Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-12-26

~ loads of corn TO feed the famine sufferers
In Russia seem likely 10 b carried out Word
has been conveyed 70 this government from
81. Petersburg that aid in such form would
be very gratefully received. Coincidentiy with
the shipping of tho grain On agent Of the De-
pertinent Of Agriculture will visit various parts
Of the ozar's dominions and set up kitchens for
the purpose Of showing the people how this
sort Of food ought to be prepared for human
consumption. Thus utility will be combined
with charity and Uncle Sam will later on reap
| an advantage by securing through the intro
duction Of this cereal . new market for his
most important crop. For II must be remam-
bered that maise as an article of diet il I'M
known IN northern Europe. When vessels
laden with 1t we're sent from this country to
ireland few years ago to feed the famishing
there the nutritious freight was at first we'll
nigh rejected because it was considered only
fit for horse fodder.
GOOD WORK IN 0ERMANY
During the last few months a special agent
OF the Department Of Agriculture has been in
Berlin trying to teach the Germans to eat corn.
Having set up small kitchens in different parts
OF that capital, he has distributed corn bread,
corn aapjacks. corn dodgers and other prepare
lions OF the grain among the people, serving
them hot and either free Of charge or at o nomi-
nal price. He has succeeded in interesting
that government In the subject to such an ex-
tent that corn mixed with rye has been recon-
mended officially for the rations of the army
Owing to the fact that the czar has prohibited
the expectation OF rye from Russia on account
OF the threatened famine, GeFmany's main sup
ply OF that cereal has been cut of. 1t is pro-
thats in ,to az h~o Al
soldiers shall be supplied with bread made half
OF rye and half Of corn. Thus there is reason
to believe that this great European nation will
nave acquired taste for the American vegeta-
Die before long and 90 become regular pur-
chaser of 1t from the United States.
Already q merchant named WilEynski has
opened great store on one of the principal
streets OF Berlin for selling by Wholesale and
retail bread made Of corn and rye. Inasmuch
! as bis product is offered for 40 per cent less
prospect OF obtaining popularity. When ten
loayes OF the new food can be got for the price
OF six ioaves OF the old the inducements from
the point of view Of the toiling masses is very
great II is anticipated that before long the
bakers all over Germany will be baking bread
OF corn and rye. Another firm in Berlin is
about to 60 into the manufacture and sale of
cornmeal mush. put up in packages Of pound
and half each, or 10 be sold in cardboard
dishes. An international exhibition, to be
opened at Leipsic February 4, will be largely
devoted to cooking and domestic economy gem
orally. An agent of the Department Of Agri-
culture will probably be sent there to make q
show OF corn and the methods of preparing it.
SECRETARY RusK's IDEA
As for the project Of sending shiploads Of
corn to Russia, Secretary Rusk says that it 10
like throwing bread upon the waters with q
string tied TO it. But he adds that the time has
come for American exporters to actively take
up the business Of introducing the new cereal
abroad, following up the initiative OF the gov
ernment Uncle Sam may open up trade, but
he cannot be expected to drum for custom
There is now call for the exertion Of individual
enterprise in this matter.
The only form Of corn at all known in north
ern Europe as human food is corn starch, II in
mostly sold in Great Britain under other names
SO strong Is the prejudice against the grain as
an article OF diet. 1t seems very surprising
that the leading cereal Of the new world should
not have been adopted as breaGstuff in the
| Old world, where the cry fer ''cheap bread" is
so bitter and Rgonizing. Hopes are enter
tanned, however, OF teaching these peoples
across the ocean to use maize by cooking it for
them publicly, by distributing literature ad-
vertising its qualities and comparative cheap
ness and by eniisting the influence of govern
ments and the agricultural press. Incidentally,
the increased demand would be OF great bene-
fit to the farmers Of this country. 1t is reck-
oned by Secretary Rusk that an advance of
five cents bushel for corn during the next
decade would add Fl VOC, 000, 900 to the value of
this crop during that period.
NO COUNTRY CAN COMPETE WITH Us IN CORN.
While American wheat meets with CONNIE
tition from Russia, India and the Argentine
Republic no country in the world can compete
with our corn as to quality or price. The soil
and climate OF the United States produce a
superior growth Of the grain. the cold winters
hardening IT and the warm summers bringing
1t to perfection. Firyt-rate railway facilities
and comparatively short ocean voyage afford
| TO the domestic product q great advantage over
corn from the Argentine aud India. Long
trips over seas through the heat Of the tropics
cause the grain 20 sweat and deteriorate An
inferior grade OF corn grown in Italy il con-
sumed to considerable extent in that country.
From southeastern Europe comes the corn Of
the Danube, small variety, which is preferred
for chicken food to the American, owing to the
size OF the grain. In Ireland corn in the form
Of mush called "stirabout," has been slowly
| coming into favor, and Is largely used when the
potato crop fails The tuber 10 preferred in
| times OF plenty, although corn il cheaper and
more nourishing. Ireland today takes more
| corn as human food than any other country in
Europe.
PRKJuDIcE AGAINST coBx
To illustrate the strength Of the prejudice
"6"Anss WIN Az so"s paft o1 tno Wofid mention
| may be made Of an instance in the city OF Glas-
gov, where 1t was proposed by member OF
| the poor-house board to substitute maize for
costiier food in that institution. Tho mere
suggestion brought q storm about his ears be-
cause Of his inhumanity in thrusting upon de-
fensele:s psupers food which was only fit for
pigs. American canned goods OF all other
kinds are largely sold In Europe, but canned
corn is almost never seen there. II demand
for it could be created it would mean hundreds
| OF thousands Of dollars yearly to the proprie-
| tors and workers OF our cannsries. Agents OF
the Department Of Agriculture have been ex-
| hibiting the cereal in this form also abroad,
with the hope Of teaching the people to like it
Wherever corn dishes Of various sorts have
| been prepared and distributed BY them they
have been received 90 favorably a. to give good
grounds for confident expectation in this re-
gard. The use OF the potato, the tomato and
tho tobacco plant, all OF American origin has
spread through Europe and added TO the com.
fort and happiness OF millions. There seems
TO be more hope for corn now than there was
for any Of those commodities at the beginning.
/ Tn, IN ovvip "a IiR-