262 MAIZE. 



more general use among some classes, and the imports for home 

 consumption are still extensive, having been as follows in the last 

 few years : 



1848. 1849. 



Indian corn, quarters . 1,582,755 . 2,249,571 



meal, cwts. . 233,880 . 102,181 



1850. 1851. 



Indian corn, quarters . 1,286,264 . 1,810,425 

 meal, cwts. . 11,401 



The trade in maize, or Indian corn, is totally new since 1846. 

 The famine in Ireland in that year, and the potato rot in almost 

 every successive year since, have now fully established it. Like 

 the gold discoveries, the potato rot may be regarded as a provi- 

 dential means of effecting a great change in the condition of 

 society. Those discoveries are not without their influence in the 

 East, and, combined with the potato rot, they have rapidly in- 

 creased the commerce between the East and "West of Europe, 

 while they are spreading broad paths between all Europe and the 

 lands in the Southern Ocean. The imports of maize from all parts, 

 in 1852, amounted to 1,550,000 quarters, of which about 1,100,000 

 quarters arrived in vessels from the Mediterranean, &c., calling at 

 Queenstown or Falmouth for orders. The balance consisted of 

 imports from America, France, Portugal, &c., and also of cargoes 

 addressed direct to a port of discharge, without first calling off' the 

 coast for orders. The quantities received in 1851 and 1852 from 

 the Mediterranean were as follows : 



1852. 1851. 



Received from qrs. qrs. 



Galatz . 223,000 . 286.067 



Ibraila 



Salonica 



Odessa 



362,600 

 35,640 



219,170 



50,960 



8,250 



211,779 

 95,377 

 74,065 

 86,260 



pt 



Italy . 8,250 . 162J544 



Constantinople, Malta, 

 Trieste, and other 

 ports in the Mediter- 

 ranean . . 190,720 . . 286,358 



1,090,340 1,202,450 



The various quarters from whence we derive supplies of this 

 grain, are shown in the following table of the imports for the last 

 three years, which I have compiled from the most recent Parlia- 

 mentarv returns. 



