The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-01-02

Evidence multiplies that the food prob
lem has become, or will become, the
burning question in this country. Il is
but a few weeks since James J. Hill.
pioneer railroad builder of the North
west, pointed out that attention TO the
farm and its production is the pressing
problem in this country. From various
sources comes the same CRY. and now it
is echoed from Kansas In an address de-
livered by H J. Waters dean Of the Ag-
ricultural State College OF that State. In
part, he says:
I'VE are increasing in population, In
round numbers, at the rate OF about two
million a year, and we are UP to the
limit Of land now.
The fact is that IN this country we are
not farming seriously. We are not maxi
Ing our land productive IN the strictest
sense of the word. When we use seed
wheat an increase in the yield OF five
bushels an acre can be made. II seed
corn is used it viii increase the yield ten
bushels an acre.
Waste In COrnstaIks.
When there is being wasted on the
Kansas farm every year enough food in
the cornstalks TO send every boy and girl
on the Kansas farm to the agricultural
/ college we are not practicing farming
correctly. We have not begun yet really
and seriously 10 study this thing The
plant food that is IN the Kansas soil is
1 the principal mineral wealth Of the State,
/ and coal and salt and white lead and zinc
and other minerals there are are Of lesser
importance The Kansas farmer IS the
principal miner. Not cnly the wealth OF
Kansas. but Of the whole Mississippi Val
/ ley IS in the plant food that is in its soil.
The farmer is engaged IN a permanent
industry as long as he practices il intel
/ ligently. Agricultural colleges are to-day
shaping the destinies Of the oldest and
most necessary occupation Of man. Every
successful farmer turns nowadays 10 the
agricultural college; and il IS imperative
that we be thus iEdusrially educated.
but before we can make this Industrial
education a success We will have 20 in
trOdUce it into the high school The cen
trail feature Of the high school VIII have
to be agriculture and home economies. It
should be introduced also into rural and
graded schools.
Reach Limit of Food Production.
we are now up TO the limit OF our
present production Of food and we face a
situation where We must eat less or pro-
duce more This is not a mere local ques-
ton, because It is a question Of the pres
ervation Of the government itself Upon
food rests everything. You VIII not have
great class distinction as long as the man
who works IN the street has his dinner
pail filed with white bread, meat, and
coffee. You VIII not have great class dis
tinction as long as this man has substsn-
TALLY the same food as the mayor Of the
city or any one else. Trouble and turbu-
fences arise only when the pinch Of hun
ger is felt.
Heretofore the demand for an in
creased food supply has been met by con-
quest and spoliation. II was always
cheaper TO move than 10 Worry about
building up land. But now We canno;
move. There is no great West for Us q
go 10. We are here for better or 70.
worse and we are facing a crisis The
American people and all the civilized ma
tons OF the earth are abundantly able tC
! meet the situation. but It must be met In
telligently.'