El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-04-12
URGE PLANTING
Of FOOD CROPS
Irrigationists Hear A. & M.
Man and Local Farmers
Talk on Prospects.

Agricultural preparedness in FL PasG
county and means Of increasing the
production or food crops in this dis
trict was discussed at length at a
meeting Of the land and irrigation com
mittee Of the chamber Of commerce
"Wednesday evening Plans for secUr-
ing the planting OF crops necessary TO
make the county self supporting were
discussed. and means of bringing the
crop production Of the county up to
its maximum viii be undertaken AT
once.
Present at the meeting were W. c.
Roe. chairman Of the committee T J.
POrcher. J. j Mundy. George r Lee
Baron. J. A Smith. : s. Carpenter. A
G. Graham. county farm demonstration
and !. /. QuicksaN OF Waco. Texas
connected with the extension depart
ment Of the Texas A. d NJ. college
Patriotic Duty To Plant.
The farmers of the valley don't re
alize what the European war means"
said Mr. Roe The farmers must be
made TO realize that il viii be TO their
direct profit TO produce food crops that
may be used here FrijOle and lima
beans such as sold last season at three
to four cents per pound VIII sell for
from u TO . cents per pound this sea-
son. It Is the patriotic duty Of every
farmer IN the county TO plant food
crops such IS may be easily raised after
the spring wheat crop
Texas Not Feeding Itself
Il am not an alarmist." said Mr..
Quicksau. but We are up against a
condition which must be made the
best of at once The food and feed
problem is going TO be one OF the most
serious problems Of the war Accord
ing to the report Of the United States
department OF agriculture the food pro-
duction of this country in 1916 was
l250,000,0e0 bushels short of that OF
I'll.
greater demand during the coming year
and farm labor viii be extremely scarce
because Of the enlistments in the army
Texas is not feeding itself
For instance. $55.0e000 600 worth OF
pork products alone were shipped into
the state in 1916. Should trouble de-
velop IN Mexico the Mexican labor. Of
which we have plenty at present VIII
be exceedingly scarce This is con-
dition which may have TO be confront
ed. within 4 short time.
Through the extension service Of
the Texas A. and NJ college. farmers
everywhere are being urged to plant
grains and sOrghums. The Fl Paso
chamber OF commerce should make a
strenuous effort TO cooperate with the
farmers Of this county in raising all
food and feed crops this year
Recalls Civil War Conditions.
7 \ Smith portrayed conditions that :
existed during the Civil war when
families Were forced - live for months
y
be obtained. he said. and almost every
necessity was depleted by the war. \
similar condition may confront this
section. Mr. Smith said. IL the war con-
tinues in Europe for a long time
FL PnsO Dependent On Outside.
T. y. Porcher asserted that figures
show that Fl Paso could not exist on
its present food supply for more than
one month without importing necessl-
ties Of life.
]. ]. Mundy urged that the farmers
Of the county plant beans and similar
crops about the last OF June after the
wheat crop was OFF.
To Issue n Circular.
Upon motion Of Mr.. Smith. seconded
by Mr. lie Baron. It was voted 10 pre-
pare and distribute 4 circular. printed
in both English and Spanish. urging
the planting Of food crops. and listing
crops which viii be in demand
Mr.. lie Baron suggested that meet
ing of the land and irrigation COM
after at the call Of the chairman and
that means be taken to secure neces-
sary publicity in the interest OF the
farmers Of the valley.
Recommends Contract With Graham.
On motion of M lie Baron. second
ed by Mr.. Smith. II was decided 10
recommend that the chamber OF COM
merce contract with county farm DEM
onstrator Graham for another year
Mr. Roe expressed the thanks Of the
committee To Mr. Quicksan for his ef-
forts in behalf OF agricultural pre-
paredness in FL Paso county and as
serted that the committee is willing
to stand behind any state measures
for the increased production Of food /
crops that may be deemed necessary
Mr. Quicksall win. it was announced,
address gatherings OF farmers through :
out the FL PasO valley.
Pay 81 Acre For Water
After the meeting Mr. Smith said /
many valley farmers had q mistaken /
idea that they would have to shoulder
extra expense Of water supply for 1917. 1
He stated that this was a mistake. that I
the farmers that had their lands under I
cultivation would have to pay rental ]
for the water used by themselves and I
not for the acreage not cultivated Last 1
year, Mr.. Smith, said. about 81 per
acre was spent by the farmers for /
water from the Franklin canal
LAMP EXPLODES; FIRE Loss 500.
= l. - ? : -