Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-04-02

ing out a food production and n food.
distribution plan The Department OF
Agriculture is concentrating its ener-
gieS upon the first problem and ths
Council for National Defense upop IN,
second. Each is cooperating with thu
other. and any program that Is M,
forward VIII be supported by both Or
gunizations
In addition. the Interstate Commercs
Commission is studying tho question
OF food transportation. frciEht-car
distribution. refrigerator service and
other practical phases OF the move.
ment OF foodstuffs from the farm, tn.
elevator. the packins-h house. tn. or
chard. the warehouse. to the market
The commission is lending its techul.
cal Knowledge and its broad powers
To the defense council. as is the Amsri.
can Railway Association. through it's
car-shortage committee.
In general. these are the steps known
to have been taken by the Federal
government and the forces workins,
under it to provide relief to the coun-
try in the event war conditions maks
the food problem even more acute than
1t now is.
Already the Department q Agricul-
ture has undertaken It's part OF tha
general plan. 4 nation wide campaign
has been launched by Secretary Hous-
ton for Increased food production. on
the one hand, and for food conscrva-
ton on the other. All the agencies of
the department are working together
to these ends.
Pressure is being applied first to eha
practical farmer. He is being urged
In, to-
his crops az big as possible and to
diversity them as much as he may
The same pressure is being applied
TO the amateur agriculturalist. to tho
back-iot gardener and even to tho
urhanites. who in the past have de-
voted their energies and their property
TO Mower beds or fancy planting. For
the bensat OF these people a spacial
line OF instruction is being given by
department specialists.
Coupled with this campaign Is that
for the conservation OF food products.
Producers are being warned aKainst
all waste, against bad methods Of crop
growing. marketing. home consump-
ton and other forms OF Lost enercy
or prodigality. In opening recent
statement to the farmer. OF the coun-
try on this point. Secretary Houston
said:
Both for economic and patriotic
reasons. the American farmer should
strive this year for the highest stan
dard OF efficiency in the production
and conservation OF food. But pro-
duction accomplished by wasteful
methods does not make for efficiency,
and careful thought. therefore, should
be given to the steps that need to be
taken.
NATIONWIDE SURVEY
OF ALI. FoODsTuFFs
As soon as war conditions actually
prevail in this country It Is certain
that the Federal government will
make nationwide survey OF all food
stuffs now available or which may be-
come available with the next haryests.
The groundwork for such a survey 1,
even now being laid with the view OF
advising Congress as 10 the measures
as may be required TO forestall any
such condition as prevails in Germany
and in England.
Discussion OF an embargo upon the
expectation Of food products Is sure
to be renewed when Congress takes
up these questions. Such an embargo
for military reasons may he opposed
even moro vigorously than In the past.
II this country. for instance. becomes
in name or In effect an ally OF the
entente, the United States would be
called upon. AZ part OF the general
war plan. 10 help feed all the allies
armies. And the call could not be
resisted.
The Argentine government has just
placed IN embargo upon tho exporta-
ton OF wheat, and is considering a
similar step with. respect to corn.
These measures are taken. no doubt,
for domestic reasons. though German
influences may have a hand in them.
Even so, the enormous Argentine
wheat supply has been cut off, and at
a time when the American wheat crop
has been pronounced far below normal.
Four ail-important problems are in
volved in placing the country upon a
war basis and In making efficient tho
naval and military establishments
They are munitions. men. transporta-
ton and food And OF the four, the
food supply is probably the most
pressing.