Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-06-03
CONTROLLING A NATIONS FOOD-.IlI.
BIZ FREDERIC J. HAskIN

WASHINGTON. June 2--Thesc arc
the factors in the production and use
of food. and our food administration
VIII attempt to increase the efficiency
of all four. II is now possible to set
forth in n general way how this will
be done.
Prise liking will affect all of these
factors. and because it, is a large and
little-undcrstood subject. Will be dis
cuSscd separately in the next article.
TO stimulate production is tho first
necessity Besides assuring the farm
or of Il good price for his products. the
government will attempt to help him
by teaching him better methods through
the county agents II the Department
OF agriculture. tho number OF which
Will be greatly increased: and it VIII
assure him of an adequate supply Of
seed al Il reasonable price
Labor Is the great problem in pro-
duction. not only in the United States.
but all over the world. Even Germany
has more land than she can cultivate
The Department of Agriculture EXPECTS
to solve this problem largely by maxi
ing survey of farm labor. and faciIi-
tatinG its distribution. Tho depart
hent Is placing man in each State
|" work in cooperation with State
central board to this end. Farmers
will he encouraged to cooperate with
each other. Ia share their labor. and
to buy labor saving machinery CO.
opcrativciy. Efforts will be made to
facilitate the seasonal distribution Of
labor. To Sc" that tho uen who moved
the Kansas wheat crop in June will
60 North in time TO pick apples.
Numerous other ways of solving tho
labor question have been suRgcstcd
stops have been taken toward organic
Ing Boy Scouts, school children, and
various other elements in tho poDuhi-
ton. The chief trouble with all Of
these movements is that tho farmers
d" not want boys or inexperienced
l.,s e 1.
ton made before the House Commit
tee on Agriculture" was that we should
import 100000 German prisoners and
put them 10 work on tho farms.
More Flour to lie MilIcd.
In tho manufacture Of foods. the
milling OF Il larger percentage of -four
is measure that Will probably be
used TO make our grain go farther
Alcohol is now being successfully made
from sawdust in this country. and this
viii make possible the saving OF "A
certain amount Of grain now used for
that purpose. whether or not part OF
that now used for beverages is kent
FOR bread in tho future
The drying of fresh vegetables 30
that they may he kept more easily. and
VIII be much lighter for shipment. is
another means that VIII probably he
used to increase III" winter supply Of
vegetable In Germany. portable
drying machines, many OF them mount
ga tn liI"iN ours. 70 among tho
farmers, who come on certain DAYS
10 have their beans. potatoes ana other
products dried. In this country IL pro-
cess 81 drying by means Of fans ha.
been perfected which is said by OK
ports 10 be- very efficient There are
however. very few drying machines in
the United states. They must be bull;
and plan for their cooperative use
worked out.
The control Of tho distribution 81
foods in addition to the nNing OF
prices means regulation OF their ship.
mcnt and storage. The food bill. as
reported from the House Committee
on Agriculture, gives tho administra-
ton adequate powers to deal with
both. The general idea Is 10 direct
shipments 50 that they VIII go where
they are needed. Tho purpose will be
not 50 much To break up sluts as TO
prevent them For example. II Cleve-
land has all the potatoes IL needs. there
Is nothing now 10 prevent farmers
who have always used cleveland as
their market from shipping sim more
potatoes to that point, SO that some
OF them will rot for lack of a market.
while IN Chicago. perhaps a potato
scarcity is not far of y food admin