192 MAKING HORTICULTURE PAY 



CORN— POP 



Concerning popcorn, C. J. Richardson of Lake 

 county, Ohio, writes : " I do not know of any farm 

 crop that is as constant and steady in demand as 

 popcorn. The price has remained about the same 

 one year with another for the past 15 years. I have 

 averaged about a ton of popcorn each year, and 

 have no difficulty in selling it at a good round figure. 

 Our soil seems to be well adapted to this crop. We 

 plant as early as possible, on ground on which we 

 have grown Hubbard squashes the year previous. 



" We cultivate regularly so as to keep the corn 

 free from weeds. We use a hoe very little. We 

 usually plant by hand, using a hoe, dropping three 

 grains in a hill, 3 feet apart, rows running both 

 ways. We get the best results this way. We 

 never cut until the corn is thoroughly ripe. Pop- 

 corn stalks make an extra fine fodder. Farmers 

 in planting popcorn should be sure to let it mature 

 on the stalk before it is cut or husked. We husk 

 it about six weeks after it is cut and put it in cribs 

 especially prepared for it, and it is left in these 

 cribs a year before it is sold. 



" To sell to advantage in large quantities one must 

 be very careful, as there are many sharks in the 

 field, who will take advantage of one if he is not on 

 the lookout. If popcorn is sold at retail, one must 

 be careful that it is well cured and pops regularly, 

 otherwise there will be great difficulty in selling to 

 the same individual the second time. I usually test 

 thoroughly by popping some, and then know ex- 

 actly in what condition it is. We give good, round 

 weight or measure, and are careful not to mis- 

 represent our corn. In this way our trade is being 

 built up regularly." 



