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TH E
CHEMAW A
A M E R IC A N
AGRICULTURE FOR GRADES
O U T L I N E D B Y A L B E R T II. G IL L E T T
Teacher o f A griculture
P O P C O R N S U C C E S S F U L L Y G R O W N IN O R E G O N
P O P C O R N A N D IIOW TO GROW IT
STO R Y OF
H E R E are only two distinct classes, or types, of pop
corn, know n as the Rice corn and the Pearl corn.
These two classes of popcorn have alx>ut tw enty-five
variations called varieties. T h e different varieties o f
Ric? corn may vary as to color th ro u g h several shades
of w hite, am ber, yellow, red, and black. T hey also
vary in size of stalk s from four to tw elve feet in height.
T o increase vigor and yield, the grow er m ust follow a definite line of
breeding for his seed stock. L earn w hat a perfect ear looks like and
select such ears from stalk s th a t have a vigorous appearance and th a t
grew about six feet tall, also the ears grow ing between two and one-
half and th ree and one-half feet from the ground. Select as m any ears
as you wish to have rows in yo u r seed patch. Remove the kernels
from th e base and tips of the ears. T hese kernels are irregular in shape
and will not produce perfect ears if planted. Shell the balance of the
ear for p lan tin g , keeping th e corn from each ear separate.
P lant each row w ith seed from a single ear! A fter th e seed plot is
planted, th e rem ain in g corn from the ears can be used in p lan tin g other
ground for a m arket crop.
As soon as th e tassels are out and before and th e pollen g rains
are ripe, com pletely detassel every other row . Also exam ine the rows
th a t are to bear the pollen and cu t out all stalks th at have any ap p ear
ance of w eakness so th a t all sire plants will have a stro n g constitution.
In early Septem ber, select all your seed from th e detasseled rows and
you are positive th at you have a corn for seed th a t is not inbred, as all
th e pollen used in fertilizing was from stalks outside of th e one th a t
bore th e ear.
Popcorn is chiefly used for popping, and a very large part of w hat is
grow n finds its way back to th e city and is sold to confectioners and
m an u factu rers of popcorn products.
W h a t is it th a t makes the corn tu rn inside out when heat is applied?
It is like th is children: T he kernel of corn is made u p of a m u ltitu d e
of starch cells w hich are inclosed in a h orny case. W hen the corn is
d ry enough for popping, the cells contain ju st the rig h t am ount of
m oisture. If too m uch m oisture is present, it will not pop. But when