Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1917-05-08
GrooDer Sends a Message to
The People ofa Great State

At the big mass meeting of Sumter
county farmers and business men held
in Americas on Wednesday morning
last, assistant Commissioner of Agri-
culture Ben H. Grower was schedul-
ed to deliver one of the principal ad-
dresses, but on account of the length
of time taken up by the previous
speakers, Clifford Pinchot and DR.. An
drew NJ Soule, Mr.. Grower decided
to eliminate his part of the pro-
gram.
His message to the business men and
farmers relative to the vital food pro-
duction problem now confronting the
nation was most interesting, and in
order that the citizens of this section
of the state may be informed as to his
suggestions, the Times Recorder here
With prints Mr.. Growers address:
According to the U. S. bureau of crop
estimates the U. S. experienced in 1918
the accommodating yield of 1,025,S01,-
600 bushels of wheat, which exceeded
by 3S5,915 900 bushels the poor yield
of 1916. The yield for 1916 was less
by SS,339 900 bushels than the average
for the five years ended with 1914,
said average being 728,225,0OO. 1t is
estimated that the winter wheat crop
of the United States to be harvested
this spring will be about 430,O00,0OO
bushels, or less than in 1916 by 51,744,
900 bushels.
Same authority gives the following
figures as to corn: The yield in 1913
was 2,294, 793, 900 which exceeded
by Ali .552 900 bushels the yield for
1916 (2,5S3,2 41 900 bushels, The aver
age yield for the five years ended 1914
was ,732,457 900 bushels, an amount
greater by 149,216,OO0 bushels than the
crop of 1916.
Similarly, the oat crop for 1915 was
1851 1892 900, or 297,03S,OOO bushels
NOR. than the WELD for 1916, Q,25l,
$4,000 bushels} 1t is to be noted
however, that the oat crop for 1916 ex-
ceeded by S4,031 600 bushels the aver
age for the five years ended in 1914.
Along with the three great cereal
crops already considered the following
figures relating to Irish potatoes will
be of interest. The highest authorities
have estimated the combined yield OF
the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany
France, the Netherlands, Switzerland
and the United States in 1915 at g.
6O,757,OO0, and that the yield in these
countries in 1916 was 1,75S,56l, QOc
bushels. a decrease of approximately
As per cent.
When it is remembered that all the
nations of Europe, whether at war OF
not, are finding it exceedingly difficult
to supply the necessary food to theii
peoples, and when we consider how
slight, in comparison with previous
wears, the stocks of food in this coun-
try are, we at once realize the neces-
| sity for our nations bending its every
energy towards the production of fooc
crops in 1917. A repetition of the un-
favorable weather conditions expert
enced in 1916 might bring disaster an6
famine, while a bounteous harvest
such as was had in 1915, would bring
prosperity, a feeling of comfort anc
security AMI degree of material wei
fare for most of the civilized warle
scarcely to be hoped for. AS indicated
already, the winter wheat crop for 1871
promises only 430,OOO,OOO bushels
which is less by 51,744,000 than the
yield of 1916, and less by 64,654,0OC
bushels than the average yield OF win
ter wheat for the five years ended with
1914. While they are small items, il
might be said that the winter grain
crops of the South are very badly
short, probably 1910, and that the
spring Irish potato crop of the South
gives promise of some increased yield
in view of an increased acreage esti-
mated at about twenty per cent over
1916.
Appeal to the South.
AS we have so frequently heard OF
late, the Nation makes urgent appeal
to the South to feed itself this year, SO
that the surplus grain and forage
crops of the West, including meat and
dairy products as well, can be either
supplied to the army and navy of aur
own land, not to mention the millions
who live in our metropolitan cities OF
the New England and the East, and to
the soldiers and civilian populations
of the European countries that have