The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1917-05-18
OUR FOOD SUPPLY.


Agriculture and food supply is the
subject of an important statement is
sued by Senator Duncan q. Fletcher,
president Of the Southern Commercial
congress. Senator Fletcher speaks
with authority on this subject in
which he has taken leading part In
the past few Tears. He served as
chairman of the United States COM
mission, appointed by President Will
son, and rs president of the Ameri-
can commission on agricultural or
ganization that made Investigations in
Europe, resulting in the federal farm
loan act.
."In normal times" said Senator
Fletcher, England does not produce
enough foodstuffs in a year to last
ner six weeks. In France millions OF
inen have been withdrawn from tie
fields, thousands have left their farms
Ii Canada, for theSarmy. =" Thousands
Of farm workers have gone from the
United States into Canada where spe-
cial inducements are offered.
Thousands of young men have
temporarily passed from the farms in
the United States to the factories
where higher wages are paid. At the
same time We can easily produce food
enough for ourselves and all Europe.
We have the soil and the climate
when, while labor is essential to pro-
Guction, production is sure reward
If labor.
when we consider that Germany
ls not as large as Texas by an area
as big as Alabama and she must feeu
some 5S,O0O,00O people, we should be
shamed. with all our territory, fertile
lands, splendid and mild climate, to
own to any uncertainty about our abii-
..ty to feed the world. Yes, and clothe
it too. For some years / have been
convinced that what we need to be
exercised about was, not production,
but a. proper system of distribution.
For some time past I have thought
and some of our advanced agricultural
colleges have insisted, that what we
most needed was scientific marketing
methods rather than increased produc-
zion. That need is emphasized by ex-
listing conditions. We have laid stress
IN scientific farming to the neglect OF
the equally important matter OF
scientific marketing. There Is no use
to produce grain, vegetables, fruit,
cattle, and the like if the cost a pro-
duction is to be exceed! in frieghr,
commissions and charges here and
there, delays and waste.
"our people engaged in agriculture
Can readily furnish all the food pro-
ducts required at home and by our
friends. What Is needed is plan,la
method, a system for economically
getting the products WI gre and when
they are wanted and disposing OF
hem to the best advantage to both
producer and consumer. There should
be a mobilization of this producing
power with proper agencies for dis
tribution.
Another thing Is most important;
come fruits and vegetables mature
and must be marketed within few
months or they are lost. In that way
the markets are glutted. They can not
be consumed before that time. The
demand ceases. They rot in the field
or reach the market in bad order. The
,emedy is to conserve th ese products;
n some instances by canning or pre-
serving, and in other cases by resort
:ng to the rather expensive alterna-
tive, cold storage.
Provision should be made to take
care of the surplus production, and
have 1t in another but wholesome and
aseful form to feed olt, when the
fresh supply is exhausted. / do not
r.ean to say, however, but that the
time is here for every farmer to do
mis- best. He can lender the country
no higher service than to make two
blades of grass grow here one grew
tefore'"