
fcnsiye smells
After the corn is husked as much of The silk
as possible is removed by means of broom corn
brushes. 1t is then carried into the factory.
Here ii is sorted ear by ear into two grades,
thereby insuring uniformity unattainable in
any other way. Upon the first grade, when
packed, Mr. Hyde places his well.known label,
which is guarantee of its superiorqualty. The
second grade, which is also excellent corn, is
named the "a. Hazen" brand, as compliment
to his daughter, Miss Annie Hazen Hyde. The
cutting is done in the usual manner, BY women
and girls, who are ranged in front of long ia
bes. Some of them are very expeditions in
their movements, one of them cutting at the
rate of IL ears of corn minute. The cutters
make from 81 to So day. The hands are most
ly Germans. They are Clearly, orderly, good.
humored set, and frequently relieve the drudg-
cry of their work by singing Moody and Sanky
hymns. Some of them have sweet voices and
sing the different parts with precision.
During the height OF the season 125 hands are
employed, but on Monday only about one-half
that number were at work as the season was
drawing to close. Mr.. Hyde finished on We'd
ncsday. He began canning on the goth of June.
After the corn is cut 1t is again sked by means
of n Hopkins silking machine, which consists
of hopper, with series of screens and wires 10
TO catch any portions of husk or silk that may
be in the corn.
The machinery used consists first of SPLEEN
did fifty -horse power boiler erected by Messrs.
Thomas g. Basshor Il Co., of Baltimore. The
water for this and for the various operations in
the factory is supplied from tank holding 5000
gallons, which is fed by natural flow from a
spring of deliciously cool, soft water, three
quarters OF mile distant. The process kettles
are of the Shriver patent. The processing is
done by hot water instead of steam. Mr.. A. G.
Sweet, of Annapolis, is the engineer, and Mr..
John Salszig has charge of the processing. Mr..
VIM. E. Nichols is the assistant manager in the
canning house.
Mr. Hyde attributes his success III obtaining
fancy prices for his goods, nearly double the
market rates, to the fact that the utmost care is
exercised from the planting of the seed to the
shipment of the goods to their destination.
Every detail is under his constant personal SUI
pervision. Under his system very great guam
tty can not be put up. MIR. Eyde's pack this
year is 10, 900 cases of corn and 600 cases of to-
matoes. The cases used are neatly made, the
wood being smooth and free of knots, and the
labels are also attractive. Each can contains
directions for opening and cooking the contents.
Mr.. Hyde has shipped away the greater part of
his present pack, and was engaged on Monday,
in loading cars to complete an order for $500
cases for Parker Il Tilford, OF New York. lie
has already sold his entire corn pack of next
year at prices much above the ordinary prospec
tive figures.
After going through all the buildings, Mr.
Hyde invited his friends to accompany him in
his Egyptian chariot over his farm. The "char-
iot'' was drawn by six mules, and was very
comfortable, when not in motion, as it lacked
springs and air cushions. The charioteer was
Mr.. John Eicholz and the conductor Mr.. E. Bar
rett, manager of the farm. The ride was a jolly
one, notwithstanding the company were consid-
erably agitated in passing over the rough
ground.
Mr. Hyde's farm consists of 400 acres of beau
tful and productive land, in the far-amed Long
Green Valley, the garden spot of Baltimore
county. From his residence, half mile or
more above the station, on the western slope of
the valley-side, magnificent panorama
stretches out before theeye, of fertile fields but
now brown with drought aud dust; of comfor-
table farm houses and numberless barns bar
racks and outbuildngs, attesting the product
ry. In full view were the farms and residences
of Messrs. s. s. Patterson, P. 4. George, DR.. A.
s. Baldwin, George Yellott Mr.. Swormstedt,
Col. Edward Jenkins, Hon. Geo. Hawkins Will
lams, Zach. Wilson, s. q Rankin and the heirs
of the late George jenkins. The mansion house
and barn, at the last named place, are nearly a
century and a-half old being built of bricks i'm
ported from England.
Mr.. Hyde had this year 200 acres in Egyptian
corn and but acres in tomatoes. He mostly
grows the maryland Wonder" tomato, pro-
duct of his own skill, and the largest, smoothest
and most solid tomato we have ever seen.
After taking off the corn crop the ground is
seeded in rye, which is turned under in the
spring, thereby preventing deterioration of
the soil by the exhaustion of vegetable matter.
Mr.. Hyde having more fodder than he needed
this year has rolled one of his corn fields, after
the corn was gathered, and plowed the fodder
under. He thinks this, with the rye turned
down in the spring, and the fertilizers used,
will keep up the fertility, even under repeated
blowing. A portion of his farm is constantly
resting in grass. After admiring the view from
the porch and enjoying a feast of delicious
grapes, the gentlemen climbed into the Egyptian
chariot and were driven rapidly to the station.
An elegant lunch was there served, in which the
Maryland Wonder tomato, in tempting slices,
as solid as apples, disappeared like magic be-
fore the hungry guests. At 6 45 the trains north
and south met at the station and the visitors
separated They consisted of Messrs. VIM. H.
Waters, President, and Capt. VIM. II. Bans, Cen
eral Manager of the NJ. G. X. r. l. 8. George,
President of the Traders National Bank H. g.
Vickery, of the Baltimore Savings Bank Thos
q. Basshor, John "a. Fowler, B. B. Porter,
Morris w. Orem, George Popplein, Thos. j.
Bennett Of the Anerican-all Of Baltimore city,
Messrs ; VIM W., Il; Ruby, of the Towsontow1
F. w. Baker, of Bel Air.
The firm of s. N. Hyde u Sons, consists of
Mr. Hyde and his two sons, A. Lewis and Harry
s. The latter lives at the High House, Hartford
county, and the former assists his father, at the
station.
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