The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1923-07-26
Maine Quality Seed Corn

I'll. j. Mosnef, president FrHnkiul
County Products co..
The sweet corn industry is one OF
the leading industries in Maine. The
average normal production per acre
in the state is but little more than
200g pounds of cut corn. Ii some of
us who are trying to raise corn on
land that is not adapted to it would
give it up and do something else, and
those who continue to plant would
plant less acres, dress their land bet
ter with barn manure and take better
care of their crops, we would not only
increase the average yield per acre but
lessen the cost per pound and raise
the standard of quality !.
In the country in 1922, 148.S63 acres
of corn grown for manufacture un-
der contract in more than 1 5 states.
This represented only about four
fifths of the actual acreage grown.
Maine held sixth place in this list
with 1867 acres. Illinois led with
30. 26S acres. This shows that we
have got to be especially careful of
our quality in order TO hold our posi-
ton.
,
-enyiable reputation in the markets,
but we are fast losing that reputation.
the growers and Gamers in other
states having raised their standard
of quality so their product Is now
considered a close second to Maine
corn. 1t is important for us growers
to realize that fancy corn can never
be packed from a field producing
standard corn. Some of the western
growers are planting the same variety
of Crosby seed corn we are planting.
They are trying in every way to equal
our quality. No doubt they can
grow corn cheaper than we can IN
Maine The Gamers are able tos can
it cheaper than the Gamers in Maine.
Their corn Is being offered in the
markets at a considerably lower price
than we can afford to sell our corn.
These facts are positive proof that
there. should be the closest coopera
ton between the growers and the can
ners in Maine.
The grower who uses up-tO-date me-
thods and sraises a good quality OF
corn at a moderate cost should re-
q
is so much difference in the quality
of sweet corn seed for canning pur-
poses it would be much better to
plant only such seed as is approved
by the Gamer In my own expert
ence I have found in saving the earl
lest and largest ears and in planting
them year after year that i have de-
veloped a coarse kernel and large ear
which ripens more quickly and is
not as satisfactory for canning pur-
poses.
The Gamer has his troubles as well
as the grower. There Is very little
Maine who are using old-time ma
chinery and methods will either have
to equip with approved machinery and
conveyor systems and lessen their
canning costs or go out of business.
In July. 1921 the Franklin Farms
Products Co. of Pennington was or
ganized with IL members and a cap
ital stock of $4,000. We built a
factory, 30x100 feet, and canned that
fall more than 5000 dozen apples.
Last year we increased. our capital
stock to $4,000. We added bath
room and packing room 30x100 feet,
also a boiler room large enough for
two boilers, and coal bin. We also
put on wing 100 feet in length for
husking machines, receiving shed
and cider mill to take care Of the
by-produots from the apple factory.
Last year we canned 13,463 cases or
26,926 dozen cans of corn and approx
imately 1000 dozen of apples. This
year we will add another packing
room about 30x75 feet which will af-
ford us ample room for storing and
labelling. We will also add bean
machinery. We have about 20 acres
contracted which in an average sea-
son should yield more than 5000
cases. We have increased our corn
acreage about 25 acres more than
last year. We have our machinery
so arranged that we can change from
corn to apples in one-haf hour as
each line of machinery is independ
ent of the other. We have both cleo,
trio and steam power, so in case one
fails we can rely on the other.