THE CRY FOR BREAD

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 113, 30 January 1918, Page 3

THE CRY FOR BREAD

WORLD'S WHEAT AND WORLD'S APPETITE BANANAS FOR COFFEE AND FLOUR (By A. F. Spawn, of Florida and California.) ' Bread is tho staff of life the world ovoj , . Up to very lately wheat has been the principal cereal for bread. The , supply has not kept up with the demand in the thickly-populated countries of the world, most especially the United States, the largest and most progressive grain-producing country. In 1900 certain statisticians, reviewnig the wheat fields of the world, declared that the supplies would bo overtaken by the demand in 19U ; hut other lands wero opened up, and the supplies kept in advance of tho demand. There is plenty of proof at this tinio that the demand has overtaken the supply. For example, in 1880 the United States had 38,000,000 acres under wheat, with a yield of -199,000,000 bushels, and in 1910 the acrea.ee was '157.000,000 and the yield 021.000,000 bushels, but while in Hie period the increase in wheat was 25 per cent., tho increase in population was S3 per cent. In 1910 the increase in wheat was 12 per cent, over 1900, the increase in population was 21 per cent. That means that the United States has less wheat for Europe. For the three years 1907 to 1909 the United Sfcntcs exported wheat ind wheat flour to the value of £82,500,000. and in 1910 to 1912 to the value of £51,250,000, a decline of £31,250,000. Not by Wheat Alone. Mr. Patten, the Wheat King of Chicago, on his return from a tour of ISurope eigjhfc years ago, made tho following statement to the Chicago "Tribune":—"lt is only a question oi another few years when the world will require a substitute for wheat. The supply is not keoping up with tho demand. Something must be found to help out." In a report from the United States Department of Agriculture about the same time this statement was made:— "The output of wheat in the United Slates in the past 10 years has onlj increased i\ per cent., whereas the demand has increased over 22 per oent.> This would necessitate the United States importing 10 years hence.'! At this time I was at my works established at Ilia Blanco, Mexico. In addition tc evaporated bananas, pineapples, coconuts, and other tropical fruits, I wai making banana coffee, banana flour and cassava flour.. When the Mexicai War started I was forced to give ui my business, and went to Florida, when I made the first sweet potato anc dasheen flour. The latter is called tar: in the Pacific Islands. From my demonstrations in America Europe, and South Africa I have prove< bevond all doubt their value as a breat food, and that they will be a grea boon to the world at large in helpinj to feed the human race. I do not claim that any of tho rou new bread foods will take tho place o wheat by themselves, but by usini one-third' with two-thirds wheat the; make more digestible and nutrition bread, biscuits, and cakes, with bette keeping qualities than all wheat, where by giving tho world one-third mor broad food.

1 • \ > Dishes from Mew Flours. i Delicious griddle cakes, waffles, pud- . dings, custards, and other high-class ■ pastry can bs made without the addition of wheat flour. All are highly appreciated by tlioso who have sampled ' them. For example, the last week in December, 1914, I gave a dinner dei moiistrating my various food products I in London. The bread foods and pastry were made by a West End baker. 1 was in the manager's oilice when his pastry man brought in what lie called "wafers" made totally from half sweet potato and half dasheen flours. • Ho made- the following remark: "Master, I have been baking for you over 20 years, have I not?" The manager's reply was, "Yes, you have, William.' To which he replied, "These are the finest morsels I ever made; they are something fit for the Queen." Another high compliment paid to me was on the occasion of a banana dinner I gave to til? wholesale groeerymcri of New York city in 1902. It was to demonstrate the many different palatable dishes that could bo made from the banana. As this should be interesting to banana-growers of the north of Australia, I will give the menu:—Banana breakfast food, cream of banana soup, fritters, waffles, griddle cakes, light I bread, Boston brown bread, fried 9 bananas, fruit cake, layer cake, cup cakes, sugar cookies, three kinds of biscuits, doughnuts, fig bananas, frossen custard and coffee. The lato Mr. Hazzard, of Hazzard and Co., presided after tha dinner. He remarked: "Gentlemen, 1 have been in the grocery business since I. was 14 years old.. This has been the greatest object lesson ever brought to my notice in the way of foods. Every article or this table is par excellence. The fruit cake brought to my memory my wedding cake of 60 years ago. I have tasted nothing of the kind better since, If I had gone into any hotel or restaurant in Now York and the same colfee was served me that I have had here I would not question but that it was made from a good quality pure coffee. 11 The partakers' voted the dinner a greal success. When cigars wero passed, Mr Hazzard said: "Now we can smoke, am i from what we have already seen of Mr H Spawn's utilisation of the banana H I would not surprise me to know that h< 7 made them from tho 'banana leaf." I Tho Versatile Banana, f It was also mentioned that if a hu ' man being was compelled to live oi one article of food there was not any thing in the world equal to the banana The banana, sweet potato, caesava and dasheen thrive in all tropical 'am ■ semi-tropical climates, and are tlv easiest and most profitable crops ti grow for small farmers. Sweet pota toes in America on good land properl; cultivated yield 250 bushels .per acre making from 30001b. to 35001b. of flour The dasheen gives about the sam yield; cassava from 35001b. to 40001b Bananas about 20001b. flour. Thes crops would bo most suitable for sol dief settlements. To insure their sue cess they must have reliable, all-year round market for all they grow at re muncrative prices, and allow nothiu: to go to ivasto. The only way to in sure this is convert all that canno bo sold at a paying price in the fres » state into flour and other marketabl r products. The market is certainly ui limited, both home and export. I was in Australia from 1884 to 189] ', and did a good deal of travelling. ' saw a great waste and lack of thril I and enterprise. The most extravagar ' waste was in wheat, tho .most value r food product. '. I returned to Australia from Soul Africa in November, and from wlir I saw at Fremantle, Port Adelaide, an ) on the railways from Adelaide to Bri I bane tho same thing exists to-day. \ 'f brought to my mind what I repeo.tr -, in Victoria about this waste 30 yea: j ago. explaining how grain was. handle [ in 'America from the time it wi I thrashed by tho farmer until it reac! J. cd the mills, or was put on board sh f for export. In the meantime mai 3 Australians have travelled throuj; America and to some extent must ha , 2k. seen tho same thing. It is only no a start has been made to adopt tl same system of elevators. The loss s> handling, storing, and sacks in tho pa 30 years would have built no snii

number of elevators. To me it looks that Australia is trusting too much to Providence and good luck. Food is the most essential commodity The world is clamoring for it at this time, and the worst has yet to come. ~, Fill up your back country with prosperous farmers, insuring them a reliable market for what they grow and your cities will take care of themselves. Wake up, Australia, get busy. I am here the second time preparing to show the way—(Sydney "Sun. )