44 THE SEED-GROWER. 



This grower began in an humble way in 1878, at the age 

 of eighteen, on one acre of rented land and a capital of 

 five dollars, which went for the purchase of stock-seed. 

 His first year's crop of sugar corn realized the small 

 sum of eighteen dollars, and was shelled by hand and 

 cleaned by dropping the seed from a hog-house door to 

 a blanket spread upon the ground beneath. Now to 

 such proportions has his business grown that in a 

 single season his shipments will amount to about 175,- 

 000 bushels of shelled seed corn and 3,000 barrels on 

 ears, requiring four large power shellers and cleaners, 

 besides acres of floor space, and thousands of feet of 

 bin room for storage. His main warehouse is one hun- 

 dred and sixty feet long by thirty feet wide, and two 

 stories in height. None of his output is sold at retail, 

 all being disposed of to seedsmen or seed-dealers. 



A crop of sugar corn in a favorable season is from 40 

 to 50 bushels of shelled seed per acre, for the early 

 dwarf varieties; from 50 to 60 bushels for the tall, late 

 sorts. Prices paid to growers range from $1.00 to SI. 25 

 per bushel; the cheaper price being for Stowell's Ever- 

 green and other late sorts; prices to sub-growers range 

 from 65 to 80 cents per bushel for sugar corn. For 

 field corn prices rule from 45 to 60 cents per bushel, 

 according to variety. 



CORN SALAD. 



A seed-crop is matured quickly in one season. Seed 

 is sown early in spring, in rows two feet apart, plants 

 being thinned to four inches apart. Ripening of seed 

 occurs unevenly; but when the bulk has ripened, the 

 crop may be mowed, or plants may be pulled and laid 

 on cloths, and left to dry in the sun a few days. In 

 the barn or drying room stalks should be spread out 



