COMMERCE IN MAIZE GRAIN 509 



increased demand and decreasing supplies to open these chap. 

 markets, at best an uncertain and unreliable policy. XIL 



The continent of Europe, especially Germany, Holland, 

 Belgium and France, is a large and increasing consumer. 

 In the eight months ended 30 August, 1907, Europe im- 

 ported 18,000,000 quarters (432,000,000 muids) of maize, of 

 which 8,000,000 went to the United Kingdom and 10,000,000 

 to the Continent. Of this amount the United States supplied 

 the largest proportion. South Africa has also exported to 

 the Canary Islands, Madeira, St. Helena, Australia, Mexico, 

 Canada, India, Ceylon, Portuguese East Africa, Portuguese 

 West Africa, Rhodesia, Katanga, Nyassaland, British East 

 Africa, the Kerguelen Islands and Madagascar. 



The shipments made by South Africa in 1908 are small 

 in comparison with what they may or ought to be. It should 

 be remembered that in 1906 over 27,260,000 muids of maize 

 were imported into England. If only j-^o part of the whole 

 of South Africa were planted with maize it would be 

 7,100,000 acres; estimating an average of four muids per 

 English acre, the yield would be 28,400,000 muids, or a net 

 weight of 5,680,000,000 lbs., a little over the amount con- 

 sumed in England alone, without allowing for the enormous 

 and increasing quantity used on the Continent. 



484. Possibility of Developing Trade with Canada. — The 

 Canadian Trades Commissioner in Cape Town reported some 

 time ago that large quantities of white maize are imported into 

 Canada every year for manufacturing purposes, from dis- 

 tances up to 1,500 miles by rail. Several shipments of South 

 African Flat White maize were made, between 1907 and 1910, 

 to the Ogilvie Flour Mill Co. of Montreal, and were pro- 

 nounced the finest ever seen by them. 



The Archer Manufacturing Company, St. John, N.B., re- 

 ported that if the price could compete with that of the Ameri- 

 can article, a very large business could be done. Canadian 

 steamers visit South African ports every month, and it is 

 thought that the owners would be prepared to quote low 

 freights for return cargoes. 



485. Egypt as a Possible Market. — Although Egypt is a 

 considerable producer of maize, there seems to be an opening 

 for the South African article in that country. The following 



