Crop maturity in relation to quality of canned cream style sweet corn

Abstract

The reliability of grain moisture percentage as a measure of desirable picking maturity was confirmed. The refractive index of the fluid material expressed from the grain was shown to give a rapid estimation of the grain moisture, the accuracy being sufficient for commercial requirements. The rate of moisture loss from ripening grain grown at Windsor, N.S.W., was measured and used for the short-term prediction of the date of harvest. Limits were defined for different planting times in terms of the number of days to picking maturity. Such limits provide a simpler means of long-term prediction than the heat increment method proposed by American workers. A plan is outlined for the field control of commercial sweet corn plantings in the Windsor district.