Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1917-08-31


over 1,000,O00000 bushels of wheat and
over S3,0O0,000 bushels of rye through
the planting of AZ ,3S7 900 acres to win
ter wheat and of 5,131, 900 acres to rye
this fall Is the immediate war agricul-
tural program for the nation an
nOunced by David f. Houston, secre-
tary of agriculture. This record win
ter wheat acreage, an increase of IS
per cent over last year, would yield
672,000,000 bushels If the average yield
for the past ten years is equaled, or
under a repetition of the favorable
conditions of 1914 would give SS0,O0O,-
600 bushels. In either case with a
spring wheat crop next year equal to-
that of 1916, the nation will have more
than 1,0O0,000,000 bushels Of wheat for
domestic use and export.
This vastly increased production of
wheat, needed in any case, will be abb
solutely essential to prevent serious
shortage of breadstuffs next summer
should the growing corn, now behind
the season, be much damaged by early
frosts.
Best Thought Of Experts.
The program approved by the secre-
tary Of agriculture represents the best
thought of the United States depart
ment of agriculture and of state agri-
cultural officials and state councils of
defense.
The study of this question has in
volved many factors and the special
lists have been aware. from the first
that the demands for wheat may ex-
ceed the supply next year. Effort,
therefore, has been made to recon-
mend In each state about as large an
acreage In wheat and rye as can be
sown without upsetting proper farm
practice which must be maintained in
the interest of wheat and rye crops
this aud succeeding years, as well as
In the interest of other necessary
spring-planted crops which are not dis
cussed In detail at this time, as they
are not food crops In which a marked
shortage exists.
The estimates, the department
states, are made with the knowledge
that there is some shortage of the fer
tilizer supply, but with the understand
ing that there will be no general short
age In the supply Of seed or of farm
machinery which is necessary In the
production of the wheat crop. 1t is
understood also that ample transpor-
tation facilities will be provided and
a fair price for wheat will be estab-
llshed. These factors have been as
sumed as fixed and satisfactory. II
any one or more fail TO be adjusted
in good time, no person can tell how
serious will be the effect on the total
crop.
Calls for Unusual Effort
The planting and cultivation OF
these increased acreages of fall-grown
grains calls for unusual effort on the
part of the farmers. Plans to place
at the disposal of farmers all assist
nnce possible are being perfected in
the United States department of agri-
culture, the state colleges of agricul-
ture, and other state and local agencies
which cooperate in farming matters
of wheat and rye in a campaign tC
turn out bumper crops in 1918 is as
sured
The state officials will do their ut
most to get the acreages expected Of
their states into the ground. The pro
gram as originally worked out by the
federal department of agriculture
called for somewhat more than $4,000,
900 acres to be sown this fall. Wher
this proposal was presented to the
officials of the several states a further
increase was considered possible anC
desirable by them. AS a consequenc,
the recommendation for the sowing o
AZ ,337 900 acres is made.
Following is q summary of the de
partment's recommendations regarding
winter wheat and rye:
Wheat.
The planting of approximately Al
387, 900 acres to winter wheat, on tn
basis Of the average yield for the pas
ten years indicates a total productio
Of 672,0OO,0O0 bushels, which exceed
all previous winter wheat crops hal
vested in the United States with tn
exception Of the crops of 1914 an
1915, when the acreages harvested an
yields per acre were both above MOI
NAL. II the extremely favorable cor
ditions under which the winter whea
crop of 1914 was grown are again el
perienced. the yield Of winter whea
next year will be SS0,000000 bushels
or by far the largest winter whei
crop ever produced and even large
than the total of both winter an
spring wheat crops for all past year
except two.
II Is too early to determine the acr'
age which should be sown to wheat ne'
spring, but II this is equal to thu
sown in the spring Of 1917, or 1o,OOC
900 acres, and the yield is up to Il
average Of the last ten years, a crc
Of 251 100000 bushels of spring whe;
will be harvested, and II the yield p'
acre should equal that obtained
1915 the crop will be 350,000,000 bus
els, the same as the greatest sprir
wheat crop ever produced. Thus, wit
no increase In the spring wheat acr
age, but with the IS per cent increa'
over the 1916 winter wheat sowin!
planned for this fall, the total whet
crop next year will be more thf
1,OO0,OO0,OO0 bushels, II the crop NEE
BIGGEST PRISON IN WORL