Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-12-08
SPLENDID WORK OF FARMERS
DURING YEAR JusTiFlEs NO
LETDowN IN EFFORTS.
SECRETARY HcUsToNs
REPORT TO CONGRESS
Secretary Of Agriculture Says Spirit
Of Farmers Indicates They Recognize
Their Responsibilities to Nation
Adequate Food Supply sursss Road
to Peace.

Washington, Dec. s.-With record
crops grown this year the nations
farm and live stock production must
be stimulated to still higher efficien-
cy during the coming twelve months
IL domestic demands and the needs Of
the allies are to be adequately met,
report to congress.
That the farmers Of the nation
have generously responded to the APP
peals for increased production. and
that much has already been done to
insure large supply Of foods and
foodstufrs." says the report. "justifles
no let-down in their activities or in
those of all agricultural agencies. On
the contrary, even greater efforts
must be put forth in the coming
months.
There must be no breakdown on the
farms, no failure Of foods. feedstuffs
or clothing. cannot emphasize too
strongly the urgent necessity Of do
ing everything possible to bring a
still further increase in the produc-
ton Of all essential commodities. par
ttcularly Of the staple crops and live
stock"
Confidence in the ability Of the farm
ers to meet the unusual emergency
caused by Americas entrance into the
war is reiterated by the secretary.
Their willing CO. cooperation since April
has been prolific Of encouraging crop
increases, he says, and there Is no
doubt that they have a complete and
ready comprehension Of the demands
to be supplied as the war proceeds.
THE spirit revealed by the farmers
and the results of their efforts during
the present year." he says, indicate
that they recognize the responsibility
resting upon them In this emergency.
am confident that they will patriot
ically continue to assume and to bear
their full share Of the country's bur-
den.
The farmers Of the nation have al
ways shown their devotion to the
cause Of freedom and have not been
slow to respond to the country's call
for men and means to defend its rights.
las 1t becomes more obvious that
the eurest way to force a righteous
peace 10 to employ effectively all the
VIII increasingly put forth their
strength. send cher sons to tight At
the front. and see to It that neither
this nation nor those with which We
are associated lack anythng in the
way Of materials for food and cloth.
Ing"
While the precise figures for meat,
poultry, dairy products and vegetable
oils are not yet available, the secre-
tary estimates that the quantity Of
these commodities Is greater than for
1915 and 1915.
Inersass In Crops.
An increase Of a billion bushels over
the I'VE year pre-war average was
effected IN this years crop Of staples.
Unrevised estimates contained in the
report are as follows: 8, 1000, 900
bushels Of corn. 65s.7s7,000 Of wheat
$4,000. 900 OF oats, 2o1, 900 Of bar
ley, 100000 of rye. 1888, 900
Of buckwheat, 3s,25s,000 Of rice,
73.Sso,0D0 Of kafir, 43s.6se,000 Of Irish
potatoes. s4.727.000 Of sweet potatoes
15,s67,000 Of commercial beans, a.
sos.0oo Of peaches. 11,41s.ooo Of pears |
177733.000 of apples and 7.s21,00o OF
sugar beets.
The number OF mich cows and
other cattle" the report adds, "has
shown an increase during the last four
or five years, the estimate for the
former for the present year being 49, /
9o6,000 as against 22,768,000 a year ago
and 2o,497.00o in 1918, before the Euro
pean war began, while that for the cat
tie Is 43,291,000 as against 40,s49 900
a year ago and 3s,o3o.000 in 1918. I'm
fortunately, the number Of sheep con-
tinues to decline; the estimate for 1917
is only 46,o59,00o as against 4s4s3.-
900 a year ago and 61,4s20Oo in 1913.
It is estimated that the number OF
hogs, which during recent years has