The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-12-08
1913 Estimates of Agricul-
ture Department Are
Disappointing
CORN CROP LOWEST
IN TEN YEARS
On the Other Hand, Wheat
Is Estimated to Have
Been Record Breaker

Ization of the department OF agriculture
is foreshadowed in Secretary Houston's
first annual report presented to-day to
President Wilson. A plan to be submit
ted to Congress in the fiscal estimates
for 1916 proposes to carry out the work
OF the department in five or six main
groups. such as research. state relations,
rural organization, forest service, wealth
pr and regulation Such plan, Secre-
tarv Houston believes will promote CO.
ordination.
Plans for redistricting the country for
The enforcement of the pure food law
are announced and the secretary an
nounces his intention to ask for author
ity to prepare amendments to the pure
food law to improve the food supply,
protect the public health and promote
uniformity in food legislation.
Free distribution of seeds by congress
men should be discontinued, the secre-
tary recommends. He would conduct in
its stead constructive work in secur-
ing and distributing new seeds and
plants.
Conditions vary widely in the United
States, says the report, because farmers
do not equally need better credit ar
rangements and all sections are not sim
ilarlv eireumstanced. 1t contends that
when all necessary allowance has been
made for fundamental factors, it is prob
ably clear that the rural communities
ARE not as efficiently served as they
should be by existing financial arrange
ments. The secretary believes there does
not appear to be need for unique or
special legislation or for legislation
which shall aim to give the farmer cred
1t on easier terms than other members
Of society. What is needed is the crea-
tion Of conditions and machinery which
shall enable him on similar credit foun-
dations to secure money at the same
rates as those that prevail for other
CLASSES and for other sections.
Evan though the problem of how the
farmer can best sell his produce and can
improve the conditions under which he
ran secure the necessary capital were
solved, there would still remain vital
things to be accomplished before rural
life can be made fully efficient, profit
able, healthful, pleasurable and attrac-
tive, and before larger disposition to
remain on the farm develops. Good
keting, for better schools, and for more
comfortable rural living. Better santa
tion and hygiene in the home, in the
school, and in the community are Just
ps vital for the rural community as for
the urban" says the report.
"To gain information to enable the de-
partment better to serve rural women,
the secretary has addressed letters OF
- ba IS < Al
farms, covering every county. Other
surveys and studies were also conduct
ed. An analysis of the small part of
the letters as. vet digested shows that
farm women desire assistance in all
phases of home management, especially
as to ways of securing running water,
introducing household power machinery
and labor saving arrangements. and pro-
viding better hygienic and sanitary con-
ditions Many seek advice as to the bet
ter marketing of the articles they pro-
duce. Others ask the department to
prove to the man that their work is
worth something in dollars and cents.
The overwork of women and children
andJ difficulty of securing domestic help
are mentioned by number of the writ
ers.
The department believes that intelli
gent help to women in matters of home
management will contribute directly to
the agricultural success of the farm. 1t
purposes, therefore, to ask Congress for
means and authority to make more com
plete studies of domestic conditions on
the farm, to experiment with labor-sav-
ing devices and methods, and to study
completely the question of practical san
itation and hygienic protection for the
farm family.
As to federal aid for good roads, the
secretary says the federal government
should deal with the state as the low
est unit, through an expert highway
commissioner as its agency. The plan
should provide for maintenance as we'll
as construction. Preference should be
given to the improvement of roads over
which products from the farms can be
taken to the nearest railway station. A
scheme of road construction and main
tenanee within state should be devel-
oped and mutually agreed upon. Money
appropriated by the federal government
should be apportioned on the basis of
such factors as total population, farm
population, area, taxable valuation, and
mileage.
CpeCldi tHlptlbStS 10 ldlu OIi Tile IACt
that the figures for crops quoted are
estimates. From the estimates at hand
il appears that the production of crops
in 1918 was materially below the aver
age. the yield per acre of all crops COM
bined being smaller than in any year in
the past decade with the exception or
1911. The corn crop, the most valuable
product of this country, according to the
estimates, fell below 2,50O,0O0,000 bush
els, which is smaller than any crop since
1908. Wheat production. with an esti-
mated total of 753,000,000 bushels, is
the largest ever recorded in this coun-
try. This crop was matured before the |
drought became effective.
Brief mention is made as to crop con-
ditions throughout the world. From the |
estimates it appears that there were in |
creased areas sown to wheat, oats, bar |
ley, rye, and corn, and that the wheat |
acreage has probably yielded a record |
out-turn. Barley, oats, and rye are |
bountiful crops, but corn will probably
give the poorest result in 20 years.