The Springdale news. [volume] (Springdale, Ark.) 1887-1990, 1917-06-29
pase's Weekly Letter

| have spent the past ten days in
states of Alabama, Georgia, Loui
siana, Mississippi and Tennessee, and
have made a close observation and in
vestigation into the agricultural con-
ditions of that part Of the South
through which l have travelled. |
have been impressed with the fact
that only in a few sections or eommu-
mites where | have been will there be
enough of the food and feed products
produced to supply the home demand
unless there is far greater economy
exercised than heretofore. | believe
we will be able TO produce enough to
supply the home demand in Arkansas,
but | have serious doubts Of such be-
ing the case in any of the other South
ern states through which | have been,
unless it is the state OF Tennessee.
We have such varied resources IN the
South that it is common boast IN
most southern states that they could
enclose themselves within a wall and
live without aid or assistance from
the outside This has been nothing
but q boast, however, and when each
Of our Southern states is actually
thrown upon its own resources, the
true relation between boast and fact
will become impfessively serious.
We may have 70 depend upon or own
resources all rzsoaraefuiness for ex-
istenee during re War.bat # we
should there will be many lessons
learned in the South. =Iehas benin
simated from a reliable governmental
source that re vii most likely have
u depend upon ourselves for food
and feed, for the very plausible rea-
son that the surplus OF the gram belt
will be difficult to transport % the
South for lack of cars and the ex-
cessixe demand for traasp ortatH9a Of
men and war supplies We should
begin to prepare for that day by US
ing the greatest possible economy in
the consumption Of the supplies now
on hand, ard what to grow during the
season. We should also strain our
selves to the last point in trying to
raise the greatest amount o. food
feed stuff. ard to conserve and keep
it when produced. The meat product
is going 10 be short al over the
country We have a means Of meet
ing this condition by turning our at
tention aggressively to poultry and
hogs In a short time these two
items OF food stuff can be increased
largely. The mich COW IS another
great source from WHICH to get
food supply One good cow will pro-
duce more in food value in ye.,
than three big beef steers The main
route to success along these ines
lies along feed lines. An abundance
of feed is essential Hay IS one of
the cheapest and best supplementary
feeds Sorghum and millet hav are
good emergency hay crops. Peanuts,
! pumpkins, sweet potatoes, tuiripi and
COW peas furnish good feed crops.
Winter oats, rye and wheat are good
for pasture. We should try to raise
enough wheat for bread next year.
We should save all we can ii cans
and build potato houses in all The
town and thickly settled commune
ties to take care of all the potatoes
! grown.
Let US all begin to save ard to use
good judgement in production It
viii mean much to the people Of our
state Every patriotice man and
woman should do his or her bit in ex-
ercisine economy, frugality, energy
and good judgment.
JOHN H. PAGE,
Commissioner of Agriculture
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