The courier-index., 1917-08-24

1 in some sections The only sections in which dairy products have had rise in price in appropriate proportion to the increase in most of feeds are those producing condensed milk and cheese.
 Our home milk and butter supplies are therefore looked at in broad way, decreasing while our population is in- creasing This deficiency of dairy but ter is shown by the increased sales of margarine, which show an increase of several million pounds per month over similar periods in 1915. Dairy butter, however, has qualities which render it vitally necessary for children. Milk has no substitute and is not only in trinsically one of our cheapest animal foods, but is absolutely fundamental to the rearing of the children. The dairy situation resolves itself into several phases. First, it is to be hoped that the forthcoming abundant harvest together with a proper restric- ton upon exports of feeding stuffs will result in lower prices of feed and di- minish the impetus to sell the cattle l for meat. Second, the industry needs encouragement so as to increase the dairy herd and thus our dairy supplies, for the sake first of our own people and second of the allies. The people must realize the vital dependence of the well-being of their children, and thus of the nation, upon the encourage ment and upbuilding of the industry Third we must save the wastes in milk and butter during the war if we are to provide milk supplies to all. We waste large quantities of our milk value from our lack of national demand for prod ucts of skinned and sour milk. Pork Products.
 The hog is the most efficient of ma chimes for the production of animal fat. The hog not only makes more fat from a given amount of feed, but also the products made are specially capable Of preservation and most economical for commercial handling.
 The swine of Europe are rapidly de creasing and the consumption demand induced by the war is much increased. this particularly because bacon, ham and lard are SC adaptable for military supplies. Moreover, our allies are iso- lated from many markets and large amount from northern neutrals is being diverted to Germany.
 While our hogs have increased in number by 100000 animals. the aver age weight at slaughter Is falling and our production is probably only about maintained. The increasing demand upon us since the war began is shown by the following figures of comparative exports:
 Three-year, pre-war period, 1,055.- 614.O00 pounds.
 Year ending June 30, 1916. 1,512,- 376,000 pounds.
 Wool and Leather.
 Our national supply of both wool and leather are less than our needs. and we are importing them more and more largely, as shown by the follow ing figures:
 Importations of wool and manufac- lures of wool (value) for the three year pre-war period, S62. .457 ,965; for the fiscal year ending June 3O 1916, $15S,O7S,271. Importations (value) of hides, leath- CT and manufactures of leather aver age of the three-year pre-war period. $133, I'll ,398; for the year ending June 30, 1916, $177, ,SS0,902.
 At the present time the worlds de- mand for these products has increased far above the peace level owing to the extra consumption in supplying the armies This demand is now again in American army. In the face of this, not only is the European herd decreas- ing, but also American sheep have de- creased about 100000 since the war began. After the war Is over, the va- rious countries of the world from which we formerly drew our wool are likely to retain 1t for their own use until their flocks again become normal.
 Sugar.
 The sugar supply on which our allies In Europe normally draw has been tremendously reduced, so that they must have recourse to other sources. In consequence of the shipping situa- tion the area from which they must draw is also curtailed and, as result, they are driven into those markets from which our own supply normally arises. Furthermore, their own pro- duction has been greatly diminished. Before the war. Europe supplied in a large measure its own needs, through the production of beet sugar, as will appear from the following table show ing the average yearly production and consumption for the five years before the war (909-1913), in some of the chief countries of Europe:
 Prod'n. Consump. Suro. CD
 (short (short or defi-
 tons) tons) ciency e Germany .... .2.525S99 1,299,5S5 tl,226 314 Austria .1. .651 s89 679, ,204 972, ,6S5