Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1892-05-06

American Corn.
An Effort to Extend Its Use as m Nrti'
Gle OF Food i'm Europe.

An Effort to Extend Its Use ns an Nrti-
Gle OF Food In Europe.
4 strong effort will be made to have in
cudcd in this years agricultural appropri-
alton bill an item of So, 900 to continue
and enlarge the work of educating the peo-
pie of Europe to the use of American
corn for everyday food purposes. Last
year Congress appropriated only $500 for
this purpose, and Col. Chas. j. Murphy,
the special agent of the agricultural de-
partment, has made such progress as he
could with this meagre sum. Col Murphy,
who is now making corn cakes, corn pud-
dings, griddle cakes, mush, etc, from corn
in the streets OF Paris, Berlin. London
and other large cities Of Europe, has writ
ten the department an encouraging ac-
count Of the manner in which his efforts
have been received, and has pictured a
magnificent foreign market for every grain
of our corn at much larger figure than it
is receiving today if the opportunity is only
embraced and the field worked up properly.
At present the preiudices against our corn
and corn products throughout Europe is
so great that they are considered simply as
articles for horse and cattle feed.
In this connection the following article
from recent issue of the Albany journal
is of interest:
Few Americans, even, understand the
truth of the Western phrase, "corn is king.
The crop occupies the leading position in
acripu1tura nf tha Initial Gtotau I,t, a..
regards volume of the annual product and
the area under cultivation 1t is also the
most widely distributed crop, being grown
to a greater or less extent in every state
and territory, and in almost every county
in which agriculture is carried on. In ac-
tual breadth cultivated, it each year eX-
ceeds the aggregate area devoted to all 9TH
er cereals and potatoes combined: il is
about double the breadth cut for hay, and
is grown upon an area greater than that
devoted to wheat, oats and cotton together
With an area of 5000, 600 acres, it is the
largest arabic crop grown in our country,
and our capabilities of extension in its pro-
duction are hardly appreciated. IT is prom
inent If not the leading crop in every state
and territory except in some of the Rocky
Mountain districts where the elevation is
too great for the best results and on the
Pacific coast, where it is a minor crop sim
ply because farmers have had more profit.
able crops to which to turn their attention
Its importance in our agriculture is shown
10y the fact that in districts famous for
some special crop, the acreage devoted TO
that special crop is less than thai given to
corn. The corn acreage is larger i'm the II
cotton states than that given to cotton it.
self, and in the wheat belt corn is really
the most prominent product. In measured
quantity our corn crop OF a single year has
exceeded the wheat crop of the civilized
world.
Though agricultural products form -
per cent OF our exports, only 1 per cent of
our corn crop goes To foreigners, and 9G
per cent is consumed in the country where
it is produced. 1t is difficult to understand
the prejudice which exists in Europe against
corn as an article of food. The poor will
accept it only rs the alternative of absolute
starvation. The agricultural department
has proceeded on the theory that a large
part of this prejudice, like most other
prejudices, is due to ignorance, and ii has
maintained an agent in Europe to demon
strate to the people by actual experiment
that Indian corn, when properly prepared,
is as palatable and nourshing as wheat or
rye. Kitchens have been. established at
various points, and the different prepare
items of corn distributed to the people
who have partaken with apparent approx
al. More than this, the German military
authorities are considering the advisahility
of adopting corn AS a part of the army ra-
tiOns.
If the effort which has been begun is
continued its ultimate success is almost
certain, and millions Of dollars will find
their way annually into the pockets of
American farmers