Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-09-11


fortunate in securing the services of sew
eral Gardiner men. including F. Y Bar
ker. Long trips were made through the
country. last spring. and severa. hun
dreds Of acres were apportioned off for
the growing of sweet corn for the new
factory. Mr. Eastman, being careful in
the selection of his corn, obtained a
special seed corn for this purpose, and
through local firms it was distributed di-
rect to the farmers at its original cost
price.
BY having all of the corn Of one kind,
Mr.. Eastman figures that the standard of
quality can be maintained, and the par
ticular variety which is harvested this
year is said to be fine large ears, and
with a particularly sweet favored kernel
The farmers had good luck with their
corn, and although the season is a trif,e
backward. 1t is anticipated that the first
year of the local factory will by n sue
cessful one.
During the latter part of last week. the
factory was nominally in operation. al
though the time was given over to the
help that they might become acquainted
with the workings of the factory and the
machinery, for quite lot of the work In
a canning factory is not of the skilled Ia
Dor character. The factory will be run
ning fuil blast. this week. and it is I'M
derstood that the capacity is 10000 cans
week. and from this figure it NAV he
imagined that the machine rooms in tba
factory are somewhat active during work
Ing hours. The company has on hand
nearly 100000 cans. and 1t is estimated
that this will be the business of the first
season.
After the corn is harvested and brought
to town it is sent in its natural state to
the husking shed. Here in long rows 81.
the huskers. who rapidly separate the
Clean white ears of corn from their outer
coverings. and in huge receptacles the
shining corn is sent into the main build
ings. Here the ears are thrown into 2
cutting machine and the kernels are
shipped out clean from the cobs.
Then the kernels go through a process.
something on giant sieve order where.
by all foreign substances are removed
and the kernels are left dry and clean.
The corn is then subjected to a treat
ment mixing it with starch. sugar and
pure water. This mixture is then ready
for the cooker. This cooker. which has
a great capacity, boils the corn very
quickly, and the starch and sugar fur
nish the fiavoring and preventative prop
critics.
From the cooker the corn goes through
automatic spouts. directly into the cans.
which, by the way, are perfectly clean
and subjected to sanitary treatment be-
fore they receive the corn. The corn is
received into the cans through a small
hole in one end. and when full a rapidly
revolving brush passes over the top of
the can. cleaning it. Workmen then
place small piece Of tin over the OPEN
ing and the cans are sent to the sealing
machine. where they are made air tight.
which Is proven by each can being i'm
mersed in a water tank Defective cans
are detected by this process and are
thrown out. The cans are then subjected
to thorough heating in an oven and the
cooking process is complete.
Later the cans are again Immersed in
tanks of cold water, thoroughly cooled
and then sent to the labelling benches.
"hSiO AoHSy dIS pldCeQ upon them.
The cans are packed in substantial wood
en- boxes and then sent to the wholesale
markets throughout the whole United
States. SO If the reader enjoys the lux
ury of Gardiner canned corn in Bos-
ton, New York or Chicago hotel, this
winter. he may bear in mind the cleanly
method by which 1t was preserved and
packed.