192 BOARD OF AGRICULTCRE. 



manner. And what is still more important is to protect ourselves in 

 case we meet with such calamities. I cannot at this time go into 

 detail in regard to the sweet corn crop, it is enough for a lecture of itself. 

 But I wish to touch upon it because it has become one of the 

 leading industries in Maine agriculture. Its increase within the 

 last ten j-ears exceeds that of any other farm product. I find when 

 I first raised corn for the factory I received two and one-half cents 

 per pound for the cut corn, and one ^ear I received $91.50 per acre. 

 This was an exceptional crop. I found that as years went on the 

 price continually grew less each year until it reached one and eighty 

 one hundredths cents per pound. After receiving this price for a few 

 years the account stopped with the factory. This price failed to 

 induce me to raise the corn for them, but after a few years I found 

 myself raising it again for the factory, and for 1 and 80-100 cents 

 per pound, and I have been a patron to the factory since. The 

 price has advanced within the last three years, and this last year I 

 received 2 10-100 cents per pound. Now to give the best result 

 would be liable to mislead, and I will give the smallest, which was 

 S35.20 per acre ; but in averaging up I find that I have received 

 S55.35 per acre for the corn at the factory. Now this is not a 

 very brilliant showing, but even this average for nine years, take 

 the seasons as they come, I claim is a fair average and can only be 

 reached by good cultivation. Loose, slipshod farming will not reach 

 it unless the season is very favorable. 



Now I will give the last year's result. Five acres brought at the 

 factory $300.25. This you will see is SCO per acre — a good result 

 for the season. I have found that 3,000 pounds of cut corn per 

 acre, after the waste is taken out at the factory, such as waste in 

 husking, cutting off, cleaning out the silk, etc., which the raiser 

 must bear, is a very good grown acre of corn and is as much as is 

 safe to reckon upon, with good cultivation and a fair season, which 

 is very near my average. 



The amount of fodder that will accompany the amount of cut 

 corn per acre will vary somewhat, and will depend upon the variety 

 of corn. Late Crosby produces the largest amount of fodder, and 

 will give from eight to ten tons of green fodder to the acre, and 

 from two to three dry. I consider this fodder worth to me $5 per ton 

 dry, and $2 green to cut into the silo. To give the minimum, in the 

 one case we have ten dollars' worth of fodder, in the other we have 

 sixteen dollars' worth. This really figures in favor of the silo. 



