The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1917-04-10
Nations Largest Need
Is Great Food Supply
Duty and Opportunity of Farmers Throughout Nation to
Increase Production, Thus Assuring Themselves of
Prosperity and Helping Country in Crisis-Hous-
ton Appeals for General Recognition
Peas. Beans and Sweet Potatoes Urged
for the South

food supply. It's increasing use would
release other grain products for use
as food.
Plant More Corn.
Corn is the leading food and feed
crop of the United States in geograph-
ic range of production, acreage and
quantity of product. The vital impor-
tance of large acreage Of this crop
properly cared for, therefore is
obvious. Conditions warrant the
planting of the largest acreage Of this
crop which it is possible to handle
effectively.
"Earliness of maturity, other fac
tors being equal, is advantageous in
the case Of practically all grain crops.
Relatively early maturing varieties
should be selected where possible ana
planting should be done at the earli-
est suitable date.
"The usefulness Of cowpeas and soy
beans as human food has been rec
ognized only recently in this coun-
try. Existing conditions warrant the
planting Of all the available seed OF
, varieties known to do we'll in the
several sections.
"The soy bean in particular has
proved sufficiently resistant to cold IN
spring and to adverse weather during
summer to warrant heavy planting,
especially throughout the South. The
value of the beans for oil production
as we'll as for human food has become
recognized so quickly and so generally
during the past year that the crop
has acquired a commercial standing
far in excess of it's previous status.
"The high food value OF field beans
and the shortage of supply due to the
light yields of 1915 and 1916 render
them of great Importance in the re-
sions to which they are adapted.
"a deficiency of hay and forage for
the next winter would jeopardize the
country meat and dairy supplies OF
the country and result in shortage
Of roughage for military draft ano
saddle animals.
Potatoes Important Too.
Seed potatoes should be con-
served by planting on the best LANDS
available and planning for thorough
tillage and protection Of the crop
against disease and insect pests.
Potatoes can be grown most ad-
yantageously near the centres OF pop
ulation in the Northern States where
TRANSPORTATION cost may be reduced
to a minimum. This crop is capable
of quick and large increase of pro-
duction when conditions are faTor-
able. There is, however, considerable
risk of improbable production OF po-
tatoes when they are grown at long
distances from the consuming mar
kets. owing to the disproportlonate
weight and bulk of the product IN
comparison with cereals.
"Such vegetable crops as carrots,
rutabaga, turnips, onions and ca0oage'
are worthy of much more attention
than they generally receive. All these
crops are capable of large productlon
on suitable land under intensive cul-
ture throughout the more densely
populated portions of the country.
"In the Southern half Of the coun-
try perhaps no crop has larger posi-
bilities for quick increase OF produc-
ton of food for man and animals than
the sweet potato. The peanut IN many
sections OF the South also is capable
of greatly enlarged production.
"Only about 20 per cent. OF the sup
ply of sugar normally consumed In
the United States is produced domes-
tically and this amount can not be In
creased appreciably during the COM
ing season: ~ .,.,
"The high prices for foodstuffs that
have prevailed during the last lew
months have stimulately interest IN
the increase of home supplies OF Vege-
tables, poultry and dairy products on
farms. This interest has been QUICK
ened most noticeably in the South
where for several years this depart
ment and the States through tnelr
extension workers have urged such an
increase as necessary for economic
reasons, even under normal condl-
tions. Other parts OF the country
have responded to these appeals out
emphasis on this feature should be
continued to all agencies in position
to operate effectively.
More Poultry Needed.
Through increased attention TO
poultry on farms i is possible to add
quickly and materially to the food
supply. When conditions render 1t
feasible small focks of poultry should
be kept by families in villages and
towns and especially suburbs of large
cities.
Consumers living in villages and
in the suburbs of cities do not ap-
preciate sufficiently possibility of ad-
ding materially to their food supply