The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1917-08-09

history Of the world. In fact, no
step toward preparedness in connection with
the participation of the United States in
the war has proceeded more rapidly than the
mobilization of the farm resources of the middle
West, which just now is preparing itself for the
task of feeding not only the United States, but a
large part of the world.
Despite the fact that the call to the fields
came too late to affect the winter wheat crop.
the middle ~.Iestern farmer has made tremendous.
advances in increasing the acreage of his other
food crops, such as corn, oats, rye and other farm
products. Present indications are that the wheat
crop will not be large enough to much more than
meet the needs of America, let alone the expor-
taton Of large quantities of this product which
must be made to the allies, but famine Is still a
distant specter. For the first time in its history
the world is going to learn a valuable lesson in
domestic economy, and that is the adaptation of
other farm products for food purposes. One of
the first results will be a worldwide campaign
to dethrone King Wheat and enthrone King Corn,
whese monarchy heretofore has scarcely extend
ed beyond the boundaries Of the United States.
The bumper corn crop which the middle West
Will raise this summer, barring such unforeseen
calamities as drought and floods, will stave off
hunger for a large portion of the world. Pres
ent indications are that the corn acreage In the
IL great corn states Of the country will be in
creased from 20 to 80 per cent, or even more in
some localities, due to the fact that thousands of
acres Of winter wheat lands were made useless
for that purpose by the severe cold weather,
which killed the wheat. An increase Of 20 per
cent in the acreage planted in corn will add ap-
tproximately soc, 100000 bushels of corn to the
nations crop. A large portion Of this increased
yield will go to European allies Of the United
Estates and to neutral nations. 1t Is probable that
Uncle Sam will have to send some of his experts
i'm domestic science abroad to instruct the Euro
lpean in the value and methods Of preparing corn
las q food product.
I The nations corn crop has averaged 5000 OOO,-
1000 bushels in the last few years. a no inconsid-
|erable mark in itself, but reports collected by ag-
Ir%icultural experts from the middle West indicate
that the 1917 crop will approximate 100000 600
bushels. The banner corn states of the Union
lare prepared to do their share in the drive for
Increased food production. Conservative estimates
of what some Of the leading states in the corn
belt region will do this year are: Illinois, 4OO,-
100000 bushels; Iowa. 1926. OO0. 600 to 35O.O 900
bushels; Nebraska, 25O,O00,000 bushels; Missouri.
i225,000,OOO bushels; Indiana. 20O,O00.O0O bushels.
and Texas, 2OO,OOO,OOO bushels. Such middle
Western states as Minnesota. South Dakota,
North Dakota, Wisconsin and Michigan will have
(greatly increased acreages of corn this season.
|due to several reasons. In the Western group Of
Estates which lie in the heart Of the wheat belt
thousands of acres of winter wheat were killed
iduring the winter. Despite the fact that the
ispring wheat acreage planted this year is unusu-
tally larger, there still remained many thousands
Iof acres of land which could be used for no other
purpose than for corn or oats, two Of the leaders
in the great trio Of farm crops.
The harvest this summer is likely to see a rec
Ord-breaking crop of oats. approximating 2,OOO,-
100000 bushels. Tremendous increases will also
be made in the rye, katir corn sorghum and for
age crops. all of which are important factors in
supplying the tables Of the world with important
food products. It is this latter activity in plant
ing greatly increased acreages Of the minor crops
that is expected to bring on a small revolution in
farming circles. Instead Of depending upon one
two or three Of the big trio Of crops, the farmer
Is devoting his energy to the growing Of other
crops which supplement the food products gained
from wheat, corn and oats. Thus, in the case OF
T. failure of any of the important crops, America
will have plenty of substitutes to fall back upon
Already food chemists and experts in almost al
of the middle Western states are busily engaged
i'm finding new flour substitutes. Discoverie:
made in a number Of laboratories indicate thai
Americas bread will be baked with the aid O.
corn and feterita have been found to make &C
iceptable flours, and the use of cottonseed mea
in the preparation of breadstuffs will soon gail
widespread popularity. Chemists are engaged OF
other still hunts for new food substitutes. and b.
the end of the year America will be eating scores
Of new foods and combinations of foodstuff
which have been wasted heretofore or fed to liv
"a stock. {
Emergency food commissions established In al
of the stntes are conducting an aggressive cam