The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1917-05-18
Talks to Farmers

A L affneFS Injecting w 40 hSiA ~
Tuesday afternoon, of last week. l.
was well attended, Governor Harring
ton was present, and with him were
Professors Richardson and Symons Of
the Maryland Agricultural College
while Mrs. Patterson, connected witt
that growing and important institution
participated in the meeting as the re
preventative of the Women's Defence
League. The meeting was presided
over by Mr.. Waters, president of the
Citizens Bank of LAUREL who intro
duced the speakers.
In his opening remarks the distin,
guished speakers followed patriotic lines
and complimented the people of Mary
land upon their loyalty and devotion In
republican ideals, his words bringing
ringing applause from the attentive
audience He then turned to the war
situation as it is seen by thoughtful!
men and warned his hearers that the
responsibility for successfully meeting
it will fall largely upon the farmers OF
the country, and those of Maryland
will be expected to do their part and dc
it we'll Governor Harrington said that
the United States is preparing for q
Struggle which will last perhaps three
years, and that in view of the fact that
the whole world is facing famine. the
farmers must produce not only suffic-
lent food to feed the hungry millions in
this land, but to supply as far as pos
slble the needs of those in the war
smitten countries of Europe with which
the United States is now allied.
Professor Richardson of the Maryland
Agricultural College emphasized the
necessity for renewed efforts upon the
calling attention to the food situation
in America at this time. The normal
supply of wheat, he said, is 200, 900, 900
bushels, but this year there are not
more than 100, 900, 900 bushels on hand,
while there is a shortage in corn of at
least 200, 900, 900 bushels, the normal
yield of this important cereal being
about ], 900, 600, 900 bushels. We should
havesin the United States 600, 1000, 900
bushels of oats but the supply is but
little if any over 400, 900, 900 bushels.
Professor Richardson opened the eyes
of his audience when he m ade the state
ment that in some of the European
countries suffering from a limited sup
ply of food, potatoes are fifty cents a
pound. or $50 buShel, and, he gravely
added, if conditions III America do not
change, the same prices will be de-
manded here After referring to the
manufacture of -four in this country and
abroad, the speaker said the farmer is
not being called upon to double his acre
age, but by judicious seed selection and
painstaking cultivation to produce larg-
er crops. The Professor urged his
hearers to plant beans and other vege
tables, which, he said, take the place of
meat, and closed his address with the
statement that one of the good things
the war will bring to US will be the re
cognition by the farmer of the value of
organized effort, which can not fail to
make him potent factor in promoting
the best interests of the Nation.
Professor Symons, also member of
the faculty of the Maryland Agricultu-
raj College, began his address with the
startling statement that the United
States is short Ill ,000,C coo barrels of
flour; in other words, that number of
barrels is needed to supply the normal
demand in this country. This, he, said,
considered in connection with the short
age in other food staples, means that
the farmers of Prince Georges county
must raise enough to feed themselves.
Every article of food-wheat, corn,
meat and hay ought to be grown on the
farms of the county. The fact is, said
Professors Symons, that Prince Geor-
ge's has been sending the flower of its
labor to the cities of Washington anC
Baltimore, leaving the farm without
the help needed to make it the success
IL
on farms in this section of Maryland
he said that Anne Arundel county has
only one hog to every eight people. II
closing, Professor Symons paid his re
spects to the idle element of the coun
try's population and SAID that all sucf
persons should be told that from nov
a they must work or fight. By specia
lie IsIat!On all farmers should be keL
at work. Tor, under existing conditions
without their labor the country wLui,
quickly feel the touch of the blightinl
h and of famine.
Mrs. Patterson, in a brief address
said chat the organization represented
by her stood for Increased production
and conservation Of ali food supplies
TIE farmers hpuId raise more 70
themselves and pay close attention t.
gardening. A present the gardens al,
snail. Foods 10 take the piace Of mea
!cn as tggs, peas, beans, lettuce an
Ich vegetables should be produced 70
home use. Mrs. Patterson recommend
Ell the canning and drying of fruit am
vegetables Tor winter use and SAID tina
ii this were done the food supply woul
be greatly increased ana could be mad
Sufficient TO meet domestic demands d
tae time when most needed. She clos
Ell with the suggestion that the farmer
snould raise enough for themselves an
have share lett for the families Q
men Oh the firing line.