Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-12-28

peared. whereas the 1889 per capita
consumption was 30 pounds, It has
dwipdled to q mere 4-10 Of pound.
Buckwheat consumption never was com.
parable with white wheat because 1t
Is largely q Winter food and also sec
tional. The buckwheat cake and maple
strip season runs approximately con-
currently with the incidence Of snow
north of the Mason and Dixon line.
There have been important substitu-
lions for the old-fashioned cereal prod
ucts, but they do not make complete
Offset. Except for plain rolled oats Of
the type from which Scotch porridge
was made, the patented breakfast food
was unknown 20 years ago. The force
Of advertising Is Interestingly displayed
by the manner in which the American
breakfasting public has been educated
into consumption OF these patent foods.
However, the quantities consumed 60
but short way toward making up the
loss in total nutriment represented by
the falling on In the breadstuh con-
sumption.
Taking all cereal products into con-
sideration. 1t Is reported that conSunnp-
ton has declined 120 pounds for every
man, woman and child in the country
since 1899.
Milk, Meat and Sugar Gain.
During this period the population Of
the United States has approximately
doubled and therefore, even with the
sharply reduced consumption, the total
consumption in terms Of volume has In
creased, but had consumption remained
at the same rate the demand on the
American farmer for cereals would be
hundreds of millions Of bushels ahead
of what it is now. Farming presumably
would be more profitable.
On the other hand there has hnAn An
increase in per capita consumption Of
meats, although only q small one when
the enhancement Of wealth and the
standard Of living are taken into con-
sideration. The gain has been only
pounds per person since 20 years ago.
Then 142 pounds, 1t has increased to
145 pounds year.
Three items Of diet, all nourishing,
but not of the same muscle building
type as meat and cereal, have revealed
good gains. The chief gain Is recorded
in dairy products. Per capita consurnp-
ton now Is placed at 1,040 pounds, an
increase Of $50 pounds since 1899. The
! gain is chiefly accounted for by the
! greatly increased use Of ice cream,
which in 1899 was q relatively rare
luxury.
Sugar has climbed from 81 pounds
per capita In 1899 to los pounds, q gain
Of A pounds. A considerable part of
this increase has come about since pro-
hibition. Transportation improvements
and projections Of refrigeration, to-
gether with development Of the citrus
industry, account for q large increase
in fresh fruit consumption-from 16e
pounds in 1899 to 1872 pounds now.
For instance, consumption Of oranges
has increased from $50 pounds In 1899
to 1919 pounds now. Lemons have
risen from 2.99 TO 4.7o pounds. Grape
fruits do not even appear in the sta
tistics until 1909, when consumption per
capita amounted to less than one pound
. year. Now 1t Is SIS pounds.
Fresh vegetable consumption has not
increased. There have been fluctuations,
but fairly even consumption has been
maintained. A large increase Is noted,
however, in canned vegetables.
Meantime, the health index Of the
American people has risen steadily
Destitution threatening starvation has
been less and less apparent with the
passing Of the years. The American
people simply do not want az much 10
eat as they used TO.