272 CORN CROPS 



number of ears in each box. For New York and Phila- 

 delphia and through the North and West, ears are sold 

 by the hundred in sacks or hampers. This is' less satis- 

 factory. It is not a pleasing pack or one that attracts 

 attention. The bushel box is more practical, more up to 

 date and the corn carries better. In the sack the com 

 has been known to heat because too much was placed 

 together. 



202. The first corn coming to the market sells for thirty 

 to forty and in some cases fifty cents a dozen. It then 

 steadily declines until it reaches eight and even six cents 

 a dozen. If a man has a retail route and has corn through- 

 out the season, he usually maintains a high average price. ■ 

 Some men never sell for less than fifteen cents throughout 

 the season from their retail wagons. 



203. The bulk of the main crop and the late crop are 

 grown a httle farther back from cities on less expensive 

 land, and under less intensive methods. The rows and 

 hills are generally a little farther apart, three feet to forty- 

 two inches between rows, and from thirty to thirty-six 

 inches between hills in the row. Fertilizer up to a thou- 

 sand or twelve hundred pounds is applied with the corn. 

 The corn is commonly planted on sod groimd, this being 

 usually spring plowed. Clean culture is practiced in the 

 early part of the season. The corn is generally harvested 

 the same as for the market-gardening. When grading and 

 packing is necessary, the ears should be of uniform size 

 and about the same degree of maturity. Better prices 

 can be thus secured. The corn is usually shipped to 

 commission houses, to wholesale stores, to clubs and hotels. 

 Gross returns of $100 an acre will make a crop of com 

 profitable. As high as $350 the acre has been received 

 from sweet corn. 



