The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1898-02-04
CORN AS a FOOD IN EUROPE.
1t Il Not I'm Such Favor ms in This
Country.

1t 1. Not in Such Favor n. i'm rhi,
Country.
A clever writer, noticing the European
estimate of visible wheat. observed that
the deficiency makes a golden oppor.
tunity for the introduction of Indian
corn-or maize, as it is called all over
that continent-as a breadstuff 1t was
cabled over from London quite recent
~ that the European wheat crop lin
the so-called famine year 1891 exceeded
1896 by more than S0.0O0,00O bushels"
Then the deficiency was made up by
the American crops; yet wheat in Chi
cago ruled very low in the early part of
the year and until the crop had left the
farmers hands.
In 1897 the estimated deficiency is put
at 2OO,OOO,O 900 bushels in Europe, and
is greater than the crops of the United
States can supply; so that much in
terest is felt in the Argentine crop.
which is just nearing harvest time.
When one grain crop is deficient and
so rises in value, greater use will be
made of other cereals. Now our COM
mentator on these facts thinks that
there is a golden chance to bring to tho
attention of Europeans the use made
in America of corn for human food. 1t
is conjectured by him. as well as by
multtudes of others, that there is pref
udice abroad against putting on the
table what has been regarded as fit only
tor beasts. To some extent this is true;
and yet the advance made in the use of
oats shows that this is only a partial
view. One recalls DR.. Sam Johnson's
definition of oats as "a cereal used in
England to feed horses, but in Scotland
to feed men," And the old laird's reply:
'Yes, and what fine horses they have in
England and fine men in Scotland!"
Oatmeal has won its way into wide use
as a breakfast food on it's merit. So
will corn when Europeans shall grow
the same corn that is generally used in
America.
Corn is not an unknown crop in Eu.
rope. 1t is raised in France and Italy,
and eaten by the peasantry there and
in English almshouses; but it is poor
stuff, and would be discarded even in
America for human food. 1t is asso-
ciated with a very obstinate and often
sive eruptive disease known as "poda-
gra." The malady is attributed to
grinding in the ergot that attacks the
corn, and is familiar enough to Ameri-
can farmers. This fact is we'll known in
Europe. and accounts for some of the
aversion felt toward this cereal there.
What is still more important is that
the corn mostly used on American ta
bles seldom crosses the Atlantic, and, if
it does, it seems to undergo a change
il the voyage. For example, our sweet
corn is good only while succulent and
"in the milk" AS source of meal we
do not use it ourselves. and it shrinks
SO in ripening that no farmer would
raise it for his cattle or his poultry. AS
vegetable it is poor stuff, unless picked
in exactly the right condition, and
eaten as soon thereafter as it can be
boiled and put OH the table. Any at
tempt to put it on English tables must
fail unless it can be grown there. The
canned article is now well prepared;
but in that form it would be rather ex-
pensive for general consumption, and
the people would hardly known how to
use so unfamiliar an article in so unfa-
miliar a way-that is, as vegetable.
Even cornmeal deteriorates very rap.
idly after grinding. To have it in per-
lection, nice, plump, clean ears should
be selected, and the meal should be fire.
quently prepared, and cooked within
a few days after grinding. 1t is under
conditions like these that maize be-
comes a human food in America. and
when rightly handled it affords delica-
cies eft for the gods" But it is deli
cacy here, and the Atlantic ocean is AN
insuperable bar to its being delicacy
in Europe. Europe will only learn it's
value as she shall raise for herself the
varieties used in this country for hui
man food, and shall learn American
methods of serving it.-Philadelphia
Record.