Judith Gap journal. [volume] (Judith Gap, Mont.) 1908-19??, 1910-01-28
BREAD SHORTAGE ALREADY here.

DkCAD SuVklAUE AkkEAUI uckc.
Jsses }. fiill Points Ost Necessity for Greater
Wheat SuppIy-Uryes Better Farming.
The food condition presses upon us
now.
A shortage has begun.
As far as our food supply is con-
cerned right now the lean years are
upon us.
We have to provide for contin-
gency not distant from us. but already
present.
Thousands Of farmers are seeking
homes in the Canadian northwest,
owing TO cheap lands offered there
and the difficulty of securing such
lands in the United States.
Yet we still retain the land laws
under which, for so many years, the
great heritage Of the people has been
passing so largely into unworthy
hands.
Instead Of preserving the fertility
Of their lands, our farmers have gone
in search of new soils. to be skinned.
robbed and abandoned as soon AS the
old shows signs Ut exhaustion.
Now that there is no longer any
west to move to, what have we left
behind?
Since 1899 the average wheat crop
in the United States has fallen from
fifteen and eight-tenths to fourteen
bushels an acre. 1t is a disgraceful
record.
We have begun to realize only re-
Gently that farming is to great ex-
tent an exact science. The man no
longer deserves the name Of farmer
who conceives Of his industry as a
scratching Of the earth, a hit-or-miss
scattering Of seed and harvesting Of
such yield as soil and weather may
permit.
That is not farming, but a game of
chance.
Our national supply of food is
fundamental to the organization of
our social life and to the progress of
all our industries.
The fields Of Great Britain yield
over thlrty-two bushels of wheat per
acre. Germany produces twenty
seven and six tenths bushels per acre.
Uncle Sam Makes Mistake.
DIR. Samuel Johnson said of Eng
land: "Trade and manufacture, how
ever profitable must yield to the lands
in usefulness and dignity.
If DR.. Johnson could revisit his
country today he would find his ar
gument vindicated by an alignment
Of industries 80 uneven that business
in the streets of her cities is impeded
by professions Of quaint men, shout
ing III concert, 1--WE want work."
For many years the United States
has made the mistake of unduly as
sisting manufacture, commerce and
other activities that center in the
cities at the expense of the farm. We
must preserve jealously the right and
possibility Of free access to the soil.
This Is the safeguard not only of ma
uonal wealth, but of national charac-
ter.
For the sake of the coming millions
who will be helpless unless each can
tie furnished with piece of tillable
land, We should see that the specula-
tive abuses which these land laws
have fostered are brought to an end.
1t is as we'll assured as any future
event can be that the population of
the United States will be zoo, OOO. 900
ny about the middle of the present
century. Millions of persons now
living will see the 200, zoo, 900 persons
living here. How are they to be fed?
Up to the Farmer.
Suppose the average yearly per cap
ita consumption Of wheat is six and
one-half bushels. 1t will then require
1890, OO0, 900 bushels Of wheat for our
bread supply. Twice only in our his
tory have we exceeded 700, oOO, 900
OO6helS.
Possible increased of wheat produc
ton by increasing acreage is limited.
We have no longer great area of
free public lands.
We will be left practically with a
shortage OF 4OO,OOO,Oo bushels. A
supply to meet the coming new de-
mand is nowhere in sight. l have
said many times in different articles
and addresses that price over rather
than under 81 per bushel might he
expected hereafter.
Suppose the United States produced
twenty-eight bushels per acre, or
double its present showing. That
would be nothing extraordinary in
view of what European countries
have done with inforinr sails