SEED IMPROVEMENT MEETING. 257 



2. The production of seed corn, both yellozv and sweet, to 

 sell not only in the State but elsewhere as zvell. 



Let us consider each of these propositions separately. 



The first proposition obviously refers to yellow corn. It in- 

 volves two questions. 



(a) Is it profitable to grow corn as a grain crop in Maine? 



(b) Granting that it is, what profit may be expected to re- 

 sult from special breeding of the crop? 



In answer to these questions let me present some figures. To 

 answer the first question it is necessary to know on the one hand 

 what it costs to grow a bushel of corn in Maine, and on the 

 other hand what it costs to buy a bushel of corn in Maine. The 

 difference will answer the question. 



Unfortunately there are no detailed figures in regard to the 

 cost of growing corn in Maine. So then, what we shall have 

 to do is to get some basic figures from other states and then 

 make an estimate for Maine on the basis of these and general 

 observations. Fortunately I have been able to get some figures 

 which will, I think, serve to establish an upper and a lower limit 

 for the cost of growing corn, somewhere between which the 

 cost in Maine may be considered to lie. 



First let us examine some data on the cost of growing corn in 

 New Hampshire, a neighboring state, where general conditions 

 are in many ways similar to our own. The following figures 

 represent the cost to Mr. Joseph B. Cram of Hampton Falls, 

 N. H., of growing an acre of corn. 



Plowing $3 -oo 



Harrowing 2.00 



Seed .25 



Planting (hand) 2.50 



Twice over with weeder .50 



Cultivating both ways four times .... 2.40 



Hoeing once 2 . 00 



Harvesting ears 1-25 



Cutting and shocking fodder 2 . 50 



Hauling and husking ears 3-00 



Hauling fodder 3.00 



Total $22.40 



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