Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1917-04-03

able character frequently reduce the
crop by from 5O,00O,0O0 to l00,oOO,0OO
bushels. While not entirely prevent
able, they should be guarded against
to the fullest extent possible.
Sweet potato losses from black rot,
foot rot and other diseases in the
field result mainly from failure to Sc
lect and disinfect seed and to practice
sanitation in the beds. Bean losses
, from anthracnose and other diseases
can be prevented to large extent by
the use Of disease-free seed. The OBJ
tanning such seed should receive
special attention this season.
Disposal of Surplus-PreyentiOn OF
Waste.
Some of the most conspicuous crop
wastes occur with fruits and Veget-
ables. of which, in normal years, larg-
err quantities usually are grown than
the producers can market proftably.
4
/ rectly to disease and insect injury
/ which lowers their market value with
out reducing their food value mater
4 tally if they can be utilized promptly
4 by drying, canning, or other preserva-
ton methods Under existing condi-
tions, every practicable step should be
, taken to protect these crops through
out the season and to utilize and pre-
serve them as fully as possible when
J they have matured.
ITO the extent that competent labor
is available, either hired or in the
family, fruits and vegetables which
ordinarily it is inadvisable to attempt
! to conserve should be Systematically
saved for use by canning, drying, or
preserving. These operations should
not be delayed until late summer and
autumn; and family gardens should be
planned to supply ample quantities of
early maturing small fruits and veg
etables for canning, drying, or Ireserv-
ing, as we'll as fresh products for the
table. Because of the scarcity of tin
plate and the high price of tin cans, it
may be necessary to household pre-
servation of food more extensively to
pack fruit and vegetables in other
containers. This situation may call
for new methods of preserving or the
Improvement and extended use of old
! processes, such as drying.
"In the Southern States, approx
mately 50,0O0,0OO bushels of sweet
potatoes are produced annually and it
is estimated that at least 100000
bushels of these are lost annually by
decay. Frequently wholesale waste
| occurs at harvest time, not only or
sweet potatoes, but of white potatoes
and other underground food crops,
| through lack of proper storage facll-
tiles to safeguard the crop from de-
structive freezes at digging time. Early
this season plans should be made and
| executed in the building of suitable
farm storage houses or cellars. This
usually can be done at relatively low
cost if undertaken in time. In view of
the experience of the past year. it
would appear that SURPRISES of such
vegetable crops as are capable or
preservation by drying for soup stock,
such as carrots, potatoes, celery, ETC.,
could be preserved profitably for food
use in regions where fruit evaporators
which could be utilized for this pur-
pose already exist. Surplus sweet corn,
il cut to the proper tage, can be sun
dried or oven-dried as in earlier years
before systematic Gaping of corn was
developed, and, in this way, be pre-
served for food use.
Certain crops grown annually to
considerable extent for soil omprove-
nlent or forage possesses large food
| value II uLltlIeu plOPOlA y. EAAOAS "-
crops are soy beans cowpeas, peanuts
kafir and other grain sorghums, the
food and oil producing value OF which
has not been recognized adequately
until recently. Increased utilization
Of these for human food and oil pro-
duction doubtless will be advisable.
Under the condition in which the
country now finds itself, it is import
ant. as has been pointed out, that
everything practicable be done to in
crease the efficiency of agricultural
activities during the coming season. |
have called attention to a few of the
steps that may be taken to this end 1t
is desirable that throughout the coun-
try farmers confer among themselves
on these and other matters affecting
the production of needed crops and
that they consult freely with county
agents, state agricultural agencies, and
! =, .-.,,,o,,t oS CricIlture