Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-12-27

as saying it is like throwing bread upon the
waters with string tied to it. But he adds
that the time has come for American ex-
porters to actively take up the business OF
introducing the new cereal abroad follow
ing up the initiative of the Government.
Billion Dollars for Our Farmers.
Incidentally, the increased demand would
be of great benefit to the farmers of this
| country. 1t is reckoned by Secretary Rusk
that an advance of cents bushel for corn
during the next decade would add 81, ,OOa,-
| 900, 600 to the value of this crop during that
period. While American wheat meets
with competition from Russia, India and
the Argentine Republic, no country in the
| world can compete with our corn as to quail
ity or price. The soil and climate of the
United States produce superior growth of
the grain, the cold winters hardening it and
the warm summers bringing it to perfec-
ton. First rate railway facilities and
comparatively short ocean voyage afford to
the domestic product q great advantage
over corn from the Argentine and India
Long trips over seas through the heat of
the tropics cause the grain to sweat" and
deteriorate.
An inferior grade of corn grown in Italy
is consumed to a considerable extent in thas
country. From Southeastern Europe comes
"
which is preferred for chicken feed 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 is preferred in times
of plenty, although corn is cheaper and
more nourishing Ireland to-day takes
more corn as human food than any other
country in Europe. But recently member
A.
posed to substitute maize for costIier food
in that institution. The mere suggestion
brought storm about his ears, because of
his inhumanity in thrusting upon defence
less paupers q 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. If de-
mand for it could be created, it would mean
hundreds of thousands of dollars yearly 70
the proprietors and workers of our can
neries. Agents of the Department of Agri-
culture have been exhibiting the cereal in
this form also.
A Grocery Store Propaganda.
In addition to showing corn and its differ
ent uses at exhibitions and other public
gatherings throughout Europe, it is sug-
gested that the adoption of grocery store
propaganda would aid materially in intro
d
feet of space might be hired in one or more
large grocery establishments in each city
or town, where a small gas stove and an e1-
pert baker would prepare corn bread, cakes,
etc, before the people, distributing litera-
ture and samples free to customers. A few
weeks effort of that kind would make the
district thoroughly acquainted with the
food, every man woman and child being
afforded an opportunity to test the product
without trouble or expense. To give away
anything, especially food, is rare proceed
ing in Europe, and the unusual spectacle
would doubtless be widely appreciated.
Leading grocers in many big cities Of
Europe have already expressed approval of
the idea, and there is apparently no obstacle
to the immediate opening of campaign ON
the lines indicated.
In Great Britain, and on the Continent
also, travelling cooking schools, maintained
by pbilanthropic effort, go from town to
town, instructing the people by means Of
lectures, literature and experimental cook
ing in the proper preparation of food.
are to be made for having at
least one dish prepared from corn included
in the exhibition of each such school, the
teachers being given preliminary instruc-
lions in the methods of preparing the grain.
including recipes, with informa-
ton as to where the meal can be obtained,
may be handed around at the meetings
There is room in Europe for the con-
sumption of several hundred million
bushels annually of American corn, much
Of it as food for human beings who do not
now get enough to eat. RENE BAcHE.