the incidence of diseases or insects. Applications probably average at least
two a week. As few as 10 or as many as 30 sprayings or dustings may be made
in producing one crop. The materials for a chemical control program in the
Everglades area cost about $48, in Zellwood about $65 and in other areas of
South Florida about $50 to $60 per acre. These figures do not include cost
of labor and equipment for applying the materials.


 Harvesting and Handling Sweet Corn

 Sweet corn matures in from 69 to 100 days from seeding, depending
upon variety, day length, temperature, moisture, fertilization and other
factors.15 The ears must be pulled at the proper stage of maturity and
placed under refrigeration with the least possible delay in order to pre-
serve eating quality. "Tender sweet corn held at ordinary temperatures is
quickly converted to tough, starchy, unpalatable corn."15

 Two distinct methods are in use for the harvesting of sweet corn:
 (1) Tractor-drawn trailer operation with packing bins either in the field
 or in nearby sheds; (2) a self-propelled field-harvester operation.

 1. In the case of method number one, a crew of four to six
 pullers with a tractor-drawn trailer moves through the
 field, pulling matured ears from the stalks and loading
 the trailer. Full trailer loads are pulled to the end
 of the field or a nearby shed for packing. The corn is
 graded and packed by hand into shipping containers,
 loaded aboard trucks and delivered to the precooler. This
 method is most used in the sand land areas of Florida and
 is still in use by commercial harvesting contractors in
 the muckland areas. It is more flexible than method two
 in that output may be increased by adding more labor.

 Commercial harvesting contractors may be hired on a piece
 rate basis to harvest and haul corn by method one. They
 harvest about 50 percent of the Everglades' crop. These
 contractors furnish all labor for pulling and packing. The
 grower furnishes tractors and trailers or carts, in most
 cases. Harvesting by this method costs $0.30 to $0.40 per
 crate depending upon distance of haul to precooler and
 other factors.

 2. In the case of method two, self-propelled corn harvesters,
 commonly called "mule-trains," are operated with 40 to 50
 laborers. Corn is pulled by hand and tossed onto endless
 belts on either side of the machine's front as it moves down


1Hills, op. cit., pp. 12-16.