, 1913-11-26
THE SUPPLY OF CORN FOR THE
WEST INDIES.

BY far the most important crop in the
world, from the point of view of yield, is
the potato crop, Of which the annual pro-
duction is about 1876 millions Of tons. Com
ing below this prodigious figure it may be
noted, is the worlds annual yield Of sugar
cane, which amounts to something like so
millions of tons. The worlds production of
Indian com, however, approaches much
nearer to that Of potatoes, whilst it con-
siderably exceeds the output of wheat
1t is approximately 1873 millions of tons. OF
this enormous quantity of grain, North
America produces IS per cent, Europe ID
per cent, leaving only 7 per cent. for the
other continents which, it is significant to
observe, are to q large extent situated III the
Tropics. Exactly what part of the Z per
cent. the West Indies are responsible for,
1T is difficult, practically impossible, to say
for, such small areas as are put under this
crop we find cultivated principally as a
catch-crop for immediate estate consump-
ton.
The part taken by the West Indies is at
any rate enthusiastically small, and qui's ina
dequate to meet the local demand which is
principally supplied, as is we'll known, by
the United States.
In the near future it is at least clearly
evident that better and more intensive
methods will have to be employed in the
West Indies, and probably there will have
to be an extension OF area, for-to return
to the statistics-alJhough North America
produces Is per cent. of the worlds crop,
and supplies 26 per cent. of the amount
needed by foreign cORntries-including the
West Indies-that must buy, it is only just
over 2 per cent of the United States prodi-
giOus production that is exported, and this
has falleL III five years to its present low
position from over 8 per cent. Such q decrease
in expectation indicates that home consump-
ton in the United States will soon equal
production. In fact, during the past three
years corn has been imported on the Pacific
coast. The consumers increased demand
will raise the prices, aud it mny be predicted
that the West Indies will not be likely to
escape from the effects of it unless they
make the necessary provisions to meet it.
Reference has just been made to foreign
countries including the West Iudies-which
must buy. But the statement is too gen
eral. The West Indies have no occasion
to buy to the extent they do, provided the
cultivation of corn be conducted on a more
intensive ana extensive scale unQef cO-OperQ-
tive conditions. Those interested ia the
matter-and there IRE a large number-will
remember possibly, a previous editorial on
this subject, 1t may be recollected that
great Importance was attached in that article
to the introduction of co. operative methods
for the collection, drying aud storage of the
grain. 1t is, it seems, the depreciation of
stored grain in the Tropics which tends to
check the extension of the area under
Indian corn, and strangely enough, in
America itself. where as u general rule only
grain for export is passed through the hot
air driers, the Department Of Agriculture is
now considering what methods shall be
adopted in the case of corn produced for
Immediate OF early consumption on farms,
in order to check the damage occasioned,
particularly under unfavourable climatic
conditions, by weevils and mildew. Apat
from the initial loss-which is very great
occasioned by these organism s, there is also
strong evidence which indicates that diseased
corn and corn fodder tend to induce q dis
ease known MS cerebral meningitis of horses.
There is q likelihood, then, that the cost of
producing corn will tend to rise in America,
aud this together with an increased demand,
is likely to render it necessary for the West
Indies either to do without the grain or else