MAIZE, OR INDIAN CORN, 457 



MAIZE, OR INDIAN CORN. 



The demand for tliis valuable American ijrain, wliich has sprung up in Europe, 

 principally in consequence of the failure of the potato crop in Ireland and other 

 European countries, promises to be of more than temporary interest to the farm- 

 ers of the United States.* 



Although the present high prices for this grain in our Atlantic ports cannot be 

 expected to be maintained in future years, yel we believe that the extended use 

 of it in various parts of Europe will cause it always hereafter to be regarded with 

 favor as a cheap food in quarters where it has been hitherto either unknown or 

 considered Avith prejudice, as fit only for the food of cattle and swine. Taking 

 all circumstances into view which are likely hereafter to influence prices, we are 

 induced to think that, in years of plenty, an extensive demand for export will 

 exist in our Atlantic ports — not at the present prices of 90 cts. to $1 per bushel, 

 but probably at remunerating prices to the farmer and those who transport the 

 grain from the. interior to the sea-board — say from 50 to 70 cts. per bushel. 



We recollect a conversation which we once had with a southern planter on 

 the Alabama River, in which he remarked that he would prefer raising Indian 

 corn at 25 cts. per bushel (shelled), delivered on his plantation, to cotton (ginned 

 and cleaned) at 9 cts. per pound. 



According to the estimates of Professor Tucker, of Virginia (now of Philadel- 

 phia), of the value of maize raised in each State of the Union, by the census of 

 1840, and the result of his own inquiries — which we published in a Table in The 

 Fabjuers' Library, vol. i., page 591 — it appears that the average value per 

 bushel for the United States at that time (when there was no extraordinary for- 

 eign demand) was about 35 cts. We have no doubt the average value of the 

 crop of last year would be found to be at least 60 cts. for the whole United Slates. 

 This price, supposing the crop to have been 400 millions of bushels, would pro- 

 duce an amount of tico hundred and forty millions of dollars. It must be recol- 

 lected, however, that the farmers require a large proportion of the corn raised by 

 them for their own use ; but, if we suppose that they dispose of one-quarter of 

 the crop to non-producers in the United Stales, and for export to foreign countries, 

 it would then appear that one hundred millions of bushels of last year's crop 

 have been or will be disposed of by our farmers at an average price of 60 cts. per 

 bushel, amounting to sixty millions of dollars, or twenty-five millions of dollars 

 more than the same quantity would have brought in market in the year 1840. — 

 This shows the immense advantages our farmers who have raised corn to sell 

 have derived from the scarcity in Europe, although probably not more than four- 

 teen or fifteen millions of bushels of last year's crop of maize have been or will 

 be shipped to foreign countries. 



The proportion of the crop of maize raised in 1839, in different sections of the 

 United States, and the value thereof, according to Prof. Tucker's estimates, and 

 the Table published by us last year, are as follows : 



Ptatcs. Bushels. Value. 



New-Enqland States (),9!)2.909 $4,794,893 



Middle States 39,946,213 23,3.56,515 



Southern States 94.998,2.").5 44.994, .lOS 



South- Western States 129,741,093 38,239,033 



North-VVestern States 10."..8.")3,405 21,186,681 



Total United Stales 377,531,875 $132,591,628 



(937) Average about 35 cents per bushel. 



