The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-10
A Crop That Is Likely to BE More VAL
liable than at Present.

New York Journal Of Commerce.
1t is not easy to explain why, in the COM
mon conception, wheat should be ranked in
Importance ahead of Indian corn. From no
point of view can wheat be regarded as the
peer of maize, except that it realizes a
higher price. The corn crop occupies 81
quantity of the product of corn now aver
ages about 1900, 900 bushels that of
wheat about coo bushels; While the
value of the former averages $500, 0O0, 600 and
of the latter, on an average for 1890 to 1895,
only $500, 000, Co., True, the exports of wheat
reach a much higher value than those Of
corn, the average valuation of the former,
for the six years 1890 to 1895, having been
$157, 600 600 and the latter only $780, 900. 600.
But, in this branch of the trade, corn is fast
gaining upon wheat, the exports for the first
nine months of the current year having
amounted in value to SAL 200, while the
shipments of wheat and flour are valued at
$e5, 900, 0O0 in making this comparison, how
ever, it is to be remembered that this year
our wheat exports have been extraordinary
both in quantity and market value.
In the economy of domestic consumption,
corn holds far more important rank than
wheat Among largely preponderant part
of our poulatiOn it furnishes a variety of
wholesome articles of diet. 1t is the basis
of our hog product, the exports of which
are valued at about $50 600 900 per year. 1t is
also leading article of food for cattle, eX-
ceiling all other grains in cheapneSS and
feeding qualities. 1t is the basis of our
production of distilled spirits, of starch and
of glucose.
And yet the utilities of this plant have, as
yet, been very imperfectly exploited. 1t is,
perhaps, quite safe to say that there is not
any part of it which cannot be turned to
remunerative uses and yet comparatively
little really valuable utility is found for it
outside the resources of the grain. The
leaves huskS and cobs are virtually wasted
and the stalks are rather nuisance to the
farmer than of any value Everything is
thrown aside to get the grain and yet, prop
erly used, the discarded matters could be
made to yield value equal to that which is
utilized. There are possibilities connected
with this plant which would yield the far
mer $40 per acre for his crop, where he now
gets for the corn barely $14. Unless we are
greatly mistaken, we shall soon see this
plant shown to be capable of yielding sugar
and other correlative products at very
much below the cost at which raw sugar or
glucose can be produced from any other
listing sources of these products. 1t has been
demonstrated by competent scientists who
have thoroughly investigated the physio-
logical characteristics of the plant and it's
structural conditions at various stages of
its growth that, in addition to its present
various uses, it may be made to yield Irod-
ucts of immense commercial demand and
which would very largely add to the profit
ableness of American farming in those sec
tlons where corn can be raised We are
aware that these statements will be re-
garded with incredulity; but they are based
upon more than possibilities, and, in our
judgment, may be reasonably caSSed
among industrial probabilities likely to be
soon realized in the United States.