Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1917-08-16

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, hut II
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 Western 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 muci, more than
meet the needs of America, let alone the expor.
tation Of large quantities of this product which
must be made to the allies, but famine is still Il
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 cnthrone King Corn,
whose monarchy heretofore has scarcely extend
cd beyond the boundaries Of the United States. -
The bumper corn crop which the middle West
will raise this summer. harrin. such unforeseen
caIamities as drought and floods. will slave of
hunger for a large portion of the world. Pres
ent indications are thai The corn acreage In the
l. great corn states Of the country viii be in
creased from 20 to 30 per cent, or even more in
some localities, due to the fact that thousands of
acres of winter wheat lands were made useless
fer that purpose by the severe cold weather.
which killed the wheat. An Increase nj ~ per
cent In the acreage planted in corn will add ap-
proXimately 500. 100000 bushels of corn to the
nations crop. A large portion of this increased
yield will go to ~iIurapean allies of the United
States and to neutral nations. IT Is probable that
Uncle Sam Will have to send some of his experts
in domestic science abroad TO instruct the Euro
pean In the value and methods Of preparing corn
as a food product.
The nations corn crop has averaged 3,OO0,WW,
900 bushels in the last few years, a no inconsid-
cradle mark in itself, hut reports collected BY ar
riculturai experts from the middle West indicate
that the 1917 crop will approximate 3,50O,Q0o000
bushels. The banner corn states of the Union
are 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, 400.
100000 bushels: Iowa, 3125,00O.WD to 350,Oo000o
bnshcls: Nebraska, 250.0C0,0O bushels; Missouri,
1000, GOO bushels; Indiana. 2o0,00O.Nm bushels,
md Texas, 200. 0NO. 600 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
states which lie In the heart OF the wheat belt
, thousands of acres Of winter wheat were killed
during the winter. Despite the fact that the
spring wheat acreage planted this year is unusu-
, ally larger, there still remained many thousands
, Of 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 Il rec.
ord-breaking crop Of oats, arproXimntins 1000
NO. 900 bushels. Tremendous increases will also
he made in the rye, kahr corn sorghum and for
age crops. all Of which are important factors In
supplying the tables Of the world with important
food products. II Is this latter activity In plant.
Ing greatly increased ncreages Of the minor crops
that Is expected to bring on n small revolution In
. farming circles. Instead Of depending upon one
. two or three Of the big trio Of crops, the fnrinei
= IS devoting his energy to the growing Of other
crops which supplement the food products gained
, from wheat, corn and onts. Thus, In the case OF
3 failure OF any Of the important crops, Amerlcn
/ will have plenty Of substitutes to fall back upon
. Already food chemists and experts In almost all
i. Of the middle Western states are buslly engaged
In finding new -four substitutes. Discoveries
= made In a number Of laboratories indicate that
I Americas bread will be baked with the aid Of
. more varieties Of -four than ever before. Kahi
/ corn and fcterita have been found to make ac
' ceptabls n0urs, and the use Of c0ttonsced mea'
|. In the preparation Of breadstufs will soon gnir
\ Widespread popularity. Chemists are engaged ~
j. other still hunts for 1ncE food substitutes. md b,
: tho md of the yenr America will be eating scorc'
: OF nav foods and combinations OF f~oodstu1'
" which. have been wasted heretofore or fed to lv'
stock.
Emergency fncd commissions established in nj
Of the .satcs IRE conducting On aggressive cam
N ItL AM AE ME IsNGNNMAA ----~-