The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-06-01

creases the price for the grain A decline
Of one cent a bushel on a full crop
amounts TO more than 100000. Under
these conditions the expectation Of the sur
plus of full crops is essential. Our exports
are growing rapidly. For some years past
We have sent to other countries an average
of over 900 bushels Of corn and corn
meal annually, against an average of
about one-third Of this quantity for the
years from 1890 TO 1894
Europe is our chief outlet. Last year
Great Britain, Denmark and Germany took
more than one-half of the total EXPORTS of
corn meal. Tt is a significant fact that
these three countries are those in which
soma efforts have been made TO popularize
the use Of Indian corn as human food.
Imports OF corn meal by Canada are de-
creasing because Canadian mills now grind
mora Of the corn which has been imported
from this country. But Will we have
these large exports the great mass Of the
people Of northern Europe have never seen
ear corn; never knowingly tasted food
made from corn; never saw canned or tin
ned corn; have little conception Of the luz
ury Of our sweet corn; makeno use of corn
starch as food and, although this may be
fortunate have a prejudice against Amer
lean whisky.
An amusing Illustration Of this last fact
came 20 me when after politely declining
an invitation Of a most worthy Scotch
Presbyterian farmer TO have a glass Of
wine or beer with him, he apologized for
his stupidity and said: You are an Ameri-
can; whisky of course" ana when de-
clined using this, with a quzz.cal smile,
he retorted: "You are quite right, I have
been in your country and If lived there I
would do just as you do, for it is very poor
over there and not at all good" Another
illustration of lack Of familiarity with this
grain also came TO me. I had the pleasure
Of presenting TO the Scotch born editor Of
one OF the leading agricultural papers Of
London, a fine collection Of ears, represent
ing different varieties of sub-species Of our
| corn. Visiting MS office a year later I was
surprised 10 see nothing Of these, but when
he took me to his suburban home I found
that this collection was among the most
highly priced ornaments in his drawing
room; festooned on the walls, placed in
! beautiful dishes on the center table. He
and his good wife expressed deep regret
that some of the ears had fallen on the
removed here and there a kernal, spelling
the beauty of the rare curiosity to them.
It is possible. with sufficient effort, to
cultivate a taste for a good article Of food
not only by individuals but by a nation.
Oatmeal, now so largely used, was almost
| unknown as a general article of food in
| this country less than 40 years ago. Sweet
corn was little used at the same date. A
score of cereal food products have come
| into general use in this country within tho
last 10 years We have introduced food
! products from foreign lands have become
accustomed to their general use. Many
American products have lived down for
| eign ignorance OF and prejudice against
them, and this may be done with Indian
| corn.
| 1t is strongly objected by some thought
fu, people that increasing the use Of corn
| as food for man in Europe or other for
! eign countries will decrease the demand
| for American wheat. Even if this should
! prove true it is still a question whether
/ we had not better suffer some decline in
! the expectation of a crop in regard to
/ which we have such close competition as
| We have in wheat for the United States
! produces only about one-f1fth Of The wheat
/ crop of the world, if we can thereby in
| crease the demand for a crop which we
| can and do produce more cheaply than
| does any other nation. But it Is not prob
| able that this result would follow to any
! considerable degree. More probably the
/ Indian corn in the form Of meal or pos
| sf0,e corn and wheat -four mixed together,
/ would take the place of rye and barley,
he hraa 0f hafv
! the poorer classes to better and cheaper
/ food; even somewhat increasing the use
| Of wheat 1t is also easily possible that
! considerable use of Indian corn may be
! come common among the wealthy classes
| of Europe. Probably the greatest prac-
! teal difficulty in this matter would be in
/ regulating the export so as to supply any
/ large demand when we have a short crop
/ in this country.
Without any special effort on the part
! of Americans. it is probable there VIII
| be an increase in our expectation Of corn
! and in the use OF grain in some form by
! Europeans as part Of their daily food ;
/ but this increase can be greatly fastened
| by the expenditure of time, money and
! work Our diplomatic representatives and
/ other intelligent American residents of
/ Europe can do much in this direction by
! personal use Of Indian corn and other
/ United States food material rather than
/ too closely copying the customs OF the
/ people among whom they live. Direct ad-
/ ve-tising. securing publication of articles
/ setting forth the value Of Indian corn for
/ human food. securing Endorsements Of Eu-
! ropeau scientists. would also be Of great
/ help. Establishments for the sale Of corn
! products would also be a wise and help
/ ful method of directing attention. But
nothing in al probability would 50 GER
/ tainlv and quickly bring good results as
/ would giving Europeans an opportunity to
see and eat American corn dishes al great
| exDositions and other corcOurses Of people
/ The Paris Exposition in 1900 viii offer an
unsurpassed opportunity for such prac-
! teal demonstration. The Glasgow exhi-
/ bition OF 1901 should also he utilized The
/ great annual agricultural exhibitions Of
/ Great Britain and continental countries
j might we'll be utilized in this direction.
Prejudices are hard 70 overcome. but
90 &1A@0%@o
= Door Teeth =