The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1917-04-21
REASONS FOR FOOD THRIFT.

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food shogtage.l
Every reliable report indicates that
there IL a shortage In the worlds supply
OF food stuffs, parttcnlg rly OF meat,
pot; toes aud the grains we use most
largely for food and for sustaining our
domestic animals The wheat crop Of
| Argentina, the largest wheat produc'
ing country in South America, Is prac.
| tlealiy a failure. The Canadian gov
erument has already made contracts
for the entire crop Of Canada for 1917
| The wheat crop of Australia IL too
remote To be- of service TO this country,
and on account OF the diminished ton.
mage for transportation, will be less
available To European countries. The
inability of Russia TO deliver wheat In
quantities anticipated to her allies has
been one of the greatest disappoint-
ments of the war 20 them, In the
United States, the entire wheat crop
has been severely damaged by winter
freezes. II Ia reported that In some
regions from twenty to thirty per cent
OF the crop has been completely de.
stroyed
Throughout the largest grain pro
dHeing sections of the United States
the labor supply has been materially
diminished Many Of the farm hands
have gone into Canada under contract
for high wages 10 produce food for the
Canadian government, many have gone
into the munition plants OF the United
States and Canada. The enlistment OF
our yeung men for military service will
further deplete the available labor.
There IN scarcely possibility. there.
fere, that enough grain can be pro-
dueed 10 meet oil domestic demands
and meet our obligation for helping TO
feed the allied armies nj war, aud at
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South with the large supply Of food and
feed stuffs that they have previously
consumed
Another important fact should be
taken under consideration. During the
past year We have suffered from Inn.
paired transportation facilities, when
We were at peace, 10 the extent that
for weeks We were totally unable to
have freight delivered in many portions
Of the South, and with the existence Of
war, much OF the railroad equipment
will undoubtedly be required for carry.
ing coal to the Atlantic Coast to supply
our enlarged navy. Co transport pro
Visions, munitions and war supplies,
including building materials. and there
Is possibility that We couldn't bring
food or feed stufis into the state In any
large quantity or get our cotton to the
market. The imported foods that are
available wilt unquestionably be very
high priced
II Ia believed that the best way to
avert these possible ealamitles Is to
mobilize our resources and our tabor
and 10 take all reasonable measures ia
avoid waste and conserve our food
supply, A program has been mapped
out for the accomplishment OF these
purposes which emphasizes increased
acreage OF food aud feed stuffs. inten.
siiied cultivation where labor will per
nit, use Of an increased amount Of fer.
tilizer, and the planting Of an ample
aupply Of vegetables and quick growing
crops To feed the labor and meet the
demands OF local communities DO not
neglect the cotton, sugar cane aud rice,
Cotton Is necessary. but use Of ferti.
lizer and better cultivation Is also
necessary to make up for a small acre
age reduction
We can materially and comparative.
ly quickly increase the supply OF meat
through poultry enterprises aud the
encouragement of the slaughter of
calves ane small pigs We can ellmt
nate many wasteful practices without
sacrifice We can adopt many measures
that will increase the efficiency Of the
supplies at hand
The amount Of productive tabor can
be materially increased by school chill
dren, young men and women and others
at present unemployed Who would will.
| ingly render helpful service AZ pm.
triotic duty In the crisis that Ii before
us The utilization Of labor saving
devices and improved implements win
also be important
In many instances the negroes may