Evening star., 1917-04-08
.B|GGERFOODC CROPS
ASKED Of COUNTRY
Secretary Houston, in Appeal,
Emphasizes ImpossibiIity
of 0verproduction.
WINTER WHEAT DAMAGED

| Secretary houston again last night
appealed to the country to make every
effort to raise adequate food crops this
year not only for the United States
| needs, but to meet the requirements
of the entente.
| THE Importance to the nation Of a
generous food supply for the coming
year cannot be overemphasized in view
Of the economic problems which may
arise as a result Of the entrance Of the
United States into the war" said the
Secretary. Every effort should be
| made to produce moro crops than are
| needed for our own requirements Many
millions of people across the seas. as
| well as our own people. must rely in
| large part upon the products OF our
| fields and ranges. This situation will
continue to exist even though hostili-
ties should end and Unexpectedly soon.
since European production cannot be
| restored Immediately to it's normal
basis.
Cannot Be overproduction.
'It is obvious that the greatest and
most important service that is required
| of our agriculture under existing con-
| ditfons Is an enlarged production of
the staple food crops. Because Of the
shortage Of such crops practically
| throughout the world there is no risk
| in the near future Of excessive produc-
| tion such as sometimes has resulted
| in unremunerative prices to producers
This is particularly true of the cereals
and of peas, beans, cowpeas. soybeans
and buckwheat. In view Of the world
| scarcity of food there is hardly a pos
sibility that the production of these
| crops by the farmers of the United
| States can be too great this year. and
| there is abundant reason to expect
generous price returns for all availa BILE
surplus.
Should Be Customary Crops.
THE most effective step that may be
taken to increase tho production of
| these crops is to enlarge the acreage
| they are grown habitually. This expan-
| sion Of acreage should be to the limit
permitted by available good seed, labor
and equipment The placing of too
great emphasis on production in a new
region is inadvisable. since the intro
ductfon into a farm operation Of a crop
not usually grown frequently involves
seen nor quickly surmountable.
Taking the winter wheat territory
as a whole, winter killing has occurred
| to an extent very much greater than
usual. This obviously. if not compen-
stated for in some way. will mean a ma
terial reduction in the supplies Of our
most important bread cereal Where
winter wheat has been damaged euffl-
ciently to Justify the abandonment Of
fields 1t should by all means be replaced
| by spring-planted food crops, prefer
ably small grains or corn.
Suggests Substitutes.
"If land intended for spring wheat
cannot be put into good condition early
enough for seeding. oats or barley can
| be substituted to good advantage in
| the sections where these crops are
known to do WELL The ease with which
barley may be substituted directly for
| wheat in human food and its useful
ness to replace wheat milling by-prod-
ucts as food in the production OF the
milk supply. renders its abundant pro-
duction important Barley. where 1t
succeeds, yields a larger weight Of feed
per acre than any other small grain
crop. With an abundance OF oats and
barley available, much closer milling
of wheat than at present could be
practiced. II necessary. without endan-
gering the milk supply which consti-
tutes SO important an element in the
dietary of consumers.
Place Of Rye Important.
1.-The place of rye under present con-
ditions Is an important one. Buck
wheat may be planted later than any
similar crop. and the shortage of sup
| ply, due to the light yields of 1915 and
1916, renders them OF great importance
| in the regions to which they are
adapted.
"a deficiency of hay and forage for
the next winter would jeopardize the
future meat and dairy supplies of the
country. and result in a shortage Of
roughage for military draft and saddle
| animals.
Seed potatoes should be conserved
by planting on the best lands available
| for them and planning for thorough
tillage and protection of the crop
against disease and insect pests. Po-
tatoes can be grown most advan-
Itageously near the centers of popula-
tion IN the northern states, where
| transportation cost may be reduced to
| a minimum. This crop is capable of
quick and large increase of production
when conditions are favorable. There
profitable production Of potatoes when
| they are grown at long distances from
the consuming markets. owing to their
disproporttonate weight and bulk of
the product in comparison with the
| cereals.
| Worthy of More Attention.
| Such vegetable crops as carrots,
| rutabagas, turnips, onions and cabbage
| are worthy of much more attention
than they generally receive. All these
crops are capable of large production
| on suitable land under intensive cul-
ture throughout the more densely pop
ulated norfions af the country