The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-09-06

SOhASA SiSSS O1 aSIlculluIIal leAQeTS 10 COIL slider steps to promote interest in the programme for winter wheat and rye planting this fall was held in Washing ton recently The conference was opened by Secretary of Agriculture D. F. Hous- ton. In addition to some of tho New England states, New York New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Vir- ginia, West Virginia and North Caro- lima were represented.
 Secretary Houston addressed the con ference as follows:
 "This is the first of five conferences we have arranged to hold in the coun- try in connection with the wheat prob- lem. Conferences of this sort seem to be in this emergency especially essen tial. Last April we had a general con ference in St. Louis. The impression 1 then formed has deepened, as time has passed, that this nation is exceptionally fortunate in having laid, generations ago, the foundations for scientific and practical agriculture not only for the whole nation in the federal department of agriculture, but also for each state, in the land-grant college in the state department of agriculture and in the great farmers organizations. Represen- tatives of these agencies in St. Louis in two days came to conclusions the wis., dom of which has not been generally or
 
 part of which has now been enacted into law. Not only was there evolved then programme involving legislation, but programme involving organization and coordination of agencies for more effec- tive assistance in this crisis Such or ganization was quickly developed, and I imagine that in this direction as in oth- CTS, the nation has given demonstrations of efficiency that no other nation has equaled. The response of all the agricul- tural agencies has been tremendously gratifying. The farmers have done their part with enthusiasm and patriotism and for the, most part, they were fav- ored by nature The result is, as yo know, that in number of important crops the nation will have this year enor- nous yields.
 But, singularly enough, from mili- tary standpoint we were unfortunate in respect to the very crop of which we. have the most immediate and pressing need Wheat bread seems to be pe- cuiarly the war bread due to its own special characteristics as well as to the habits of European nations with whom we are associated in this war. It was not the farmers fault that we did not have large wheat crop. A large acreage was planted, but there was a tremendous win ter-kiling; and so we have the very short crop of last year followed by a short crop this year.
 Tt is highly essential that we omit no step to secure production of wheat dur ing the next year which will be greatly In excess of the normal needs of this nation. My own conviction is that whether we have peace or war, this na- tion is going to be called upon for some time to come to feed considerable part of the population of Europe and to fur nfsh it with agricultural supplies and equipment continent going through what Europe has gone through for the last three years, and is continuing to go through, does not quickly get on it's feet The waste of men, the loss of human life, the impairment of many of those who survive, the destruction of work animals, the waste of farm euuip- ment. the impairment of labor, the dis organization of labor, the disruption of the normal process of agriculture-all these things entail heavy burdens and handicaps; and it is going to take Eu- rope considerable period to get where she was before this war came on. There are doubtless some of you who know the condition of the south after the civil war and recall that in agriculture even the south did not get on a normal basis until well in the eighties.
 T speak of this because there may be doubts in the minds of farmers as to whether they will take too great a risk in planting a large wheat acreage next year l am no prophet. None of you perhaps would be willing to dogma tize, but l think we might agree that the economic conditions will be such as to assure wheat producers a normal and profitable return. We should bear in mind also. that in the food control bill this compensation matter has been dealt with by the Congress The intention