Daily Kennebec journal., 1911-04-15
MAINE SWEET CORN.
Best Quality, Largest Yield, Says j. 3.
Packard in Interesting Article for
Journal

|
state in the development of this indus
try, from the fact that Maine sweet
corn is everywhere recognized as the
choicest in quality of any grown in all
the country. 1t also sells for higher
price, and the growers are consequent
ly receiving higher price for it than
is paid for can corn that is grown
anywhere outside of Maine.
Nor is this all of the advantage
Maine has in this industry. The more
intensive and intelligent methods of
cultivation of recent years have
proved that the largest yields per
laere are grown in Maine. Thus
we see that the soil and climate
of Maine are such that it not
only produces sweet corn of superior
quality, but it will also grow a larger
yield per acre.
The writer received $50 from
lSingle acre of sweet corn the past sea-
son, at two and one-fourth cents per
pound. and he also knows of instances
| where growers have received as high as
J$14o per acre as the average for sew
eral acres.
| This industry, founded in Maine 80
| years ago, has grown until the output
|
ed 100000, cases or more than 2S,-
| 000,9 cans. The price paid years
ago was one cent and half per pound
for cut corn, but gradually increased
| until in 1911 the farmers received two
and one-fourth cents per pound. and
| this year they will get two and one
| half cents.
| Through a system of critical Sclec
| tion of seed and a more thorough meth
cd of growing. corn which formerly
| cut 26 to 80 pounds to the buShel, has
this year cut 81 10 40 pounds. The
IaNcraga realized by the growers this
year has been practically so per acre
against SO in 1906 and 1907. In all
| the history of the industry there has
not been year when the yield of eat
| corn per hundred pounds of ears has
| been as heavy as in 1910. | have a
| phenomenal record by growers all over
| the sweet corn territory. There is not
| a factory but that has paid some of the
| patrons at the rate of 500 per acre
| and more. for cut corn.
| | believe that with more intensive
| culture and proper care, that every
| farmer ought to get, with the one
| fourth of a cent increase in the price
which we got this year, from 500 to
$40 per acre for his sweet corn. be
sides the fodder which makes a valu
| able feed for COWS. as it can be cut
while it is green, as soon as the corn
| is picked. Also the small ears which
| are left in the fodder, as well AS the
huSks and cobs, hauled home from the
| factory, make an excellent feed for
pigs, as we'll as cattle.
The season for picking sweet corn
| usually comes in September taarlD
before the rush of the general harvest
season.
1t has been said by some writer's
that sweet corn takes more plant food
from the soil than other crops, be-
cause the soil needs to be very rich to
grow the crops, but the writer has not
found this to be the case. While the
soil must be in a higher state of fer
tilty to grow sweet corn than some
other crops. il still leaves the soil in
higher state of fertility when the crop
is harvested. so that the extra fertil-
izcr required in growing the crop,
above other crops. should not be
charged to the sweet corn alone, but
should be credited to the enhanced
value of the land as the result of the
higher state of cultivation. Not until
within recent years has the farming
community, as a whole. realized the
possibilities of their soil in growing
potatoes. and believe that they have
vet to learn the possibilities of their
soil in growing sweet corn.
Sweet corn is the only crop the
farmer grows that he knows what he is
to receive for, when the seed is put
into the ground. While the crop is
considered more uncertain than pota
toes, the price is more certain. There
is between one and two millions of
dollars invested in this industry in tn"
State OF Maine. In 1910 there were
32.342 acres of sweet corn planted for
the factories in the State, from which
the farmers received an average of so
per acre. making a total of $2,263.9i0.
Had the growers received the extra
quarter of a cent, which they are to
have this year. it would have made IA
difference of $5,s59s5 extra profit.
1t seems with sweet corn as with
potatoes, the largest yield per acre is
grown in Maine, and the people are
appreciating more the possibilities o.
Maine soil and the ease with which
wealth may be obtained in the rural
life when art and science join hands,
and the advice of Horace Greeley will
no longer be needed. even though the
spirit of empire may continue to take
its flight westward
The future success of the sweet corn
industry in Maine will rest upon its
quality; if the high standard of quail
| itY which it now possesses is con-
tipued, or so long as Maine packs
quality that cannot be duplicated and
| improved upon outside of the State.
| But if the quality is allowed to de-
| teriorate so as to come into competi-
ton with sweet corn grown in other
parts of the country. the price will go
| down. This superior quality depends
upon the critical selection of the seed.
Fine grained medium sized ears must
be raised for seed, as they will pro-
duce finer grade of corn than the
| larger and coarser ears.
| In selecting their seed the farmers
have been inclined to select only the