CHAPTEE VI. 



MAIZE (Zea mays) 



Production. — Though grown by Europeans only in com- 

 paratively recent times, maize production has increased to such 

 an extent that to-day it is the world's highest yielding grain 

 crop. In order of production, the world's average annual cereal 

 production lor the period 1906-1910 was as follows : — 



Crop. Quantity. 



Maize 113,000,000 tons. ' 



Wheat 107,000,000 



Oats 

 Rice 

 Eye 

 Barley 



67,000,000 

 67,000,000 

 46,000,000 

 33,000,000 



For the same years the average Continental production 



North America 

 Europe ... 

 South America 

 Africa 

 Australia 



78-09 per cent. 

 15-08 



4-20 



2-35 

 •28 



The United States of America contribute approximately 

 three-fourths of the world's production. The following indi- 

 cates the position of the leading countries during 1911-13, the 

 figures representing the average annual production : — 



United States ... 

 Austria-Hungary 



Mexico 



Argentina 



Italy 



Roumania 



Egypt 



European Russia 

 Union of South 

 1915-17) ... 



Africa (average 



2,725,367,400 bushels. 

 209,837,600 

 152,166,200 

 151,015,000 



95,696,800 



88,163,400 



66,058,800 



59,831,200 



33,758,333 



73 



