The sun., 1916-11-30

Of the crop Of that State Is still in the
bins. most OF II being held for 81 q
bushel and that the indifference Of
Western farmers to the cultivation Of
wheat, because of Its low price during
several years prior to 1913, has been
removed. The pendulum appears to
be swinging in the opposite direction.
Every available acre has been sown in
wheat, even as late MS the first Of this
month, 20 that 1t may reach ten mill
Ion acres In Kansas, nearly seventeen
yer cent. In excess OF any previous
acreage. The same proportion is re-
ported all over the West. In Kansas
rain and snow over the wheat belt
have made the growing crop more
promising than in almost amy previous
fall. 1t is some consolation, therefore.
to reflect that bread promises to be
cheaper next year. Until that time,
however. It Is well to practise econ
omy in food.
That the people OF this country are
as wasteful Of food as they are Of all
other valuable things needs no demon
strntion. THE SUN has adverted to
the fact that In our cities. especially.
much valuable food Is sacrificed in the
garbage cans But this Is n small
matter compared to the ineficiency Ia
nri.toroo Ia tho contamination c,.J ,~c.
amtiOn Of food In the ordinary house.
hold. especially among the laboring
classes. to whom economy must he abb
sOlutely vital. Ignorance Of the value
Of different kinds Of bread and differ.
ent portions Of meat Is to be especially
deplored.
Many profitable lessons Of the Euro
pean war are presented in the various
economies which the contending ma.
tiOns are compelled to practise. We
have occasionally alluded to some Of
these. They are especially notable as
arising in Germany, by reason Of the
avowed purpose Of the Allies to starve
Its people into defeat. An example OF
German efficiency In the matter OF
food preparation is presented in a re-
cent description by a correspondent Of
the Associated Press who describes the
wholesale feeding Of the population OF
Cologne by the municipal authorities
as an astonishing" feat. 1t IL stated
that several hundred thousand persons
are supplied with six meals for %
cents a week. from n kitchen which de.
livers the food In tightly sealed cans
at the same temperature In which II
left the kitchen. The cleanliness and
appetizing quality OF the food are
testified to by the popularity OF these
daily dinners.
That American efficiency Is not far
below that Of the Germans Is evi.
denCrsl In a statement by Mrs. MIL
VII DEWEY in a recen number Of the
Journal ~ Home Economics with
regard to feeding the inmates Of
this States four prisons. At Clinton
prison the average cost rpr capita
for three daily meals was 81 cents a:
Breakfast. oatmeal with milk. bread
and coffee; dinner. pork and beans,
bread and coffee; supper. bread and
coffee. Here we have three meals
containing probably all the nutritive
units required. costing about the same
rs n meal furnished by the Cologne
authorities.
This scant dietary Is not offered rs
n criterion FOR those who desire to oh.
tain nj the lowest cost food that will
satisfy the Talnte rs well rs the eye
For these individuals The SuN has
published the Investigations Of Mr.
+. c. GEBHARr Of the Russell Sage In.
stitute. who ave n choice Of 1Sl
dishes. varying from 40 cents To e
cents for three meals, and more re-.
Gently we have the experiments of the
Chicago Board Of Health. which show
that an ample supply OF npuetizins
food may be furnished at about 4,
cents n day.
If the present high cost Of living
leads tn the application Of more in
t%elligencc in the purchase and prep
aration Of food valuable lessons will
be derived from the realization tina,
We are suffering from the excessive
cost Of high living. which may h,
readily diminished by the exercise Of
reasonable economy.