The Washington herald., 1917-09-28
FARMERS SCORE
first VICTORY
Record Crops Of Corn and
Potatoes Reported by Ag-
ricultural Department.

With the biggest crop OF food pro-
ducts ever grown in the United States.
which means the biggest one ever
grown by any country in the world.
ripe for the harvest. the American
farmers have scored the first victory
of the war. while the army for the
trenches has not yet gone into ac-
ton.
There is enough food in sight to
win the war-enough food in the
United States TO feed the world. .
says Assistant Secretary OF Agricui-
ture Vrooman. "all OF which is the
result OF the emergency war work
OF the American farmers in response
to the appeal of the President and
the Department OF Agriculture"
Corn and Potato Increase.
According to official figures. there
Will be harvested 3.24s. COO. 900 bushels
of corn. which is half a billion bush
els in excess of the average crop.
The same report shown that there
Will be harvested 4s2. 900 bushels
of white potatoes, which is 1o0. .OOl
bushels in excess OF the average. To
practically all other food crops ex-
cept wheat the same proportion OF
Increase applies.
"Actuated by the same quality of
patriotism that moves men to the
battle front. c.ooe ocO farmers were
moblized at the time America en-
tered the war. A million American n
farmers risked bankruptcy. The finan-
cial casualties have been compara-
lively few. II has been a reparka-
oily saecessful campaign. and tbs great
majority of the army OF food pro
ducers, at the moment OF victory.
are lusty and strong" said Mr.. Vroo-
man.
Two days before war was actually
declared. Carl Vrooman was in con-
ference in Boston with the Committed
on Public Safety of all the New Eng
land States. Two days after war
was declared. he was in conference
in Atlanta with the Southeastern Food
Producers Association. representing
Alabama. Georgia, North Carolina.
South Carolina and Florida. The At
lanta meeting marked the actual entry
into war OF the army of the fur
rows" Similar conferences were held
in every section of the country in
rapid succession. I'D the results of
the patriotic efforts of the farmers
are exemplified in the stupendous
crops they are in process of harvest
ing.
L. s. Part In War.
The United States is finging into
the balance OF the world strife" M
Vroon1an says. the greatest corn
crop ever harvested by human hands
and the mightiest single force ever
enerted in human warfare. 1t is not
difficult to form some conception Of
the profound military significance of
these billions of bushels. Rest as
sured. they realize it in Wilhelm
strasse."
1t was stated at the department
that the wheat yield this year was
more than lOo. o.12o.Oo0 bushels below
the average. That does not mean.
they contend, that as many bushels
of corn will have TO make up that
shortage. Potatoes will be used
largely for that purpose and. more
important still, the average Ameri-
can home is so well stocked with sup
plies of fruits and vegetables for win
ter use that the bread demands will
be lighter than usual.
The bean crop this year. it is es-
timated, will exceed the average by
600 per cent. 1t is said that the
State of Michigan will produce as
many beans this year as was pro-
duced in the entire country last year.
This crop will also show increases
of from % to IS per cent in New Eng
land, the South. the Rocky Mountain
and the Pacific Coast regions. and
that the Middle West from 10 TO -
per cent