16 Yearbook of the Department, of Agriculture. 



cent more than the combined values' of these crops. During 

 the same decade, the number of acres in corn was 18.7 per 

 cent in excess of that for the previous decade. A growing 

 increase in the price per bushel for corn is indicated by the 

 fact that the value of the crop was about 100 per cent greater 

 in the past decade than in the previous one. 



In many forms, corn is becoming more and more popular 

 as a human food. It is the main cereal food of the cotton 

 belt. Considering the food value of crops grown on an acre 

 of land, corn heads the list, a 35-bushel crop producing 

 nearly 150 pounds of protein and more than 3,000,000 units 

 of energy. 



Valuable, even in the remote past, as a sustainer of life 

 among primitive peoples in peace and war, the importance 

 of corn in the world's affairs becomes more and more mani* 

 fest with each decade of time. Moving westward and north- 

 ward as its merits became better recognized, its growth in 

 production is closely associated with the building of canals, 

 railroads, our national highways, and our commercial su- 

 premacy. Because of the manifold uses of every part of the 

 plant, the production of corn is closely linked with the de- 

 velopment and perpetuation of many great industries. Be- 

 cause of its wonderful adaptation to conditions, it is now 

 grown with success in every State of the Nation, from sea 

 level to loft}- plateaus. In acreage, in multiplicity of uses, 

 in production, and in value it exceeds any other cultivated 

 crop. A corn-crop failure of any extent affects our supply 

 of meat, lard, butter, and imports and exports. Its use as a 

 substitute for wheat made it possible to release exceptionally 

 large shipments of wheat to Europe, to supply the Allies 

 and our own armies. 



Having served a useful purpose in the early days of our 

 country's history, corn is still indispensable in the develop- 

 ment and perpetuation of our great Republic. 



