The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1917-08-25

since the war Increased It's production
| by l,OOO.OoO tons per annum. How far
| this demand will interfere with the
difficult 10 forecast, first, because some
| increased supplies may be obtained by
| the allies from the East Indies, and,
second, because the allies have re-
duced their consumption to some ex-
| tent.
In any event, if all the enemies Of
Germany are 10 be supplied. there
must be economy in consumption
everywhere. The normal American
consumption is about 30 pounds Der
person per annum and is just double
the French consumption.
Vegetables.
We have this wear most abundant
crop of vegetables for our use as a re-
suit of patriotic endeavOr almost
universal throughout the country. Our
potato harvest alone promises an in
crease from 2Sj.OOO.OOO bushels last
year TO over 4OOOOO.OOO bushels this
year. The other vegetables are like
wise enormously increased through
the planting and extension of millions
Of gardens. The sweet potato crop
promises to be from 10 TO 20 per cent
above what ii was last year, and the
commercial crop of sweet corn for
canning purposes is estimated to be
from 20 10 30 per cent above that of
last year. The commercial crop of
tomatoes for canning purposes will !
probably be somewhere between 10 |
and 20 per cent above what il was last |
year There is an increase in the acre |
age of late onions of about 81 per cent |
over the area harvested in 1916.
Fish and Sea Foods.
The waters of our coasts and lakes
are enormously rich in food fish and
shell fish. Our streams, too contribute
a great quantity Of fish. Many varie-
ties are now not used for human food,
but are thrown away or used for ferti-
iZer. Habit has confined our use Of
1sh TO few varieties, and inadequate
Methods of commercial handling have
United our use Of these largely TO only
certain days in the week. With better
facilities, with better under
standing of how to use the most varie-
les. with proper preservation by
y ng and sailing and by establish
NJ plants for frozen fish, we can in
rease greatly our supply and thus re-
leve largely the pressure due to the
inadequate supply of meat. We only
ave TO harvest our own fish supply.
feeds itself. Every fish eaten is
hat much gained in solving the pres
Mt problem of living. The products
T The land aI< conserved by eating
hose of the sea.
Our Duty.
/ have endeavored TO show in previ-
us articles that the world is short OF
bod; that Europe is confronted with
ne grim specter of starvation unless .
-om our abundance and our waste we :,
eep the wolf from the door, Not only :,
ust we have proper use of our food :.
lpply in order that we may furnish =
IT allies with the sinews with which
ley may fight our battles, but 1t is .
d act of humanity towards fellow y
en-, women and children. "
BY the diversion of millions of men "
ON production to war, by the occu- =,
ltion of land by armies, by the iso- :,
ton OF markets, by belligerent lines.
ID by the destruction of shipping by
bmarines, not only has the home pro-
lctiOn of our allies fallen by over VI
100000 bushels of grain, but they ef
e thrown upon us for much larger al
oportion of their normal imports for I'll
arly obtained from other markets. ;!
They have reduced consumption at ue
cry point, but men in the trenches, u
IN in the shops. and the millions of III
'men placed at physical labor re- Oh
ire more food than during peace Ut
hes, and the incidence of their saving I'll
d any shortage which they may suf- OF
:, fails first upon women and chill hi'
IN. If this privation becomes too
Eat. their peoples cannot be main Oil
ned constant in the war, and we will co
left alone to fight the battle of uti
nOcracy with Germany. IRA
The problem of food conservation Is pu
of many compilations. We cannot, III
we do not wish, with our free in no
tutions and our large resources of sur
d. to initiate Europe in its policed lie
iOning, but we must voluntarily and mu
assume the responsibility ilol
ore us as one in which everyone MA
direct and unacceptable interest. "
must increase our export of foods the
The allies, and in the circumstances Or
'ur shipping situation. these exports am
st be of the most concentrated ing
DIS. These are wheat, flour, beef. not
and dairy products. We have 9th vi
foods in great abundance which we the
use instead Of these commodities. aoi
we can prevent wastes In thou we
d directions. We must guard the anu
mage Of exports from the United con
ties, that we retain a proper supply niil
our own country, and We must Ill
pit such measures as will anchor 50
so far as may be, the price condi- ma
s of our less fortunate. We might vi
Train the supplies from the country rep
europe as by the high prices that pee
I'D follow to force our people to ue'
ten their consumption. This oper- ue'i
n of normal economic forces" siei
a