The Washington times., 1903-07-14
EAST INDIA SEEKS
AMERICAN ADVICE
Trying to Find Other Food
Staples Besides Rice.
SECRETARY WILSON'S REPLY
Diversifcation of Farm Produce the
Means Of Preventing Famine and
Producing Stronger People.

representatives or the Office OF .-ng
lands colonial secretary. and OF the au-
thorities of East India have been COM
PEELED TO seek information from the Sec
retary OF the Department Of Agriculture
Of the United States for the purpose of
providing means of support for the
starving millions in India and Hindoo-
stan
'fhe East Indians are able to get no
more than one meal day. Tell us how
we can give them two meals"
That is the appeal which the English
government has made to Secretary VIII
son. The supplication found a willing
and intelligent ear, and as the result
OF hurried inquiry Secretary Wilson
answered that he believed he could pro-
vide not only the second meal for which
entreaty had been made. but third as
well.
Common Sense Methods.
The information which the Depart
ment of Agriculture was able to give
was not based on any scientific discov-
cries which have been made In this
country. The advice Is merely pre-
scribed that common sense principles bO
applied in the cultivation OF the land.
Secretary Wilson learned that the peo.
pie of India were living on rice aIone.'
he was not surprised to learn that
deaths BY starvation were greater than
the annual birth rate in this country.
Mix the rice with ground peas or
beans and you viii have plenty of food
for all. Less food will be required and
greater strength will result"
That was the simple instruction Sec
retary Wilson offered TO meet the i'm
mediate needs. If the suggestion is
followed. the secretary says, there can
be no doubt that the result will be ben
efcial,
Secretary Wilson was greatly Inter
ested with his investigation of condi-
uens "A india. The Anazarika Dhrrr,,a-
pala. representing the Maha Bodhi So
elety, Of Calcutta. and bearing the COM
mission Of the Indo- American Industrial
Propaganda, has called at the Depart
ment Of Agriculture a number of times
recently, and from him Secretary Wilson
CLEANED a great deal OF information
which has been OF use In determining
what is best to advise for the aid OF the
great population which has been plagued
since the beginning OF the English rule
with both pestilence and starvation. the
former being the result OF the famine.
Indians Hot Meat Eaters.
The East Indians will not eat meat
indeed. it has been demonstrated that
their stomachs have not been educated
10 such solids. Rice is their one article
Of diet. The first thing done by the Sec
retary was to prepare statement show
Ing the nutrition in rice In comparison
with wheat. oats. barley. corn. peas. and
beans From the reports he was able IN
get OF the character of the soil IN India
he was assured that beans and peas can
be raised in abundance If the right va
rietieG are planted Mixed with rice the
result would be muscle and brain pro-
ducing food.
In speaking Of rice as diet Secretary
Wilson said an American would starve
% death in a short time on such food
unless by degrees he educated his
stomach 10 It's use. Il seems that a per-
son accustomed to variety In food Is
unable TO consume enough OF rice alone
to supply healthy fesh. The natives or
rice countries consume great quantities
of that food. As a result most Of them
are Of the pot -bellled" clags. Even
when starving il Is said that theI-
stomachs may be full OF food. but Of =
kind that contains little life giving
force.
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