Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1917-04-20
NATIONAL DEFENSE...THE FOOD PROBLEM
BY B. F. Bush, Receiver,
Missouri Pacific-IrOn Mountain.

BY B. F. Bush Receiver,
Missouri Paciic-Iron Mountain.
In the great crisis which now confronts
our country, no more signal service can
be rendered than by the farmers of the
country in united and earnest effort to
raise enough food products for the United
States and her allies. This is equally as
important as recruiting large army or
manning a more extensive navy. 1t is
as true now as when Marcus Cato pro-
claimed to the Romans that you cannot
make speeches to the belly, which has
no ears" for the stomach cannot be filled
with fair words.
The nation, i'm time of war, Is entitled
from every man, rich or poor, to such
service as may be required, subject to the
limitations imposed by age or sickness.
With reported slump OF more than
fifty million bushels of winter wheat, as
compared with last years crop, as re-
Gently reported by the Government, our
country is brought face to face with the
first serious war feeding problem.
To meet the increased demands for food
products. caused by the war, additional
preparations would be necessary were it
not for the present decrease in the wheat
crop, but, on account of such decrease,
the question of supplying the food neces-
sary for the fighting men presents seri-
Gus problem which the farmers of our
country must help to solve.
The government, anxious to profit by
the conditions which have been presented
in Europe, has appealed through the Sec
rotary of Agriculture, for an increase in
the food crops necessary to feed our own
people and those across the seas who must
rely i'm large part upon the American
| farmers.
The present war and natural conditions
have resulted in a scarcity of food prod
ucts throughout the whole world, and re-
gardless of the increased remuneration
which this condition guarantees for such
products, it is apparent that every farmer
should bend every effort to increase the
acreage and yield of all kinds of food
stuffs by obtaining the necessary feed,
labor and implements to do so.
Where the spring wheat crops are found
to be impracticable, the land should be
utilized for oats, barley or other substi-
tuted crops for which the soil is adapted,
and too many acres of beans, peas and
forage products cannot be produced to
meet the increased demands that will be
made upon the Middle West.
The large army Of able-bodied men, too
old to fight, can do their part by prepare
tons to help feed the men who fight.
In addition to the crops of corn and
wheat, thousands of acres OF navy beans
and similar crops that have the maximum
amount OF nutrition to the hundred
pounds should be raised. All kinds OF
food stuffs that can be proftably canned
or dried or prepared for ocean transpor-
tation should be prepared in order that
our soldiers and those OF our allies can be
provided with varied and wholesome
diet.
With such men at the head of the
United States Board as Hon. Herbert c.
Hoover, of the Council of National De-
Tense, our country will have the sa,isfac-
ton of knowing that the problem which,
baffled Europe on the supply and price Of
food products will be met and properly
solved in this. country with the stimulus
and patriotism with which the farmers OF
our country.will respond to the appeal Of
the general government.
No compulsory tillage of the soil, such
as England was compelled to enact under
the powers of the Defense of the Realm
Act in Ireland, will be necessary in the
United States.
The transportation lines of the country
are adapting all available revenue and
every possible means to be prepared to
serve the country and general public as
transportation agencies, and, through
their several agriculture departments,
they will render any assistance they can
to the agriculture sections in order to
meet the appeal of the United States De-
partment of Agriculture.
The men in the Agriculture Depart
ments of The Missouri Pacific and Iron
Mountain Railways will cooperate with
the farmers, both individually and
through their organizations, in an effort
to assist in bringing about an increase in
the yield of the lands OF this section.