The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1898-01-20
CORN AS A FOOD IN EUROPE.
II is Not in Such Favor as in This
Country.


A clever writer, noticing the European
estimate of visible wheat, observed that
the deficiency makes 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
ly that the European wheat crop in
the so-called famine year 1891 exceeded
1896 by more than S0,000,000 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 2O0,000,O0O 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
80 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 the
attention of Europeans the use made
I'll America of corn for human food. 1t
is conjectured by him, as well as by
Eultitudes of others, that there is pref
udice abroad against putting on the
table VIII 1t has been regarded as fit only
for 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 DIR. Sam Jollnson's
definition of oats as ga cereal used in
England to feed horses, but in Scotland
10 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 its 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 well 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
sin the milk" AS source of meal we
Go not use il ourselves, and it shrinks
go in ripening that no farmer would
raise it for his cattle or his poultry. As
a vegetable il is poor stuff, unless picked
In exactly the right condition, and
eaten as soon thereafter as it can be
boiled and put on 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 en-
penSivc 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 a vegetable.
Even cornmeal deteriorates very rap
Idly after grinding. To have it in per
fection, nice. plump, clean ears should
be selected, and tie meal should be fire.
quently prepared, and cooked within
few days after grinding. 1t is under