39 



INFORMATION FROM CANNING FACTORIES 



The writer is greatly indebted to two of the largest New 

 England canning factories — H. C. Baxter & Bros., and Stone, 

 Brewster & Co., — for the following information : 



H. C. Baxter & Bros, use Early Crosb}^ sweet corn entirely, 

 and claim it does best when planted about eighteen inches to 

 two feet apart between the rows. 



Stone, Brewster & Co. use three grades, — the early, medium, 

 and late. The seed is all the product of their own selection 

 and breeding, which has extended over a period of years. The 

 aim of the company is to select with special reference to ob- 

 taining fine quality, heavy ears, and compact and deep-set 

 kernels. Their early and medium varieties are "crosses," 

 while their late variety is the " Country Gentleman." The 

 latter is little planted on account of its late and heavy growth, 

 except on river land and with special reference to using the 

 stalks in the silo. Their early variety is as near "' Crosby's 

 Early" as anything on the market, and usually is ready for use 

 by August 20th. Their medium variety is an " Evergreen," 

 like "Crosby's" or "Rice's." The ear is large, — 12 to 20 

 rows — good ears often weighing i to 1 1^ pounds, husked. 



Mr. J. R. Brewster says of this variety: "The fodder is 

 large, and it is the popular variety with the patrons of the fac- 

 tory for profit. This usually gets ready to follow the early 

 variety from September ist to the close of the season, accord- 

 ing to location." 



This variety is highly valued by the patrons for ensilage, and 

 they claim it is " utterly impossible" to cure sweet-corn fodder 

 so as to pack away in a barn without its rotting. 



The factory rules for planting, as given by Mr. Brewster, 

 are : " Early, rows 2}^ ft. and hills 2 ft. ; Medium Early, rows 

 2^2 ft- each way ; Late, 3 ft. each way." The hills are then 

 thinned to four or five stalks, not over four being allowed to 

 grow in the medium and late varieties. The late variety can- 

 not be depended upon to ripen unless it happens to be a late 

 fall. 



