COMMERCE IN MAIZE GRAIN 507 



for export. But even then there must be a surplus to send over- CHAP, 

 sea. No farmer will be able to carry stock enough — in the maize XI1- 

 belt at least — to consume all the maize he can produce, and 

 every farmer will be well advised to plant a larger acreage than 

 his anticipated local requirement, to provide against the partial 

 failure of his crop. Although the United States no longer 

 grows for export, her surplus is no mean figure, and she still 

 furnishes huge cargoes of maize for the European markets — in 

 fact she continues to be the largest supplier. However much 

 local consumption increases, South Africa may always expect 

 to have a good surplus. The recent ill-advised outcry 

 against the export trade suggests an origin in the selfish 

 motives of those who see that the steadying influence of 

 the export reduces their chances of exploiting the local 

 market. 



481. Importance of the Export Trade. — It may be ac- 

 cepted as a fact that but for the export trade, the production 

 of maize in South Africa could not have gone ahead as it has 

 done ; the local market alone, although good, was too easily 

 flooded. The export of South African maize stimulates local 

 trade, offers a profitable outlet for the surplus crop of the 

 country, and prevents the accumulation of supplies and conse- 

 quent glutting, with the inevitable result of low prices. While 

 it is true that it is more profitable to export manufactured or 

 second products than the raw materials or first products, 

 there are conditions — especially in a new country — under 

 which it is desirable to export the raw material. It has been 

 said by a well-known South African financier that every 

 sovereign brought into the country from oversea is worth 

 two of those which merely change hands locally, because the 

 former brings capital into the country, and in a new country 

 capital is badly needed for the development of its agricultural 

 resources. 



482. Oversea Markets. — There is always a ready market 

 for maize in Europe, as it is one of the best and most largely 

 used foods for stock and poultry, and is also an important 

 item in the distillation of whisky and gin, the brewing of beer, 

 the manufacture of starch, glucose, etc., and the preparation 

 of foodstuffs for human consumption. 



Manufacturers in Europe are constantly finding new uses 



