The Spectator., 1915-04-06

~ooN-~~~~~-~~o ~-~~~~~~~~~-~~o~~~~~~~~o~ is being worked up in the same man. ner
 Big Crops Expected This Year.
 As far as the crops of 1915 are con cerned, the government looks forward with confidence to a larger harvest than that of 1913. The acreage sowed to winter wheat and rye is up to last years figures. There had been some fear that sending millions of men to the front would so denude the farms that planting would be held back. But nature was most generous, with balmy fall weather, which lasted almost un- til Christmas This made it possible for the decreased farm population to finish its work
 In addition there is promised an in creased acreage in spring planting. The rights of way along the railroads throughout the empire are to be planted, as far as possible, in pota- toes. These will be planted at the cost of the railroads and turned over to the employees for their personal use.
 Large areas of private domains which have not been cultivated will be used this year On the famous Luene- burger Heath extensive operations are to be undertaken to make the land arabic.
 Prisoners to Be Cultivators.
 For this purpose prisoners of war are to be used. Tn the same way Rus sian prisoners on the eastern frontier will be pressed into service to in- crease production there. They were used to some extent last fall to harvest the potato crop. In France and Belgium the German soldiers have been helping to plant crops.
 Probably the most interesting fea- lures of this problem of food conserva ton are the arrangements that have been made with reference to the grain supply. Last fall the imperial govern ment, the cities of the empire with more than 100000 population and some of the larger industrial organi- cations subscribed a capital of SlS,- 000000 to buy up grain supplies. It was the intention of the government to lay aside sufficient grain to carry the nation from May l5 to the next harvest
 By careful financiering in the way of loans on grain bought to make pos sible further purchases. this organiza- tion has accumulated approximately 5000, 900 tons of wheat and rye. This, 1t is figured, would have carried the nation to the harvest with a surplus of 10 per cent However. when 1t was found that the present consumption increased too rapidly the government decided on it's order of January under which all of the grain and flour sup plies of the empire are put into the hands of this organization.
 Communities Direct Distribution.
 It will pay for supplies at the max imum price" fixed by the government last fall for grain transactions. It will then allot to each community an amount equivalent to 20 pounds per son and the community government will be intrusted with its individual distribution. The communities must pay in the internal organization the cost price, plus interest and milling, A special premium of 10 per cent re- bate is provided on the amounts saved by communities out of their allow ances.
 Certain important restrictions have been imposed by the government up- on the community distribution All wheat bread must contain at least 20 per cent of rye flour. All rye bread must contain at least 10 per cent of potatoes. No cake Is to be baked that contains more than 10 per cent of flour. am not enough of a culinary esk skert to say what kind of cake this
 make.
 addition the communities have