Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-03-01
FOR A CORN-FED WORLD
BY Frederic J. HaSkin
WY ASHINGTON, D. c., Feb. 23.-Can
w Europe and Asia be taught to eat
corn?

This mOmentOus question has been raised
again by the gift of million bushels OF
corn which American farmers are sending
to starving Europeans and Chinese.
You must know that in practically no
other country outside of the two Americas
has maize, Indian corn, been used to any
extent as human food. 1t has been regarded
as food for livestock only. The un-American
world has simply never learned to eat corn
But now large sections of that world are
starving. This would seem to be most un-
usual opportunity to teach Europe and Asia
to eat corn to the advantage of all parties
concerned. Eur, pc would have new food
and America would have a new export mar
ket for its growing corn crop.
Last season this country produced $780,,
367 900 bushels of corn, considerably more
than the average for the past five years
276O,OOO,0O0. But the big crop has not
brought prosperity to the mid-western
farmers. Instead corn prices have fallen to
less than half what they were last year, and
many farmers have harvested their corn at
a loss.
In view of these facts. a young Illinois
farmer suggested the gift corn project,
which has grown to such proportions The
offer was made to the committees for re-
lief in China and the Near East. They con-
sidered the difficulties of transportation and
decided to try to overcome them by obtain
ing donations of mOney and help. Some
money has already been collected, and train
men have offered their services free in
carrying the grain across country.
With this much of the ways and means
problem worked out the corn is beginning
to be collected at railroad centers and the
first cargo has been shipped to Constantine
L. oo1I
of individual donations, so that a report can
be rendered to the giver, showing when
and by whom the corn was used.
Shipping Troubles
Shipping corn is a much more complicated
business than shipping wheat. There is
about IL per cent water in corn, and the
moisture in the grain is therefore apt to
cause mold in the course of lengthy trans
portation. Damage due to moisture has fire.
quently been a cause Of complaint in the
comparatively small shipments of corn which
we have sent to Europe.
Water can, however, be baked out of the
corn by kiln drying process, after which
it will keep for much longer time. This
precaution is to be taken before the gift corn
is shipped abroad in the form of meal, grits,
and hominy. Preparing the corn will mean
some delay, but special machinery which
would not be generally available abroad Is
needed. A first shipment is expected to reach
China in April, and it will then be ready
for immediate consumption.
AS distribution of the corn il to be direct
ly in the hands of relief committees no diff
fculty in getting the people to eat the corn
is anticipated. In China where thousands of
people have been trying to live on bark and
moses, there will be no caviling over the
American corn being pigs fuod. And the
committees believe that the grain will be
equally welcome in Armenia and Hungary.
Corn was used to some extent in Austria
during the war. Europe has never liked it
YER! much, however, and generally preferred
rye when wheat was not to be had.
Americans have felt that this dislike was
due mainly to ignorance-not many Euro
peans know much about corn, and those who
have tasted it more often than not were
prejudiced by bad cooking.
There is story along this line about
Carlyle and Emerson. Emerson wrote to his
friend, Carlyle, recommending corn as q
food and saying that he had sent a package
so that the Carlyle family might try it.
Carlyle wrote back politely to thank Mr.
Emerson, but to say that after several en-
periments they really did not find the flavor
of corn meal agreeable. The correspondence
stopped here until Mrs. Emerson could copy
off some of her best recipes Then the Car
lyles were asked to try again. They did, and
wrote back enthusiastically to know where
they could get more OF the American deli
cacy.
Carlyle Ate Corn
This incident, from the letters of Carlyle
and Emerson, is one of the grounds on
which Americans base their conviction that
Europe would like if it could ever be
persuaded to give it fair trial The De-
partment of Agriculture once sent demon
strators and lecturers over to Europe to en-
Tighten the different countries as to the
possibilities of Indian corn. Neither eoquence
nor samples of corn disguised in griddle
cakes, muffins gingerbread, pone
aroused any enthusiasm. Mostly, those pres
ent did not even come forward to get the
samples.
Because Of such experiences, when the
food shortage began to afflict Europe, the
United States did not send corn to the res
cue. You may remember that Herbert Hoov-
er urged to eat '1ore corn and save
wheat because Europe could not very we'll
be taught to eat a new kind of food in so
critical period.
Now the situation is different and Hooy-
err accepted the offered corn gladly. About
1000, 600 bushels, it is announced, will be
fed to children of the famine areas, and
probably most of it will be prepared by the
relief organizations and served to the chill
dren at feeding centers.
What goes to adults may or may not be
cooked before distribution. Where it is not
prepared for eating directions will doubtless
be given to insure sufficient cooking.
With adequate cooking the nutritive value
Of corn is about the same as that of wheat
Corn contains a large amount of sugar and
starch which supply the body with heat and
energy. 1t also has a good deal of protein
which builds up the body tissues. It is not
however. rich in minerals, needed in bone
formation Experiments have shown that
corn is about as digestible as wheat and
hot Of SIC n II oh