26o 



AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



This represents a cost close to the minimum. If we add to 

 the New Hampshire figures the same land rental charge, $4.00, 

 and the same fertilizer charge, $6.00, we shall have a total of 

 $32.40. This will represent something close to a maximum of 

 what it ought to cost to grow an acre of corn in Maine. Of 

 course it can be made to cost more, but ordinary average farm- 

 ing ought to do it for this sum. 



Now an acre of corn cannot be expected to yield more than 

 13^ tons of dry stover. Reckoning the feeding value of this 

 as $3.00 per ton (some authorities calculate it at never over 

 $2.85) we have as the value of the stover $4.50. Deducting this 

 from the totals we have, as the net cost of producing an acre of 

 corn in Maine something between $17.50 and $27.90. 



The following table shows the importance of breeding and the 

 use of improved seed : 



Cost of Production of a Bushel of Shelled Corn at the Indicated 

 Yields in Bushels per Acre. 



If the corn yields at the rate per 

 acre of 



The net cost per bushel of shelled corn 

 will be between 



It is clear enough from these figures what a great advantage 

 it is to use improved seed corn. At the current market price of 

 corn this fall, say 60 to 65 cents a bushel in Boston, there is not 

 a great profit in corn growing for the man in Maine who raises 

 only 40 bushels of shelled corn to the acre, no matter how eco- 

 nomical his cultural methods. But if he uses improved seed 

 from which he can get a yield of 60 to 70 bushels to the acre 

 his corn is costing him only one-half what he has to pay the 

 grain man for it. Here then lies one opportunity for corn 

 breeding in Maine. 



