The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1913-11-19
Take Popcorn Seriously;
Your Uncle Sam Does

Lots and lots of folks look upon pop
corn as something fit only for the cir
Gus, the summer park, and now and
then the church fair or sociable, OF
maybe child's birthday party. In
other words, people. as a rule. do not
take popcorn seriously, either In the
home or as an article Of trade. And
that is where they are making "A big
mistake. After a great deal of re-
search and experimenting, the Depart
ment of Agriculture Is In a position 10
prove IL.
The popcorn Investigations of the
department have been conducted by g.
+. Hartley, the psychologist in charge
of corn Investigations, and j. G.. Willer,
scientific assistant in the Corn lnves-
tgatfng Bureau. So we'll have they
performed their work that Secretary of
Agriculture Houston has had the re-
ports printed In book form and liberal
ly illustrated, for the purpose Of bring
ing To the attention of the people Of
this country the joys and profits that
attend the scientific and judicial culti-
walton of the little popping cereal.
Among the things that add pleas
ure To country life" the department
officially states, popcorn should be
given a prominent place. For afford
ing "A pleasant and healthful treat for
the family during the long winter
evenings and the holiday season ii
probably has no equal. The crisp pop
corn is dear To the children's palate.
and the popcorn and Christmas hem
lock squirting in the fire have been en-
joyed by both old and young for many
generations. II every farm home would
keep "A supply of popcorn and pepper
convenient fewer nckels would be
spent for less wholesome knicknacks
and more enjoyable evenings would be
spent around the family hearth
But popcorn, in addition to affording
n healthful and entertaining diversion
for little ones, also has considerable
value as a food. and If properly pre-
pared, the Department Of Agriculture
IL authority for the statement that 1t
is far superior to many of the widely
now on the market. Likewise popcorn
is something that it pays to grow, al
though the department states that mo
farmer should expect to become rich
in "A few years by growing popcorn;
but it adds that III the good years are
averaged up with the poor ones this
crop will be found to pay about as
well as field corn"
In a nutshell, popcorn. as paying
proposition for the market depends
largely upon the producers ability to
grow it of a good quality, store his
corn properly. and market it advan-
tageously.
IF il is desired" the department
advises, ito grow popcorn as a field
crop. the surplus stock that is not
wanted for home use can usually be
sold the local merchants at fair price,
or a profitable local trade may be
built up by supplying 1t direct to con-
sumers. Both of these methods should
enable consumers to get n first-clas
article at "a lower price than it would
cost on the general market. And this
practice is to be encouraged, as il
enables consumers to make their own
popcorn CONNECTIONS and thus have
them fresh. IN which state they are at
their best"
Indicating the high profits that may
he had In the judicious marketing of
popcorn the figures of the government