The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1917-05-19
FOOD CROPS OF THE UNITED States
MUST Be Increased TO THE LIMIT
Secretary of Agriculture Houston Urges Farmers to In
crease Their Acreage of All Grains and vegetabes-War
Demands and World Food Shortage Should Be
Met by Farmers of United States

should be selected where D0Ssibln and
IN" planting should be done ut the ear
nest suitable date. With the small
grains an advance of three or four
DAYS IN stage of maturity Frequently
saves a crop from serious damage bv
| fuNtS. With corn similar advantage
! IS obtained by early maturity when
I severe droughtS are encountered and
when killing frosts occur toward the
end % the season.
Hay and Forage.
\ deficiency of hay and forage for
The next winter would ieopardize the
fuiur" meat and dairy supplies Of
the country and result in a shortage
OF roughage for military draft and
saddle animals. In regions where
carrying dominates, the full acreage
OF clover, alfalfa, and the grasses that
Is IN productive condition should be
maintained. Under the conditions pre-
Ealllng in most dairying sections these
crops can be carried with less man
power than that required for titled
crops. The older, thinner and less
productive grass lands, however. fire.
quently can be made to produce much
larger yields of feed in corn than if
left as they are in unproductiye grass.
Seed potatoes should be conserved
by planting on the best lands available
for them and planning for thorough
tillage and protection of the crop
against disease and insect pests. Po-
tatOes can be grown most advantage.
ously near the centers of population
in the Northern States where trans
portation cost may be reduced to q
minimum. This crop is capable of
quick and large increase of produc-
ton when conditions are favorable.
Such vegetable crops as carrots,
rutabaga, turnips, onions, and cab |
bage are worthy of much more atten- |
ton than they generally receive, espe-
cially in the eastern United States. |
All these crops are capable of large |
production on suitable land under in
tensive culture throughout the more
densely populated portions of the
THE high prices for foodstuffs that
have prevailed during the last few
months have stimulated interest In the
Increase of home supplies of vegeta-
oles, poultry, and dairy products on
,arms.
Through increased attention to
poultry on farms it is possible to add
quickly and materially to the food
supply.
when conditions render il feasible
mall tlOcks of poultry should be kept
y families in villages, towns. and es-
'ecially in the suburbs of large cities.
he need for this extension of poultry
aiSing is particularly great where ,
consumption exceeds production, as in
he Northeastern states.
Consumers living in villages and
l the suburbs of cities do not appre- ,
late sufficiently the possibility of add
IL materially to their food supply by
tilizing suitable idle soil in yards. va
ant lots, and unused outlying fields.
he total contribution to the food sup :
ly of families and communities which =
m be brought about through such ac- =
vities Is great. Gardening is pecu- =
arly an activity In which the family o
nd the community may share with
mutual helpfulness and n
enefit.
THE duty of the individual farmer n
this time is to increase his produc- II
on, particularly of food crops. If he II
IS control of tillable land not in use, f
money lying idle, or labor unem- II
oyed-he should extend his opera- ii
onS so as to employ those resources fl
the fullest extent This does not
can that he should rob his land, s
aSte his capital, or expend his labor fl