The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-04-14
FOOD CROPS MUST BE |NCREASD.
Secretary Houston Points Out That Wars
Demands Will Call For Amount Far Ex-
ceeding Any Supply Heretofore
Grown In This Country.
Duty and Opportunity of Farmers Throughout The Nation
Increase Food Production Thus Assuring Themselves
Prosperity and Helping Couotry in Crisis-Corn Peas
Beans and Sweet Potatoes Urged for South.

Washington. April 11.-secretary
Houston OF the department of agri-
culture tonight again appealed to the
,,ountry to make every effort to raise
adequate food crops this year not
only for the United States needs but
to meet the requirements Of the en-
tsnta.
The Importance to the nation of a
generous food supply for the coming
year can not be overestimated in
view Of the economic problems which
may arise as result Of the entrance
Of the United States into the war;"
said the secretary.
Every effort should be made TO
pr0duce more crops than are needed
for our own requirements. Many mil
lions Of people across the sea as well
80 our own people must rely in
large part upon the products of our
fields ana ranges.
This situation will continue to
szist even though hostilities should
end unexpectedly soon since Euro
pean production can not be restored
Immediately to It's normal basis.
1T n obvious that the greatest and
most important service that IL requir-
cd Of our agriculture under existing
conditions II an enlarged production
Of the staple food crops. Because
OF the sh ,ge of such crops prac-
tically thr .sout the world there Is
NO risk In the near future Of excessive
production such as sometimes has re-
suited In unremunerative prices to
producers. ss
This Is particularly true of the
cereals and Of peas. beans. cowpeas.
soy beans and buckwheat. In view
Of, the world scarcity of food there is
hardly q possibility that the produc-
ton Of these crops. by the farmers Of
the United states an be too great
tlsis sysar and there IL abundant
rcassn 70 expect generous price re-
tuEus for AL available surplus. 2H
'-rhs most effective step ths.t may
be- taken to increase the production
of thee crops IL to enlarge the acre.
age devoted to them In the regions
whore they are, grown habitually. This
expansion Of acreage should be to the
limit permitted by available good
seed, labor and equipment.
"rhe placing Of too great emphasis
on production In new regions IL in
advisable since the introduction into
. farm operation ola crop not usually
srown frequently involves practical
dif'iculties not easily foreseen nor
quickly surmountable.
Taking the winter wheat territory
~ q whole. winter killing has occur
red to an extent very much greater
than usual. This obviously, IL not
compensated for In some way, will
mean material reduction In the sup
piles Of our most important bread
cereal. Where winter wheat has been
damaged sufficiently to justify the
abandonment Of fields II should by all
means be replaced by spring planted
food crops. preferably small grains or
corn.
\ IL land Intended for spring wheat
can not DO put into good condition
enrly enough for seeding. oats or
barley can be substituted to good ad-
vantage In the sections where these
crdops are known to do we'll.
THE ease with which barley ma,
be substituted directly for wheat in
human food and It's usefulness to re-
place wheat milling by-products as
food In the production Of the milk
supply renders its abundant produc
tlon important.
Barley. where II succeeds. yields
a larger weight Of feed per acre than
any other small grain crop.
with an abundance Of oats anf
barley available much closer milling
Of wheat than at present could be
practiced II necessary without endan-
sering the milk supply which consti-
tutes so important an element in tn,
dietary Of consumers.
The place Of rye under present
conditions is an important one Buck
wheat may be planted later than any
similar crop and rice at present prices
provides more food value for the
money than most OF the other cereals
Fuller appreciation of Its value should
stimulate production to an extent thal
would increase the total fod supply
greatly.
prices OF the grain sorghums dur
IN tho naaf oaaonu