SPECIALTIES IN CORN CULTURE 33 1 



The Country Gentleman, which is the same as this, 

 except with larger ears, has become very popular in the 

 past half dozen years. Egyptian is also popular. 



For canning, Stowell Evergreen is the most popu- 

 lar and widely grown. Other popular sorts are Egyp- 

 tian, Crosby Early and Country Gentleman. The 

 extraordinary reputation of Maine canned corn is due 

 to the Crosby variety. In that state a better yield and 

 a finer quality of Crosby corn is grown than elsewhere, 

 but it does not even there produce the quantity per acre 

 that the Stowell does in New York and the western 

 central states. Because of its superior quality and 

 lighter yield per acre Maine growers usually get a 

 better price per ton than New York, and western 

 farmers. 



Popcorn, known botanically as Zea evcrta, is a 

 species group, characterized by the excessive propor- 

 tion of the corneous endosperm and the small size of 

 the kernels and ear. The best varieties have corneous 

 endosperm throughout, which gives it the property of 

 popping, a complete eversion or turning inside out of 

 the kernel through the expansion of moisture contained 

 within it, upon the application of heat. The best varie- 

 ties of popcorn have but little or no deposit of starchy 

 endosperm, which when in excess interferes with pop- 

 ping, as the kernel will merely split open or turn only 

 part way. Popcorn is used largely by confectionery 

 manufacturers for the making of popcorn balls, etc. 

 It is also handled extensively by growers for family 

 trade. Good crisp popcorn is not only appetizing but 

 very nutritious. 



THE CULTIVATION OF POPCORN 



This differs but little from that of field or sweet 

 corn. The valuable product is the ear, and the effort 

 should be to produce as many of these on a stalk of as 



