The Monticellonian., 1917-08-23
Imports Net Imports

day the decreasing production, as ship ping becomes further shortened by con tinued submarine destruction. less ton mage can be devoted to fodder. and fur ther reduction of the herds must en- sue. These destructive forces have given rise to reactions in many direc- tions. The worlds supply of meat and dairy products, of animal fats and in- dustrial fats, wool and hides, are all involved not only now, but for far into the future.
 Meats.
 The immediate problem Is to fur nish increased meat supplies to the al- lies to maintain them during the war. An important factor contributing to the present situation lies in the disturb ance to the worlds trade by destruc- tion of shipping resulting in throwing a larger burden on North America, the nearest market Shipments from the Australasian, South American and from the continental countries into the allied countries have been interfered with Their contributions must be re- placed by increased shipments from North America.
 The growth of American meat ex- ports since the war began, most of which have been supplied by allied na- tions, IS revealed by the following fig ures:
 Three-year pre-war average, 493,- S4S.000 pounds.
 Year ending June 30, 1916. 1,339,- 193.G00 pounds.
 The impact of European demand upon our animal products will be maintained for long period of years after peace. We can contemplate a high range of prices, for meat and for animal products for many years to come. We must undertake to meet the demand not only during the war, so as to enable our allies to continue to fight, but We must be prepared to meet the demand after the war. Our herd can not be increased in q single night or in a single year. Our producers will not only be working in their own ul- innate interest in laying the founda ton of larger herds and flocks but will serve our national interest and the interest of humanity, for years to come, if the best strains of young animals are preserved. The increase in herds can only be accomplished if we save more of our roughage and raise more fodder grains. It is worth noting that after the war Europe with lessened herds will, pending their recuperation, require less fodder and will therefore produce more bread grains and i'm port less of them, so that we can after the war safely reduce our bread grain production to increase our fodder. But we must lay our foundation in the meantime to increase our herds.
 There is only one immediate solution to the short supply of meat for ex- port pending the increase in our herds and flocks which will take years. Dur ing the course of the war, We can, just as with the cereals, reduce the con sumption and eliminate the waste par ticularly among those classes which can best afford it. In the meantime. in order to protect all of our people, we must carefully control our meat ex- ports in order that the people shall not be denied this prime necessity of life.
 Dairy Products.
 The worlds dairy supplies are de- creasing rapidly for two important req sons. First. the dairy cattle of Flu rope are diminishing, for Europe is be- ing driven to eat its cattle for meat; second, the diversion of labor to war has decreased the fodder supplies and the shortage of shipping has limited the amount of imported fodder and therefore the cattle which can be sup ported and the productivity of the indi vidual COW have been reduced. Even our own dairy supplies are not keeping pace with our growth of population, for our per capita milk supply has fallen from 90 to 75 gallons annually in the past 15 years. Yet today We must ship increasing amounts of dairy products to our allies.
 The dairy supplies of the allies in normal times came to a considerable degree from western Scandinavia. Hol- land and Switzerland but under Ger man pressure these supplies are now partly diverted to Germany. The men under arms and the wounded must be supplied with condensed milk in large quantities. The net result of these conditions. despite rigorous reduction of consumption among the adults of the civil population In Europe, is that our allies are still short of large quantities and again the burden of the replace ment of this shortage must fall on North America. The growing exports of dairy products from the United States to the allies are shown in the following table:
 Three year Year ending
 average June 30. 1913. Butter ........ 4. 457 GOO lbs. 1S,4s7.000 lbs.