Connecticut western news., 1917-05-17
THURSDAY, MAY IF. 1917,
A SERIOUS OUTLOOK.

70 much, yet what are nlSil pfices compared with the impossibility to get food at any price? This is what we are coming to unless strenuous efforts are made by everyone to produce more--a whole lot, more-than they have ever Rroduced before.
 This country, and in fact the whole world, is facing a condition the like of which has never been known. We are aow at war, and our allies-Belgium, Great Britain, France and Italy-are dependent upon us for food. In addi- Sann to the appeal of starving humanity .xt will be impossible, for military seasons, to put an embargo upon the axportation of food We must divide what we grow this year with these countries and with certain lleutrals which are not self sustaining in grain supplies.
 This country entered the present crop year last July with 164, 900. 900 Bushels of wheat carried over from the ep0p of 1915; this year there will be practically no wheat carried over, and Che governments estimate upon the winter clop forecasts yield of 52,O00,- 600 bushels less than that of 1916. On shis basis the spring wheat crop must Aa sI4, 900. 900 bushels larger than last gear in order to give us wheat supply equal to what we will export and con. sume in the crop year now closing. This is an alarming outlook. The spring wheat crop is notoIiously subject to weather conditions. More spring wheat sisald be sown, but it IS doubtful if sne shortage can be made up, and other food crops must be grown to meet the &aficiency. Although the raising of wheat is not attempted by eastern far mers, under normal conditions, we are pleased to note that several of our local farmers have sown some the past week.
 The National City Bank of New York sn circular letter addressed "To our Correspondent Banks and the Publfc", from which we quote below, sizes up fhe matter in a way that should im- press upon everyone the gravity of the situation, which, as they state, grows saore serious as spring advances and tue disaster to the winter wheat crop of this country is understood"
 There is no business upon which all other business depends as upon this of growing big crop in America
 eilis year. And the work must be gtarted immediately. There is no
 time to wait on organization from outside. The emergency can be met only by spontaneous action ill every state, county and school district,
 forming local organizations.
 Picture in your mind what cOndi.
 aI9ns will be in our own cities next
 winter, and of the effect upon all industry, if food supplies are scarcer and dearer than they are now! It must be impressed upon everybody
 Shat no wage advances or regulation esf price can add one bushel of wheat CT potatoes to the supply after the growing season is over.
 The country is aroused, but mere
 alarm will not accomplish results.
 There must be organized personal
 work, headed in every locality by
 men of force and influence.
 The Governor of Iowa has called
 Gar the enlistment of boys from I3 to
 i8 to work either in town gardens or
 Epon the farms. President Wilson says that these boys will be ''Soldiers of the Commissary." There are fine possibilities in this idea The boys may De brought to feel that they are serving their country as truly as sheir older brothers who enlist in army or navy; and the girls should have chance as well. They should
 have medal to keep as life long evidence of their service in the last great war-let us hope-of the " ,rld's history. 5.e, .z< ,s...sss ss.ssss s.s s u
 sIndustrial remployersisare arranging Sor ssgarden Eplots s.forl their help, iIand ayenTbanks are ssdoing. .likewises.for their clerks, most .Icasess sssprovidingS Sseeds and instruction. Organized jswork !s.of shis kind with: ,suitablel supervision will be. most. effective, Enot onlyffor- the crops grown lbut the ]1healthful yout-door exercise afforded the many in door workers whose physical systems