The midland journal., 1917-05-04
MARYLAND STATE BOARD OF
AGRICULTURE.
Statements And Recommendations
To Conserve the Food Supply.

To Conserve the Food Supply.
Herbert C. Hoover, Chairman of
tional Defence Council of the United
States, says:
"The foremost duty of America to
the Allies in this war is 20 see that
they are supplied with food.
From the necessities of the case, we
can put but few soldiers in the field,
but every spade full of earth turned
by our farmers, every seed we plant,
every ounce of waste We eliminate,
| is just as much contribution to the
trenches"
The food necessary to keep the
world from starving can not be pro
duced unless immediate steps are
taken by the general government
and the States to conserve and in
crease the supply of efficient farm
labor.
This cannot be put off for two
weeks; it must be done now TO in
sure the proper preparation of the
soil and the planting of the crops.
1t is the clear duty of all agricul-
tural authorities to state the true
condition Of the food supply in such
plain terms that there can be no
Understanding of it's seriou ness;
mot only by the Federal and State
authorities, but also by every citizen,
no matter what his or her occupation
may be. The crop reports of the
United States Government fully war
rant the prediction of bread riots in
this country within the next four
months.
| We therefore make the following
recommendations, and earnestly
urge that they be put into effect at
the earliest possible date:
CD That legislation, National
and State, be enacted by which idle
ness be penalized, and that in con-
scription-when resorted to, an
exemption be granted to men habit
ually employed in agricultural pur-
suits and in productio, of foodstuffs.
(2) That. all public and private
work not absolutely necessary for
the protection of property, or for the
defence of the country, be postponed
where the labor thus made available
can be employed in the production
of food products.
CD The immediate employment
of able-bodied inmates of reform
atories, iails, ETC., so far as possible
on public works, so as to release
many able farm laborers now so
employed.
(4) The adoption of the stand
ards in the milling of wheat flour as
now in use in Europe, so as to give
us a greater yield of flour per
bushel of wheat, and also the greater
use of corn -four.
/ 90 The discontinuance of the
further use of grain in the manufac-
ture of alcoholic beverages until
such time as the United States Gov
ernment determines that food condi-
tions warrant the resumption of such
use of grain.
Co The increased planting of
staple foods, and the raising of more
meat animals, especially hogs and
calves, on all farms.
CD The promotion of tie idea
among children that it is a patriotic
service to do all they can in the
production of food supplies.
(S) The canning, preserving,
drying or storing by every house
wife of at least sufficient food
products to supply her own house
hold for the winter season.
(9) The immediate establish
ment of State farms under intelli
gent agricultural supervision, on
which to employ all able-bodied
wards of the State NO; employed on
public works in the production of
foodstuffs for the institutions of the
State and cities.
(10) The elimination of waste,
especially of the staple foods in
private houses as we'll as in the feed
ing of stock