New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-22
Teach Crop Feeding
Farm Production Could Be Increased
and Food Economy Avoided
To the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: The Department of Agriculture re-
quests big appropriation for the purpose
Of controlling food and food supplies. inns
department has had big appropriations IN the
past for the purpose of assisting the
farmers. increasing food production and
in other ways developing the garden
that nature has made of this country.
To-day the American farmer is less
efficient in his methods and obtains a
production less per acre than do the
farmers Of many and almost all other coun'
tries. The Department OF Agriculture has
devoted its attention TO things unknown TO
the ordinary farmer. II has failed 20
tell the farmer the things he had right to
know and to assist him in developing his re-
sources for maximum efficiency.
This department is now spreading hand
bills throughout the country calling upon the
householIers to practise efficiency methods
in the preparation and use of foods. Its
work calls TO mind story told OF Boston
landlord who decided that the use OF eleva-
tors and the employment OF elevator runners
in an eight-story building was a needless
expense. The result was that the elevators
were stopped and the landlord was surprised
when his tenants moved away.
The American people have become accus-
toned to rather prodigal method of pre-
pairing and serving foodstutfs. This method
has been entirely satisfactory IN the past
and. without a blush, the Department OF
Agriculture asks the American people % re-
wise the methods previously employed and
employ the methods common in France. IN
Russia and in the poorer parts OF many other
countries.
The Department Of Agriculture is supposed
TO know the feelings of the farmers, is sup
posed to work with the farmers and to see
things through the eyes of the farmers. The
farmers do not want the use of foodstufs
curtailed they do not deserve that such ad-
vice should issue from bureau established
only for their information and direction.
What they do want, what they do need and
deserve is that that bureau should tell them
how 10 produce q quantity of food sufficient
10 supply every demand.
The farmer appreciates one important and
present fact that is, that he cannot obtain
sufficient labor for his farm. The reason is
that the factories and shops offer work at
wage higher than the farmer can afford TO
nav. If the production per acre were in
creased so per cent the farmers could af-
ford to pay wage as high as that paid in
any shop or factory.
Nature has provided fertllizing material
better than any manufactured by man. This
material is humus. 1t makes the chemicals
contained in the earth available II does not
supply the fertilizing elements that are re-
ouircd. bat makes it possible for the plant to
obtain them.
The use Of humus will materially lessen
the amount Of fertilizers necessary and VIII
increase the crop yield TO surprisingly high
degree Upon most farms deposits Of humus
will be found, which if properly mixed with
the earth under cultivation or with the fer
filters applied will lessen the cost OF Yer
tilizer. and by increasing the yield will give
the farmer a greater return per acre and
for the work expended.
The Department of Agriculture could well
devote its time 10 teaching scientific methods
Of crop feeding, the increase of production
and the use of natural resources rather than
in distributing advice on efficiency IN eating,
advice that is as unwelcome as IT should be
unnecessary 70 the citizens Of country
still in the possession of millions of unde-
veloped acres.
ARTHUR PHELPS-MARR.
New York, June 20, 1917.