From the Oct. 2, 1894 Wilmington Messenger newspaper:
The Chronicle says that Wilkes County will send to the State fair a number of cornstalks nineteen and half feet high. That is a county in which they know how to make corn—and convert it.
Don Casada shared the old newspaper report with me a few months back. That was some tall corn!
Last night’s video: 9 Brides & Granny Hite 9.
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I don’t know a lot about different corns, but I know I like to eat cooked sweet corn or Sliver Queen corn fresh off the cob in summer.
I would like to know where you can get Merritt Corn. When we lived in Hayesville, Mr. Bill Nelms grew it. That was a tall corn and the best I’ve ever had. Long ears and big kernels. When we came back to South Carolina, you can’t find it down here anymore. Do you still have it there?
Vicky-I’m not familiar with the corn but hopefully someone who is will chime in 🙂
I did a google search to see if I could be of help. Hope you’re able to open the link.
https://www.houzz.com/discussions/3968924/merit-sweet-corn-will-no-longer-be-available
I found Merit Corn seeds on the internet in several different places. Your spelling and theirs is a little different but could be the same corn you’re interested in.
Blessings to all
I’m from SC and Merit corn is no longer available. Something about the company that owned the rights (or whatever it is called) to Merit corn sold out to another company. Most everyone in my area that liked Merit corn now plant a corn named G90. It is best to buy this seed at an old fashioned feed and seed store if you can, I have had no luck with small packages bought from some of the well known seed companies. If you live in the Greenville, Anderson area of SC go to McCall’s Produce in Honea Path, SC. While there be sure to pick up some of their fresh pork sausage. You can not find any better. They make their own sausage from an old family recipe. They buy their seed in bulk and will sell you whatever amount you want at a lot cheaper price than these online seed companies.
Vicky,
We also love Merit sweet corn. It’s our very favorite. However the last few years we have been unable to find it. I found a site online by the name Cooperseeds.com. They are located in Lawrenceville, GA.They have Merit sweet corn for a very reasonable price per pound. I plan on ordering a pound or two of it for planting next spring. The website says they’ve been in business since 1890. I like dealing with companies that have a long history. In my mind I can just picture an old timey mom and pop seed/feed store with the wooden pull out seed drawers. You’d ask the clerk for the seed you were looking for and the clerk would take a scoop and weigh the seeds for you, put them in a paper bag, tape the bag down and write what variety of seed was in the bag either on the bag or on the tape holding the top closed. The building would most likely resemble an old fashioned feed store with wooden floors, a pot belly wood stove, long wooden counter and shelves. The drawers I mentioned would be in tall chests with many compartments. Ahh.. the memories of childhood.
I sure hope you are able to get Merit sweet corn seed. Merit is so easy to grow and the best tasting ever. We have grown it for many years. Nothing else ever matched the taste.
Really never thought about the height of corn but I’m in love with all the products it’s converted to. Soup beans without cornbread would be a disaster♀️
Everyone have a great Saturday. Do something you enjoy!! Praying Granny Louzine is having some good days✝️
Blessings to all.
My son just called me and told me that he and Sarah were headed to Brushy Mountain Apple Festival. It is held in North Wilkesboro every year. That would be the same Wilkes County mentioned here. Coincidence?
I live only 18 miles from Wilkes County as the crow flies. My son lives about 30 miles away but his work takes him there often. His mother-in-law lives out on 18 just outside Wilkes County.
Wilkes County is where Roy Pipes’s Darby is.
I was born in southern Ohio, in the “corn belt,”and back in the 1950’s-60’s, when corn wasn’t modified and planted with space between each plant, I recall far bigger plants than what are seen in today’s corn fields; taller, wider, greener plants and with spaces for children and animals to run between and enjoy. I miss seeing those incredible planted fields. Please send my love to Granny, who is on my prayer list, and my love to Katie and all the Pressley family.
I have never seen corn that tall. If a strong wind came through, I can’t imagine it still standing. As a child, I loved playing in a cornfield, and those stalks were tall. Running through 19 feet or higher, I don’t know if I wouldn’t have gotten lost. Can you imagine cornstalks that tall for a corn maze? I don’t think anyone would be able to see the flags. I do believe Wilkes County is well known for its “Shine.”
Loved last night’s reading. I look forward to seeing what happens next week. Prayers and blessings to Granny and the family.
I don’t recall ever seeing the corn in my fields as tall as it is this year. Maybe it’s a different variety or perhaps it’s tall due to all the spring rain we had. The deer have stripped the ears off all the outer rows leaving those tall stalks and leaves to wait for the combine to convert it to cattle feed.
Converting Corn. So I guess you could read it as converting corn into meal which can then be converted to cornbread, corn fritters, cornpone, corn cakes, corn pudding, corn relish, corn casserole and I know I haven’t even scratched the surface of what corn can be converted to. But my favorite is GRITS. As far as I’m concerned grits is one of the seven food groups. Thank heaven for corn.
corn liquor I think is the implication.
It’s not how tall the corn, it’s the number of years it grows!
I expect that corn was not a hybrid. It could have supported “cornfield” beans just fine. But I wonder if it was sweet corn or field corn. I’m guessing field corn for grinding into cornmeal and for feeding stock. Regardless of what kind, my Dad would most likely have said it was planted at “the new of the moon”.
I’m assuming Wilkes County, NC includes Wilkesboro, NC between Boone and Winston Salem general area. I would say 9 and 1/2 feet tall corn stalks are definitely WORTHY showings for a state fair or any fair for that matter! Can you just imagine 9 and 1/2 feet tall corn stalks? It would be a paradise to walk through a field of that golden delight whether you’re 5 or 75!!! Some of my favorite memories revolve around playing and running through the corn patch. Once when I was little my yellow cat killed a bird and my sister and me put him in “jail” -an upside down plastic laundry basket with holes, which he didn’t seem to mind while we had “court” (more like a kid version of the show Night Court.) OH, those were the days!!! Now how about a gander at the corncobs off them high stalks??? I bet they’re a foot long and half a foot across! Much love and prayers for health for granny, you, Matt and the girls and all your family!!!
Google doesn’t seem to know of any other Wilkes County in the country.
Being from East Central IL I know all about tall, tall corn haha…..but I didn’t know about the old Johnny Paycheck song, wow, what a song, scary for sure! I love Johnny Paycheck!
Wow!!! That is higher than an elephants eye, I do believe! Good morning y’all. Hope Granny is doing better. Looks like frost for sure tomorrow morning here in Scaly. I thought I was ready for cooler air, just not cold just yet. Have a blessed weekend.
My Granddad, Nick Byers, converted corn to liquid…probably about 120 proof. He was shot by a revenuer on the road below Mt. Pisgah Church at Warne, NC. He escaped and the family moved to Ivy Log community in Union County GA. I never found out what happened to the revenuer..but Granddad still had the bullet in him when he died from injuries received in a farming accident in 1955.
what does this mean Tipper? converting corn ?in Georgia people convert corn to moonshine!! God bless Granny ❤️
When I was a kid in the early ‘50’s, my Dad was a game warden at Dicks & Waters Creeks. His best friend was George Dover , game warden at large for Lumpkin County, GA. George would thrill me with stories of running ‘shine in the ‘30’s and dodging the famous revenuer, Ranzy Souther. I took Dad to visit George when he was on his deathbed at home out side of Dahlonega. He and/or his son Vincent founded Dover Realty in Dahlonega.
Wilkes County used to be known as the moonshine capital of the world!
They sure knew how to convert it.
The older generations of farmers around here said if corn was planted on a full moon the stalks would be tall. You would need a step ladder to reach it. I have never seen any 19 ft tall. I remember Daddy saying “that corn was planted on a full moon” when he would see a field of tall corn. Wouldn’t Wilkes county well known for converting corn to a liquid form often stored in mason jars?