Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-03-20
Farms and National Defense.

The best service the Southern farmer can
render himself and hts country this year Is to
raise all the foodstufs he can Immense crops of
corn and wheat and other staples are necessary
TO Offset the present shortage and assure the ma
tion against want next winter. The total amount
of grain now on the farms of the United States is
seven hundred million bushels less than year
ago. Airport by the national Department OF Asrl-
cuIture based on conditions as they were March l.
shows that the shortage is approximately three
hundred and twenty-seven million bushels in corn.
one hundred and forty-three million bushels in
wheat, two hundred and three million bushels in
oats and twenty-six million in barley. Equally in
terestng is the fact that the price of corn
on the farm was something more than dollar
bushel March l. 1917. against sixty-eight cents
bushels the same date last year. while wheat
averaged a. dollar and sixty-four cents against a
dollar and two cents last year.
These facts are of fundamental concern TO
business as well as agricultural interests The
Manufacturers Record well observes on this point
that there never was a time when the South, to be
prosperous and independent, had more urgent need
of enIargtng its acreage in foodstufs. Further.
The whole country must learn this lesson
and learn IL Immediately, because In rev
weeks it will be too late to increase the acre
age in grain. 1t is already too late to make
an increase in wheat except in spring wheat,
but an increase be made in the acreage OF
other grain and should be made TO as great an
extent as possible
j Mercantile and banking interests should lend
EVERY. possible aid and incentive the raising of
food crops and food animals because if food prices
are higher next winter than now business will sur
fer in consequence. For that matter, business has
felt the pinch OF present prices. Many small mer-
chant has had his profits cut to the vanishing
point and some gone out Of business to escape
unbeatable losses. AS a safeguard TO prosperity
every town in Georgia as in other Southern States.
should encourage the production of foodstuns In
the surrounding country; and this can be done by
assuring the planters Of the surrounding country
cash market for the grain and meat and vegetables
they produce
LIS to the farmers interest. of course TO raise
all the food supplies he needs for his own use re-
gardless of markets: and particularly is this true
AZ time when food prices would eat up the profits
Of the Iuckiest cotton cotton crop farmer could
have. If he we're compelled to buy his grain and
meat and other staples
But the South if it is be duly prosperous
and duly helpful TO the nation. must do more at
This iuncture than TO raise merely enough food
stanIes to supply is farms. Ii must raise
enough to take care of large part of the needs
~ all Of its consumers and thus contribute TO the
solution of problem that concerns the common
country
whether the United States is at war or at peace
x months from now it will need all the food har-
vests its farms can bring forth While hoping for
naaes We are in no wise assured against war; in
daad the omens all are warIike. II is the part of
nrudence- and patriotism, therefore, to make the
spring and summer seasons of unexampled activ-
CIV in the production of those great necessaries
which the nation will need in OVERLOOKING abund-
ncs ~ It is forced into the to fight for in
tsrests and principles. This is form of prepared
ness to which the farmers Of the South as OF the
country at large can contribute invaluaoly.