The Greeley tribune., 1912-01-11

suppose We should all feel moved to
adopt It Professor Taylor puts
and answers the question thus:
Can the surface of the earth
(for the fishes of the sea would
have to he excluded) raise enough
grain, fruits, nuts. and vegetables.
added to dairy products. to meet the
albumin needs OF the present
ear.h's population? Unhesitatingly
it may be stated that the area OF
the earth's surface now under culti-
walton could not. with the present
| methods OF agriculture, dependably
produce enough plant albumin to
meet the needs of the present popu-
lation. Very large areas OF the
earth's surface at present produce
only grasses. shrubs and trees. Man
can neither Craze nor browse. A,
present these plants are consumed
by cattle. goats. sheep and swine,
whose albumin Ia utilized in turn by
man. 1t is through the mediation
of these animals that the vegetation
of enormous areas OF land is made
available for mankind. At present
probably one-half of the albumin
needs of mankind are met by animal
albumin. To meet these needs with
plant albumin and dairy products
the worlds production of grains and
legumins would need to be doubled
at the least. 1t Is quite certain that
this could not, with the uttermost
efforts Of the worlds population. be
dependably accomplished at present.
It is possible that 1t might be ac-
complished. with the present me-
thods on the present acreage OF till
able soil. II no untoward manifesta-
tions OF the elements occurred (such
as severe winters. unreasonable
frosts, foods, droughts. storms, ex-
cessive heat). with dependable
rainfall in both time and space. But
mankind would be yearly at the
mercy of the elements"
To meet fully the needs OF the
growing population. four huge ad-
vances, the writer goes on to say
must be made-methods of cultiya-
ton must be intensified and revolu-
tionized; conservation of water must
be accomplished on scale never
before dreamed OF; the ravages OF
plant diseases must be checked; and
soil fertilization on a vast scale
through microbic and electrochemi-
cal agencies must be carried on.
l,
quadruple our present yield. But.
says Professor Taylor. for the pres
ent 1t is certain that to place the
human race upon the basis OF ethical
vegetarianism would be to expose
the race to the mercy of nature, just
as the vegetarian population of In
dia is yearly at the mercy of the
yield of grain" We read further:
ITO dispense with the products of
animal bodies would be task triv-
ial in comparison with the problem
OF feeding, With woods. cottons.
linens. and the other plant fabrics.
with metals and woods. all could be
accomplished without great techni-
cal difficulties. were preconceptions
once obliterated From the stand
point OF ethical vegetarianism, the
wearing Of fur. kid gloves. and
leather shoes constitutes fratricide.
The number of animal and bird lives
sacrificed today for purposes of su-
perfuous comfort and for compli-
ance with the vanities of fashion
makes q striking numerical showing
contrasted with the number OF ami
mails slaughtered for the supply of
food The difficulties would lie in
clothing the extremities of outdoor
workmen: but the problem would
be solved without difficulty in
world rich in inventive devices
though poor In large scientific con-
ceptions.
THE results of the worldwide
installation OF vegetarianism to the
sociological and economic institu-
tions OF the world need but to he
sketched to be appreciated. The
race OF swine. az domesticated
family, would be obliterated. and
the number OF cattle regulated by
the requirements for dairy products
On the other hand. the number OF
horses would need to be augmented
to meet the needs OF enlarged agri-
culture; and the number Of sheep to
wool. The population of the world |
would tend to shift in latitude, and
the commerce of the world would be
revolutionized to meet the altera-
tions in the currents and articles OF
trade. Fashions in dress and house |
furnishings would be strikingly |
changed. There 10 no need to dilate
further upon these features. Man
is today a beast OF prey. Just as
the whole map of biology would be
changed in the day when the lion |
and the lamb shall lie down to-
gether'. SO the whole face OF civili |
zation would be given transformed |
features in the time when man re-
cards the animal as a brother and |
not al prey. Man IL beast OF
prey because thus the preservation !
OF existence Is made easy: vegetar- |
ianism would make II difficult. and |
Will therefore not be adopted. This |
carries It's personal lesson: l. the |
vegetarian. must not be vain; be-
cause II is the meat eating OF my |
brother that makes vegetarianism |
possible for me."-Literary Digest.