338 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



October 21, 1916. 



of view of cultivation, this crop possesses many advan- 

 tages: it occupies the land but a short time, and so can 

 be grown as a catch crop; if the seed is properly selected 

 and planted fairly close in well manured soil, it is 

 a very prolific crop, while the cost of the cultural opera- 

 tions are smill. 



Indian corn furnishes a grain which is a valuable 

 ■food for man and for his domestic animals, and its 

 leaves and stalks form a useful stock food. The grain 

 ■contains all the elements of a perfect food, and in some 

 respects it is superior to the other cereals. It possesses, 

 compared with other cereals, an average protein cDntent, 

 a high fat content, and an average content of carbo- 

 hydrate, while the proportion of crude fibre is small — 

 •smaller than in the case of wheat. In its digestibility 

 also, Indian corn compares favourably with other 

 cereals. The number of pounds of digestible matter in 

 100 ft), of maize grain is somewhat higher than in high 

 grade wheat flour, the digestible protein alone being 

 lower, in the proportion of about 8:9. Freshly ground 

 corn produces a palatable meal of good flavour and of 

 excellent food value, but owing to the presence of 

 a large amount of oil it does not keep well. This 

 renders degermination necessary. In regard to keeping 

 •qualities, the grain itself presents ditflculties in this 

 respect, though these can be easily got over by methods 

 which will be referred to later on in this article. At 

 this point the reader may be referred to Pamphlet 

 No, 76 on the subject of Indian corn, issued by this 

 Department in l!tl4. 



The various forms of Guinea corn are but little used 

 . as food, except perhaps in Barbados. Considering the 

 e*se with which this croj) is growii and the considerable 

 yield of grain obtainable from some of the varieties, 

 this is to be regretted. The neglect arises from several 

 causes; some little trouble is necessary to separate the 

 grain; the grain is very subject to insect attacks; and 

 the grain is often wnjngly regarded as too coarse a food 

 for general consumption. If the best kinds were grown 

 and suitable threshing and winnowing machines and 

 small mills were introduced, considerable extension of 

 the use of this grain as a human food would doubtless 

 follow. 



The sweet potato is already grown extensively 

 in all the islands, forming the principal vegetable of 

 the people. It is particularly valuable on account of 

 the short time required to reach maturity. On the 

 other hand, sweet potatoes do not keep well. In this 

 ..respect yams, though they take longer to grow, have 

 the advantage in that they can be stored for much 



longer periods. The keeping of such crops can be got 

 over-in a general way by converting them into meal. 



Cassava meal is an excellent foodstuff and suitable 

 as a partial substitute for wheat. The production of 

 cassava meal is cniefly carried on in the \A'indward 

 Islands. Cassava itself requires a friable soil, and 

 where this condition obtains, the cultivation of any of 

 the excellent strains to be obtained from the Experi- 

 ment Stations — particularly in Montserrat — is to be 

 strongly recommended at the present time. 



In connexion with all the foodstufts referred to 

 above, it will be noticed that difiiculties crop up in 

 every case in regard to storage. On the whole, it ma}- be 

 said that the home-grown foods of the West Indies are 

 of a perishable -nature and must be consumed soon 

 after they come to maturity; they cannot, like the 

 imported foodstutt's, be readily stored. The difliculty as 

 regards corn can be o\'ercome by adopting a process of 

 dr3'ing. Means for effecting thi.s have been introduced 

 into Antigua and St. VincLiit, where the respective 

 Governments have established kiln driers capable of 

 dealing with large quantities of grain, and on 

 a co-operative basis. The work of the Antigua 

 granary has been fully described in this Journal,* and 

 the methods employed in St. Vincent are similar, 

 though an a rather larger scale Further'rises in the 

 price of flour will doubtless have the effect of stimu- 

 lating the cultivation of corn and consequent!}' increas- 

 ing the business of'these establishments, for which at 

 present there is ample scope. 



The object of drying corn is principally to sterilize 

 it. Insect life and fungi are killed, while the grain 

 itself loses a considerable amount of its moisture. But 

 it is important to realize that drying, and its sterilizing 

 effect are futile, particularly as regards weevil attacks, 

 unless adequate storage protection is available after- 

 wards. In Antigua, vermin-proof storage tanks have 

 been installed. Cnder all circumstances, arrangments 

 must be made in this connexion. 

 .i 



The drying of coii'n on a small scale for home use 



might be eff'ectively accomplished in an ordinary 

 domestic ov6n, and on a moderately large scale in 

 a baker's oven. After some little experience it should 

 be an easy matter to regulate the heating so that the 

 temperature remained in the neighbourhood of 1.50° F. 

 for an hour or so. The extent to which the door is left 

 open would assist in adjusting the temperature. It 

 would be well it these suggestons were brought directly 



*Vol. Xlll (l!)14)r No. 315, p. I(i2; Vol. XIV (191.5)7 

 No. 334, p. .">3, No. 335, p. 75 



