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August 1940. "Extremely tall and excellent corn is also grown on the King and Anderson cotton plantation near Clarksdale. Mississippi Delta, Mississippi." Here we see an early attempt at portable "personal corn." Medium format negative by Marion Post Wolcott for the Resettlement Administration. View full size.
My grandmother grew corn like this. It only had a few ears, but it was good eating. It also was good fodder. As for the building with the bell. that was the way to communicate at distances. There was an entire code of rings meaning anything from "lunch is ready" to "fire." They were also rung to announce a death in the community, Sex and age were included in the ring.
You blow up the image expecting the usual dried-out, skinny old geek, and the guy looks like a male model! I almost suspect the picture was posed.
I was going to make a corny joke, but I just haven't the ear for it today.
It's surprising how many Shorpy photos bring to mind the lyrics of Oscar Hammerstein.
Only a few days ago, it was "Everything's up to date in Kansas City."
A few days from now, it might be "This was a real nice clambake."
IF that old saying was accurate then there was one heck of a growth spurt in August.
That is a lot of corn stalk to yield only one ear of corn!
Let me be the first to comment on how corny your joke is.
The question is, where will the cornstalk take that man at midnight?
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