GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION 51 



45. Tropical South America. — Maize is grown to a greater CHAP, 

 or less extent in all of the tropical South American countries, 



but statistics of production seem to be non-existent in most 

 cases. Chile is reported to have had 63,100 acres under crop 

 in 1908, and Uruguay 524,200 acres in 1907. Peru and 

 Bolivia are also known to produce for their own consumption. 

 In Brazil maize is grown in the more open parts, two crops a 

 year being produced in some places. Flint breeds form prac- 

 tically the only variety grown, and the yield per acre is said 

 to be higher than in the United States. The dense tropical 

 forests which clothe the river valleys are unsuited to the pro- 

 duction of maize, and there manioc largely takes its place. 



46. Argentina. — Argentina is the most serious competitor 

 with South Africa for the maize trade of the world, and the 

 only country that she has to fear at the present time. In the 

 season 1908-9 Argentina had 8,342,559 acres under maize, 

 and her crop was 49,590,000 muids, or an average of nearly 

 6 muids per acre; on some farms 14 to 17 muids (50 to 60 

 bushels) are obtained. 



The planting season extends from the middle of August 

 to the middle of January, but the safest time is considered to 

 be from the middle of September to the middle of December. 

 Early planting gives the best yield when the season is favour- 

 able. The crop is drilled, not check-rowed ; it is harrowed 

 when the plants are 2 or 3 inches high, and hilled up by 

 machinery when 12 inches high. Ninety per cent of the 

 crop consists of a small flint type, much appreciated on the 

 London and Liverpool markets ; Hickory King and Queen 

 have also been tried. There is a tendency to harvest before 

 the crop is mature, in order to get the grain to the coast 

 before the heavy rains begin (f 29). In some seasons locusts 

 play serious havoc with the crop. The Provinces of Buenos 

 Aires and Santa Fe are the largest producers. 



47. Possible Increase in the Argentine Crop. — Fifty per 

 cent of the total crop is exported, but it is likely that local 

 consumption will increase owing to the enormous develop- 

 ment of the meat-packing trade. However, with increased 

 local demand, there will certainly be an increase in acreage 

 under crop. During the five years 1905 to 1909 inclusive, 

 the average annual increase in area planted to maize amounted 



4* 



