The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-05-02
ny RUTLEDGE RUTHERFORD.

of having to depend on out
side sources as England does, Ger
many long has been putting forth ex-
traordinary efforts to make her big
family self-sustaining. That her task
has proved most arduous is due to
two main reasons: First, her soil IL
by nature very unproductive; second.
her family Is one Of enormous eaters.
The latter fact is weightier than
many might realize. The German has
learned the lesson OF economy all
right; Il is the lesson OF gastronomy
that has proved incomprehensible to
him. lie is the most ravenous eater
on earth. None other eats so many
meals a day as he; none other SO
much at meal. His dinner would
make a days rations for the average
American. So accustomed has he be-
come to this enormous amount OF
food that he would experience the
panrs Of real hunger II his allowance
were greatly restricted. He would
starve to oath on the Americans
diet.
Yet the grocery bill OF the German
family is less than that of the Ameri-
can. The reason Is the German avoids
all possible sources OF waste. The
garbage can does not take up much
room in the German kitchen. A to-
mato can might suffice for weeks
service. Some have no garbage can
at all. To waste food in Germany is
an objectionable crime. punishable In
this world and the next.
Every possible source OF sustenance
IS carefully nurturcd and protected
by the nation. No matter how SEEM
lngly insignifcan, II it provides food
II Is worthy % German esteem. In
deed. conservation has reached its
highest stage of development in Ger
many. Il Is the watchword OF the
nation nrd governs everywhere from
farm production to home consump-
:ior. And we'll II does in land OF
such limited resources where the peo-
pic cat 50 much. With an area Of but
COS 80 square miles. less than the
state % Texas. Germany has seventy
millions OF taese big mouths TO feed.
America. with a population Of ninety
-,!r.on small eaters. has an area Of
3G2IO22 square miles. or more than
seventeen times that OF Germany.
America has 90 O. acres OF land to
every inhab!tant. Germany only is
acres. Therefore. in spite OF all her
efforts. the nation Is yet largely de-
pendent on outside sources for its
food supply. and even in peace times.
when all it's sources Of production are
IN operation. the importation Of food
products renches the enormous figure
Of 81 200. 0o0 900 year. What II will
n \. slN..tN t.. f.F m n
dpued the plough for the rifle and the
ashcrme. have made their sails into
irmy tents. can only he surm!sed
A. part OF her conservation
scheme Germany had long been striv-
+ ing with all her energy TO make her
self a world market through which
most products of human consumption
nigh, pass from producer to con-
slmar This u why she placed a
-rcmum on the importation of raw
products To- he manufactured In Ger
many and exported. Thus. while Ger
many has been taking practically no
sour from America she imported a
'arge amount Of American wheat.
which was manufactured into -four for
/ tho export trade The great parent
~ German commerce. the German
! Government. enforced this condition
by a nroh!bitlv4 tax on nour while II
actually awarded the miller pre-
MUM on -four exported
Every foot Of Germany's restricted
! area is called on 10 contribute its
I quota TO the nations subs .stenCe.
Owners o, vacant lots are compelled
to lease them TO tenants at regulated
prices for gardening purposes The
! trees along most OF the highways and
country lanes are food bearing trees
and the shrubbery In 80 far AZ con-
sstcncv permits Yields berries and
other ed!blcs. The fruits cannot he
| plucked except at specified periods
and by licensed persons. Even the
wild nuts and berries OF the forests
are governed by like restrictions, and
any one gathering them without a
/ license IS liable to arrest and fine.
Potatoes. geese and sugar bects are
three of Germanys most important
sources of economy. Even OF the
| limited area OF the nation most is
poor land. That IL why the Govern
ment has given such encouragement
To potato growing, for potatoes will
thrive on land that will produce moth
ing else. And Germany has become
the greatest potato country in the
world. Forty-five million tons a year
Is the yield of the potato crop. Five
and a half tons per hectare l2.41
aCres) often is produced. And none
Of this enormous production goes 10
waste, not even the peels,
Tho scientists have sought and dis
covered new and additional uses Of
the tuber until It now serves va
riety OF purposes, II Is cut and dried
to be used for food for man and beast
Potato cheese Is made from II, II IS
manufactured into starch. 1t forms
an important source OF the great de-
natured alcohol industry, in which
! Germany leads all The world. Its
pee,s are dried and made into stock
feed more nutritious than fodder. One
acre of potatoes in Germany supplies
as much human food as ten acres OF
wheat in America. The school vaca
/ lions there are called potato holi-
/ days" for 1t is tk>n that all the chill
potatoes,
As a source Of economy the goose
/ IN to the animal kingdom in Germany
what the potato Is to the vegetable
| kingdom. Geese can be raised nearly
ans where. and they are exceedingly
/ hardy. Nearly every farmhouse pos
sesscs tlochs OF them, and they abound
wherever there arr hogs. cattle or
sheep, for the geese take up no extra
D 90, 81 ia