The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-10-21


be even further reduced by a volun-
tarv rationing of the population. Inc
bread cards provide an allowance OF
a pound day for each adult. inns
may be increased upon Simple oenlaho
that the statement of the consumer
that bread constitutes his principai
srs,c7e of sI.t ON the other hand.
those outside the peasant and labo.
ing classes are asked 70 accept an AZ
toyapcn az a trifle over half pound
= aav which both doctors and experts
in dietetics have pronounced SUFFICIENT
to supply aibuneu without engender~
ing hardship or In any manner en-
daneering health. i
Win the United states declaration
that its food supplies will go TO It's
allies. one half of its annual export
crou az one hundred ard ee.y million
bushels VIII more than satisfy any
need " France. Not including Rus
sta and Rumania. both great wheat
growing countries, the surplus wheat
from allied countries and colonies
alone is sufficient to satisfy the com
btned needs Of France. England ana
Italy. The average expectations from
rhe United States, Canada, British IN
dies. Algeria and Australia. II applied
To the needs OF France. England and
Italy. would give those countries
within eight million bushels of their
average consumption in peace times.
The Problem of Tonnage.
The question Of tonnage, Of bot
toms n which TO ship the grain. Is
the most serious problem for the
allies. but. without entering into the
submarine question. the English au-
thorifies have figured with the ton
mage now being turned out by the
'n{ted states and the shipyards OF
England working under government
sgperyfsion. they can maintain a daily
sailing average of 3s,33s tons. the
amount necessary 10 transport the
wheat required.
ln his official report to the govern
~ ent. the president OF the agricusu-
raj commission has stated that the
barley crop in France is one OF the
largest IN years, while great ouanti-
ties Of this cereal are also available
from the French colonies in Africa
TIE rye crop has also been bumper
one, while the euckwhcat yield in the
northern provinces surpasses that of
last year,
Despite the long and cold winter,
the winter wheat throughout the re-
public has given an excellent yield
Instead Of being frozen. II was pro-
tected by the snow from the cold.
The ost crop. from the latest official
figures, has surpassed that of last
year. while the statistics give the bar
ley crop as actually 33.s6 per cent bet
ter than the preceding twelve months.
In tins Germigny valley, one of the
most important cattle centers. for ex-
ample the herds show an increase OF
IS per cent over last year. During
1916 the herd counted 20. 900 calves
out Of 1900 head of cows and 40,0
steers This year there are 25.152
calves These conditions prevail all
over France. The best proof ~ the
latest shipments arriving In the mar
ke' places of Paris, Beef fell from
Sc TO 81 the hundredweight. depend
Ing on the animal, while veal took a
drop Of So the hundredweight.
Potato Acreage Increased.
In the famous potato district of la
Grouse hopes are held out that the
yield this year win be considerably In
excess OF last years, In 1915 La
Grouse alone shipped 100000 bush
els OF potatoes. Because Of the trip
ling in price OF the tubers. 10000
acres in the vicinity. OF Gueret have
been given over to this precious arti-
Gle of food, and tho minister OF food
/ has already begun to arrange for cars
to transport the crop. The food min
sstry have also introduced a. new law
making speculation In potatoes. wheat
and other necessities a crime punish
! able by fne, imprisonment and the
confscation OF whatever supplies the
offender may have dealt in.
In order to encourage the preserv-
ing and drying OF fruits, particularly
of apples. which are in such ahund-
ance they fetch only 81 n barrel in
| Normandy, the government has an
/ nounced It will requisition all alco-
holic liquors made from the fruits