The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1917-04-30
A Word to Farmers Of State

The effort to increase the food sup
ply in this State is meeting one OBJ
stacle which it rests with the farm
ers to remove, and that, unless it be
removed by the farmers, is reason
ably certain to leave food produc-
ton just as before.
This obstacle is the apparent re-
luctance of the farmers to make any
trial of unframed labor.
We take it that if there is a very
considerable amount of arabic land
in this State which has not yet been
brought under cultivation the chief
reason lies in the fact that the cur
rent supply of farm labor is not suf-
ficient to handle it. With all due al
lowance for the possibilities of in
tensive farming, ETC., the problem of
increased production must be solved
on the basis of prevailing agricultu-
raj habits and estimates of what one
man can do. If this is so, then every
practical calculation of what. can be
done Immediately must begin with
an estimate of the labor supply, and
if all the skilled farm labor in sight
is already at work, production is al
ready at its normal maximum.
1t is idle for the farmer to state
that he will plant more proportion
ately to the additional amount OF
trained labor given him. The addi-
tional trained farm labor is not in
sight. The question is not one mere
ly of whether this and that farmer
shall be afforded the opportunity to
work his farm more extensively and
at the same rate ofprofit for the new
fields as for the old. 1t is not for
him to lie back and say: Give me
perfect facilitiesa nd l will do, in
this time of war, as much as would
gladly and naturally do in peace
time if l had the labor to do it with.
1t is the time for extra effort on his
part, and that extra effort can take
only the form of increasing his Gull
tivated area to the utmost with such
help as can be given him. training
the help even while using it and be-
ing content and glad for every add
ed bushel of grain or potatoes raised,
even if the profit be less, than nor
NAL and the bother be greater.
The State Board of Agriculture
estimates the immediate farm labor
shortage in the State at about 5000
hands. Unless these men be found,
the hoped-for increase in land under
cultivation cannot be realized. Now,
the farmers know perfectly well that
that help is not floating about in i'd
Ieness in the counties themselves.
Either it must be obtained from the
cities, and practically all of it from
Baltimore city alone, or it cannot be
obtained at all.
( 1t will be a considerable task to
raise 5000 volunteers for farm work
from Baltimore city in time to help
with the planting. This can perhaps
be done. The work is being pushed
with enthusiasm A fair proportion
of the volunteers may be men with
some experience in farm work. 1t
they run better than one in five, new
ertheless, we would be much sur
prised. If the farmers are going to
Gull and weed out all the applicants
who come simply prepared to do
their best and learn while they are
doing it, the city would have to find
at least $4,000 volunteers to raise
5000 acceptables.
The impossibility of this is mani
fest. The city will do its part, and
it's full part, in securing labor for the
farms if the farmers will take what
is given them, make the best OF 1t,
be patient with ineXperience and per-
haps sacrifice somewhat of their
ideas of acreage yield and expecta-I
ton of profit.
That some risk is attached must
be admitted The public's recogni-
ton of the risk and, with it, of the
tremendous value of the farmers
work and patriotism ought to be
sufficient guarantee that some way
will be found of protecting him
against loss. The Government itself
is frankly facing this necessity and
considering maximum and minimum
regulation of food prices, ETC., to
meet it But this takes time. The
present emergency is to meet the de-
mands of the planting season. The
farmer must rest content with faith
that he will be justly treated. as he
will be, and do the best lie can, with
such help as he can get, to earn the
nations gratitude now.
Without Willingness to cooperate
in this way certainly no farmer can
figure his readiness to cultivate more
land as proof of patriotism or OF his
realization of the absolute national
necessity of increasing the food sup
ply. 1t is no proof Of such patriot
ism and understanding merely to ac-
cept the opportunity to increase
ones business provided the opportu-
nifty is handed one on silver plat
ter, Zut to insist on the platter be-
ing silver Baltimore News of APP
ril oath.
SMITH don't think much Of De
Jones. Brown do. Smith-Be-