Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-09
HOUSTON CALLS FARMER
TO DEFENSE OF NATION
Ills Report TO Congress States That
Production Must Exceed
This Years.
LIVE STOCK VERY IMPORTANT
Breeding of Sheep and Hogs Show
Decrease for Two Years. While
Demand Grows StcaGily-Demon-
strators for Every County.

WASHINGTON. December S.--With
. tons farm and live stock production
must be stimulated 10 Il still higher
efficiency during the coming twelve
months if domestic demands and the
needs OF the allies are to be adequately
met, Secretary Houston says in his
annual report TO Congress.
That the farmers OF the nation have
generously responded to the appeals
for increased production, and that much
has already been done TO insure a large
supply OF foods and fecds;uf!s.'' says
the report. "justiflcs no let down in
their activities or III those Of All agri-
cultural agencies. On the contrary.
even greater efforts must be put forth
in the coming months.
There must be no breakdown on the
farms. no failure OF foods. fcedstufs or
clothing. cannot emphasize TOO
strongly the urgent necessity of doing
everything possible to bring about n
ton of all essential commodities. par
| .icularly Of the staple crops and live
stock"
Confidence in the ability OF the farm
caused by Americas entrance into the
war is reiterated by the secretary
Their willing corporation since .ADri;
has been prolific OF encouraging crop
increases. he says. and there is no
doubt but that they have a complete
and ready comprehension OF the de-
mands to be supplied as the way pro-
ceeds.
The spirit revealed by the farmers
and the results OF their efforts during
the present year" he says. "inGicat.
that they recognize the responsibility
resting upon them in this emergency.
am confident: that they will patrio-
ticaliy continue to assume and TO bear
their fun share Of the country's bur
den.
The farmers OF the nation have al
ways shown their devotion to the cause
Of freedom. and have not been slow to
respond 10 the country's call for men
and means to defend it's rights.
FARMERS WILL SEE THAT
NATIONS LACK FOR NOTHING.
".>s it becomes more obvious that
peace is TO employ effectively all the
resources of the nation, the farmers
vii! increasingly put forth their
strength. send their sons to fight at
the front, and SEQ to 1t that neither
this nation nor those with which ws
are associated lack anything in the
way Of materials for food and cloth
ing"
While the precise figures for meat
poultry. dairy products and Vegetable
oils are not yet available. the score
tary estimates that the quantity of
| these commodities is greater than for
| 1915 and 1916.
An Increase of Il billion bushcls over
the nve-year prc-war average was cf-
fccted in this years crop o. staples.
lnrcVi$ed estimates contained in the
report arc follows: 3,lgl000 900
bushels OF corn. G5a.797. 900 of wheat.
| i.56t."00 900 OF oats, 20l.65a.O0O of bar
ley. 56.000.000 Of rye. 16,Si3.000 OF buck
wheat. 33.25G.000 OF rico, 13.3So,0o0 OF
kafr. +39.6s6.0o0 OF Irish potatoes, So
$4,000 OF sweet potatoes. 1887 900 Of
commercial beans, 42,6o6.0o0 OF peaches.
ll.4l9.000 OF pears. l77.733.000 OF apples
and 7,52l,0o0 of sugar bcets.
The numbers Of mich cows and
other cattle" the report adds. has
shown an increase during the last four
or five years, the estimate for the for.
mer for the present year beiug 23,006.-
600 as against 22.7ss.O0o year ago and
Continued .on Last Page.)