The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-03-02
URGE FARMERS.
TO DIVERSITY CROPS
Governor Seay of Federal Reserve
Bank Addresses Important Circu-
lar to All Member Banks.
"A WORLD IN NEED OF FOOD"
Food Shortage Due to Crop Deficiency
Comparative Figures Show-F'ood-
stuffs VIII Be tho Money Crop This
Icar--Economy Must BE Learned.

Asking the board OF directors OF
every member bank in the Fifth fed
eral reserve di~rict to give earnest
consideration to. and take suitable ac-
ton upon, the matter of food projuc-
! ton and distribution in the respec-
tive communities. Governor George j.
Seay, of the Richmond Federal Re
serve bank, has issued a circular
| titled "A World in Need of Food"
The circular is an appeal to the bank
ers OF the district ito urge upon farm
ers the tremendous Importance of di-
versifying their crops and giving for
! this year at least the place OF first
Importance 70 foodstuffs.
Never within the memory of any
man has the veal or woe of the world
been so dependent upon food produc-
ton and distribution" says the cir
cular. IAN the energy and intelli-
gence of the whole population should
be brought to bear upon these twin
subjects in the current year
Due Crops Deficiency.
The reasons for the present food
shortage are not far to seek, says
the circular. and it presents table
showing a comparison of 1916 ana
1915 crops. together with the figures
showing the five-year average. a de-
ficiency in each OF the following crops
corn, wheat. oats, barley. rye, buck
wheat potatoes sweet potatoes.
beans. apples and peaches--is shown
for 1915. The table shows rice the
only crop in the United States to in
crease,
This is only half the story the
circular adds. Crops in the rest Of
the world were short to an equal eN-
tent" The situation today Is summed
up as follows:
Whether war continues or peace
comes quickly. in either event there
viii he a hungry world short of food.
The probabilities are that peace
will make the greater demands upon
the food supplies OF countries not
actively AT war. Production could not
get under way quickly enough in the
Val Tf1dtT CpuurTTFE, arTft tt1r-c yvorTtri
then be no insurmountahle difficulties
70 general distribution. The food and
thc people could he brought together
If Wa have tho food
Must learn Economy
This country may have even gfr4,-
er demands made upon its food sup
plies. That is what Ne must consider
and prepare for. The matter IS a
serious one for Us as IL now stands.
and we shalt be compelled 70 learn
both economy and production.
This is reputed 10 be the most
wasteTul country in the world not
only prodg gal of natursl and acru-
mulated resources but equally prodl-
gal OF opportunities
A large part Of the enormous ru-
raj population makes no attempt 70
raise all or even the greater part Of
its own food supplies. This Is vfop-
ably more true Of the South than Of
any other part OF tho country
This is the cruz OF this letter--ro
appeal 10 the bankers To urge Ipou
the farmers the tremendous import
ance OF dlversifyjng their crops and
giving for this year at least The rfac
OF first Importance TO foodstufTs
What viii 1t profit farmer 20
raise money crop il the money
has to - for food and other ne~essi-
ties made more costly by high prices
fcr food
Eoodstuffs None, Crops.
AZ i now appears foodst4fis viii
be the money crops
The sclf-.rtoresf OF the producers
viii In the end cure the food short
age, bat It rs Of vital importance that
TINS be done quickly II is only an
incident that II may he done profit
ablv
N will take all The influence that
bankers can exercise upon tho farm
ers 70 bring about the desired result
aad We most earnestly urge that every
banker use his influence TO the num-
Closing. the circular calls special
attention To a paper written by David
Il. Cocker, Of HartsyiIle. s. {. di-
rector Of the Federal Reserve bank,
of Richmond, dealing with "Prc2ara-
tion far the Boil Weevll' which pre-
scnts a serious problem to the cotton
growing sections Of North aud ~outh
Carolina, within the Fifth district