The Robesonian., 1917-04-26
By JOHN PAUL LUCAS

(EXecutlve Secretary North Carolina
Food Conservation Commission)
GroW your own food and feed
crops Or go hungry. In less abrupt
phraslng but in language just as
easily understood, this is what the
rest OF the country is saying to the
South this year.
The South has been depending up
on the North and Central West for
food and feed and feedstuffs to the
value OF approximately 100000 900
year-at present prices the figures
would no doubt pass the billion dol
Lar mark. North Cardinals part of
this tremendous aggregate of i'm
ports has been in round numbers $780,
100000. For the fiscal year begin
ming July 1, 1916, and ending June
+ 81, 1917, because Of a combination of
high prices and poor crops in some
sections, our importations would no
doubt reach the staggering figure cf
100000. Q
j This State in common with all the
;! South has received solemn warning
from officials of the national gov
ernment, including the secretary and
assistant secretary OF the Depart
ment of Agriculture, that the fooc
| and feedstuffs we have been import
! ing will not be available this yeal
! because they will be required for ou1
! armies and the armies of our allies
; The Governors, agricultural leader!
E and far-sighted farmers and bushes!
men of the South have sounded thu
k, warning also. So grave is the stu
alton that President Wilson himself
: has made special appeal to tn
r farmers of the South.
o The State of North Carolina ha
a been early to take steps to meet tn
d situation. Even before war was de
l. clarod Governor Beckett took tim
st by the forelock and issued proc
lamation urging upon the people c
D. our cities and towns as well as thos
d. on farms the Importance Of plan
r ing ample home vegetable garden
ir Following the entry of this natio
II into the war Governor Beckett al
es pointed a State Food Conservatio
K Commission which promptly met ar
has planned and is putting into e.
ecution under the direction Of its e,
IN ecutive secretary vigorous can
a. paign for greater food and feed pr
to duction. A sub-commission is beir
l. appointed in each county in the Stat
to have representation from eve1
lis school district. The newspapers
IS the State, the commercial organiz
as lions, ministers, mayors of towns al
= cities, banks and other persons al
he agencies will be called upon to a
w sist in this campaign, In addition
the State Department of Agricultu1
r. the Farm Extension Service, t
he boys and girls corn, pig and tom
n to clubs and other organizations.
ON short, every possible agency is bel
NJ mobilized to meet the situation.
ms There are several means Of
a creasing production. Where farme
ar can see their way clear, they a
ed urged to reduce slightly their ac1
fic age of cotton and tobacco, especial
Ie- the latter, giving more acres to col
as SOW beans, peas, potatoes, hay a
other food and feed crops. Ev
or where they do not reduce their acl
he age of cotton and tobacco they a
IL urged to try to take care Of slig
on additional acreage, if they can do
no without neglecting their accustom
lC crops. Increased amounts of fert
IT. izers NAV be used to advantage whe
m wisely applied. County commisslo
n ers are urged to use <convicts a
.lv their work stock on tenantless III
ict for the cultivation of corn and n
: especially, even to the tempora
neglect of road work. The people
th our cities and towns are urged
If utilize vacant lots and lands close
M for the growing Of staple food a
ID feed crops.
&C. When one tries to vision t
~ amount of meat. flour. corn, GA
&C. hay, potatoes, etc, SSo,o0o,ooo
A $1OO,OOO,0OO Will buy ne peglns
he realize what glgantlc TASK the Tar
10 ers of the State have imposed up
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