Norwich bulletin., 1910-07-23
CONNECTICUT CORN.
Only 10000 Acres Under Cultivation,
While 100000 Are AvaiIabIe-vast
Market Open.

The New England Corn Exposition
to be held in Worcester Mass. No
vember Z to IL, is intended to develop
New Englands uncultivated farms,
first, by arousing interest among New
England farmers to the Importance of
selecting ears for seed corn to develop
ond, by bringing out the possibilities
of growing corn in New England for
its feeding properties. No one has an
axe to grind in this movement; in fact,
all the agricultural societies and state
boards of agriculture are pushing the
plan and backing it financially.
The effect of the corn shows in the
middle west has been a great i'm
provement in the quality and quantity
raised through that section of the
country The exposition is the most
efficient means of pointing out to the
grower the kinds of seed ears for him
to select from his own crop to in
crease the yield and develop an even
ness that spells out profit to him.
In Connecticut there are $4,000
acres of corn under cultivation, with
total annual yield of 100000 bushels.
There are, however, 100000 acres
available in Connecticut alone, and not
under cultivation now which is ideal
for corn culture. The climate of New
England is favorable to corn growth,
as in the last ten years the average
yield per acre was 1913 bushels In
Connecticut and 35.9 in Massachusetts,
while in the rest of the country 1T was
only 25.2 bushels per acre.
The exposition hopes to show that
fine corn land in New England can be
bought for SIS an acre and be put I'M
der cultivation foS $25 more to the
acre Hence. New England-and par
ticularly Connecticut-offers a far
more attractive section for farming
than the far west. Connecticut can
easily grow corn enough to attract
stock raising on a large scale to her
hills so that the meat for local con-
sumers may be raised on the hoof near
by.
The quality of Connecticut sweet
corn is known all over the country,
and a vast market is open for seed
sweet corn raised in Connecticut Tor
growth in the central west 1t is the
object of the exposition to awaken the
farmers of New England to their great
opportunity and as an incentive splen-
did prizes are offered. Some OF those
open to any grower in Connecticut are
in flint corn, in dent corn, IN ensllage
corn, or in sweet corn.
There is a prize of $500 offered by
a manufacturer of fertilizer for the
best acre of shelled corn in New Eng
land, another of $500 for the greatest
food value per acre. and agricultural
implements of all sorts and descrip-
lions in various classes. A breakfast
food company offers 5000 for the best
10ear exhibit of white dent corn
grown in New England The Massa-
chusetts Society for the Promotion of
Agriculture offers $500 in prizes for
dent flint and ensilage corn; the Con-
necticut state grange offers 800 for
the best acre of flint corn raised by
Connecticut grange, the Connecticut
state board of agriculture offers $3.50
for Connecticut competition; in fact.
the prize offers are the greatest ever
offered east of the Mississippi river
and show the earnestness with which
the various societies and interested
ones have gone into the exposition
1t is to be hoped that the Connect
cut farmers will answer the call and
respond generously with exhibits, so
that COnnecticut's now famous rec
ord as a corn producing state may be
made general. When a boy in Hocka-
mum can raise corn as young Brewer
did and win the international sweep
stakes in Omaha. there is no reason
why farmers all over the state cannot
turn in specimens of Connecticut corn
TO the exposition that will attract wide
attention to the corn growing posi-
bilities of Connecticut.