Omaha daily bee., 1917-04-16
The Department of Agriculture
Awakening the Nation
Bg Frederic j. Haskin

BIZ Frederic j. Hdskin
Washington, April l3--In the United States
| of America there are more than 100000,000 people,
| This is a figure too large for the human mind
to grasp, but the human mind can grasp its signif-
| canoe. 1t means, among other things, that the
smallest movement which gets started among the
American people takes on Importance like snow
| bali rolling down hill. Habits of thought and
| speech and action sweep the country from end TO
| end, because we are one people with the finest
| means of communication in the world. If it is
| the national fashion to be a little wasteful, it
| means that the total national waste reaches an
| absolutely staggering figure. Now, on the other
hand, if it were only the national fashion to be a
| little saving
One of the things that, the Department of
| Agriculture IS working vigorously to bring about
is just that establishment Of the little habit of
economy. Economy in the little things is all that
is asked so far; for the little economies will be
multiplied by hundred million, and without be-
ing the less happy or the less comfortable, we
can save enough to feed Belgium. Our national
waste bill in food crowds the billion dollar mark.
We lose every year $20O,OOOOOO worth OF eggs
alone, that might be saved.
The food needs of America are likely to be
urgent within few months, not so much because
we will not be able to produce all and more than
we need for home use, but because one OF our
services we can do for our cause, will be to sup
ply our European allies with every possible pound
Of food. Moreover, particular sections of the
United States itself are likely to feel shortage
because there will be an unprecedented demand
for freight cars to carry munitions and war sup
plies from interior points to the coast
The motto OF every American city and county
should be, to produce as nearly possible enough
food for its own use. By so doing, it will not
only assure suffcency at home, but it will release
the surplus from the great farming regions for
shipment abroad, and release, too, the cars that
are necessary to carry other things These two
phases of the matter are clearly stated in re-
cent utterances of prominent men. Lord North
clffe, the leading English journalist stated that
for the moment the greatest service America
could render the cause lay in lavish supply of
munitions, money and food. The munitions ques-
ton is an industrial one, and board of industrial
experts is already at work on it. The financial
question is being met by the monster loan pro-
posed in congress. The food question can only
be solved by the cooperation of every American.
In recognition of this national food problem,
the Department of Agriculture has launched its
two great campaigns to check waste and promote
the economical use of food on the one hand, and
to, increase the supply by means of the city-lot
and backyard and suburban garden campaign on
the other.
The experts of the department. according to
Secretary Houston, estimate the annual American
food waste at $7000000O0. This enormous waste
results largely from bad preparation and bad
cooking, and much of it can be avoided Another
point is the custom that has grown up in many
American families of serving an over-abundance
of food. There is among some of us the feeling
that to put on the table just enough food, and no
more, is rather mean economy. This notion,
as the department points out, is entirely mistaken,
and shows rather bad taste as well. Waste is
never admirable, even in the most prosperous
times, and too much food cooked means that
some cooked food is thrown away In time
like the present. such ideas must be banished at
once. In Europe today, the people take pride iii
economy, not in liberality; even the women pride
themselves on the simplicity and cheapness of
their clothes.
The department is urging the American peo-
pie to avoid throwing food into the garbage pail,
to keep perishable food clean, cool and covered,
to stew fruits and boil vegetables that threaten
to spoil, to cook carefully, to avoid waste in
preparation, and to cook enough and no more.
Some people peel potatoes in such way that 20
per cent is wasted. In Germany a law provides
that all potatoes must be boiled, to avoid waste
in peelng.
Another thing for which the department calls
on Americans is more catholic taste in foods.
We have too many groundless prejudices against
certain foods that are cheap and nourishing, and
against new foods in general In the rice districts
of British India, in time Of want the government
sometimes sends trainloads and shiploads of fine
HoTtHtrH WHEAT. Dut tHe ignorant peaSantfy are
unfamiliar with wheat; and they have been known
to starve within arms length of plenty, or to
trade enough wheat for three meals for handful
of dirty rice. Americans are too intelligent
people to cling to food prejudices. By an in
creased use of rice the wheat supply may be
conserved. The use of cornmeal may be greatly
increased.
Such substitutions are particularly desirable,
because all indications point to wheat shortage
at the coming harvest. The latest crop estimate
showed probable decrease Of 100000 bushels
over last years crop, and of 243,000000 bushels
over the crop of 1915. From the American repre-
sentative at the international Institute of Agri-
culture in Rome comes the news that the crop
situation is bad all over the world. The only way
to make up for wheat shortage with minimum
of hardship is to be ready to eat substitutes and
in this case, used intelligenty substitutes are
really Just as good"
But there are three sides to this question
production, distribution and consumption. The
people who eat the food have it within their
power to prepare it and use it as economically
as possible Here is one thing that every house
hold can do to cooperate with the government
and help the nation. Let your motto be, "No
waste, and a home garden"
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