Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-05-01
FARMERS FACE MANY
DIFFICULT PROBLEMS
Local Reserve Bank Reports Lit
tie Prospect for Increased
Acreage in This District

That there will not he any great increase
in the acreage Of soil titled in that section
Of the agriculture region surrounding Phil
adelphia which comprises the local Federal
Reserve district known as No. s. is the i'm
preston arrived at by officials Of the Fed
eral Reserve Bank OF Philadelphia. In the
May report to the Federal Reserve Board
made public by Chairman Richard T.. Aus
tin. of the local Reserve bank, today. the
difficulties farmers are facing that prevent
more extensive acreage are explained. The
condition of tho winter wheat crop is placed
at about 10 per cent below normal. an
extensive investigation Of conditions was
made.
The report says In part:
The season is late and the spring plow
ing and planting have been delayed. Farm
ers report less stock on the farms than
for many years. and all kinds OF feed. ex-
cent hay, are scarce.
Reports show that there is patriotic
desire on the part Of the people in the agri-
cultural sections 10 do their full duty toward
producing the maximum amount of food
stuffs and there is evidence that they
intend 10 make the effort. hut on account
Of the high price and scarcity Of fertilizers
the high price Of seed and the scarcity and
high wages Of labor, it appears that the
acreage planted to food crops cannot he
increased materially.
Some large coal companies are offering
their lands TO their employees for cultiva-
ton and are holding out inducements toward
this end and throughout the district gener-
ally. the attempt is being made to have
people put forth extra efforts in planting
vegetable gardens for their own account
owing to enlistments, the withdra wing Of
abor from the farming and suburban dis
| trcts to the much more lucrative employ
| N a of ber p,tfo
| plants. and with local contractors paying
| $500 and s3.2h per day for men. the farm
! labor shortage has become so acute that
| unless some national organized effort is
| made at once to provide agricultural labor.
! Il not only will he impossible to increase the
| acreage under cultivation. hut there Is gra We
doubt whether or not it will he possible TO
cultivate and Harvest an acreage equal to
J that of last year.
tanners have disposed Of most of their
| old pack and prices have been advancing
! In one section Gamers are reported as offer
| ing $3.50 n ton for tomatoes, which is $3.50
more than last year and farmers are slow
| to contract at that price Unless the price
| is higher the acreage to he planted in toma- =
| toes will, Of necessity he much less than
| last year because Of the shortage in farm
help. since tomatoes have to he picked
! promptly when they are ripe 4 good crop
Of berries for canning is promised
! Concerning the general business situation
| in the local Federal reserve district. the re-
| port states that the entrance of the init ed
/ states into the war has caused advances
| in prices. greater demand for goods and
| greater demand for material in many lines
of trade. Manufacturing plants through
! out this district are running as fully as the
| supply OF labor and materials will permit
| The labor situation has become very acute
! THE wholesale grocery trade is ha wing
| difficulties because of the excess dema nd
| for goods There is said to he enough to &c
| round if il were not for so much anticipa.
| ton.
Rates for money in the manufacturing
districts are somewhat better. throughou,
| the rest of the district the demand for
money in only normal Sales of all kinds o,
securities have fallen on and prices have
| declined"