Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-12-01
FOOD CROPS IN FRANCE
WORST IN FIFTY YEARS
Country Depending Upon U. S.
for Soldiers to Release
Workers for Fields.

According to statement recently
made 10y the French minister of sup
ply, this years harvest In France has
been the worst In fifty years. This
has been due I'm part To the eNcep-
tionally severe weather last winter,
which did great damage to autumn
sown crops, and even more largely to
the disastrous spring. Almost till the
end of April continuous snow and
frost prevented any 0dquate work
being done in the fields, and the con-
sequent rush that came in the last
few weeks could not possibly be coped
with by the laborers and their women
folk still left on the land.
The decline In food output in
France is made apparent by the fol-
lowing figures for the gross total pro-
duction Of wheat. maize, rye. barley.
oats, potatoes and sugar bcets:
1914 ..................1 1,O57 100000
1918 .................. faH,Oou,OOO
1916 Observation-Disclosures. 79S.000. 900
1917 ................ 711.000, 900
Discussing the shortage OF labor, the
minister of supply says Last year
slightly better season pulled the fig
ures up somewhat, but the case Is
only too apparently one OF deficiency
I'm labor. Proportiouately the recruit
mcnt of the French army Is much
more largely from the land than In
Great Britain. where the Industrial
ccuters. both under the volunteer sys-
TEN and the new service acts. have
provided the bulk OF the men for the
army Actually 1t is estimated by the
ministry of agriculture that 5000, 600
people of both sexes-a fifth OF the
populaion-are employed on the land
In France and from their number at
the time Of the mobilization In 1914
100000 of the best were taken. Dur
ing the three years since that date
the remnant old men. unfit men. wo-
men and children have had to carry
on the work of this second line OF
national defense. They have worked
heroically."
lie believes that the only possible
way to prevent an even worse state
of affairs next year Is to release from
the army 100000 men for the winter
and spring ploWing and sowing
Their places remarks the minister.
1T is hoped, will be taken by Amerl-
can troops. and In view OF the decreas-
ing tonnage the best service America
can DO this country at the present
Time is TO give opportunity for the
proper cultivation Of it's fields.
it Is estimated he goes ON to say.
tnat to make good the corn shortage
10000 600 bushels will have 10 be i'm
ported, and advantage will Of course
be taken Of the pooled system OF pu.-
chase and transport worked thru the
wheat export committee In New
York"
As far as the civilized population is
concerned. 1t is pointed out that things
seem IN some ways to have improved.
Last winter coal rose to the eXorhitan,
price of tiO a ton. and even nj that
price when the Seine was frozen II
was difficult TO get. This year every
household has been provided with n
coal card and, tho the amount sun
piled is far from adequate. 1t may with
the aid of wood he made to cko tbc
winter out Bread cards. giving an nj
lpWance OF one pound per day Der per-
son are being issued, while the ouality
has been improved. The third card
controlled tom, sugar has been re-.
duced In allowance from $50 grams
TO 300 grams (about seventeen
ounces) per month. a reduction which
the food minister states will moan 4
saving of 10000 tons. and conse
quent available Shipping space fo,
5000, 900 bushels Of wheat