Carroll County democrat. (Huntingdon, Tenn.) 188?-1971, 1917-04-27

ment emphasizing the importance to
the nation Of a generously adequate
food supply for the coming year In
view Of the economic problems which
may arise as a result Of the entrance
of the United States into the war.
Many millions Of people across the
seas, as well as our own people" says
the secretary, ''must rely In large part
upon the products Of our fields ana
ranges. This situation will continue
TO exist even though hostillties should
end Unexpectedly soon, since Euro
pean production cannot be restored
immediately to its normal basis. Rec
0gnition Of the fact that the world at
large, as we'll as our own consumers
must rely more strongly on American
farmers this year than ever before
should encourage them to strive TO
the utmost to meet these urgent
needs"
Enlarged production of our staple
food crops is the most important sery-
ice required Of our agriculture, accord
ing to the secretary. He says:
No Chance OF over-Production.
Because Of the shortage Of such
crops practically throughout the world
there is no risk in the near future OF
excessive production such as some
times has resulted in unremunerative
prices to producers. This is particu-
.larly true of the cereals and Of peas,
beans, cowpeas, soy beans and buck
wheat In view of the world scarcity
of food, there is hardly possibility
that the production Of these crops by
the farmers of the United States can
be too great this year, and there is
abundant reason to expect generous
price returns for all available sur
plus.
"The most effective step that may
be taken to increase the production
of these crops is to enlarge the acre
age devoted to them in the regions
where they are grown habitually. This
expansion of acreage should be to the
limit permitted by available good seed,
labor, and equipment.
"Taklng the winter-wheat territory
as a whole, winterkilling has oc-
CURED to an extent very much greater
than usual. This obviously, If not COM
pensated for in some way, will mean
a material reduction In the supplies OF
our most important bread cereal.
Where winter wheat has been dam
aged sufficiently to justify the aban-
donment of fields, It should by all
means be replaced by spring-planted
food crops, preferably small grains or
corn. The condition Of the winter
wheat crop, as shown by the depart
ment in It's last report, Is more than
25 per cent below the average condi-
ton April / for the past ten years.
This condition forecasts a production
this year nearly 100000 bushels
less than that Of 1915 and 243,000,0OO
bushels less than the crop of 1915.
value OF oats anu barley
"Climatic requirements of spring
wheat during the last few weeks of its
growth render 1t a more risky crop
than others to plant outside the areas
in which its production has been
proved to be successful, so that 1t Is
not recommended for regions where
oats or corn will be more certain to
produce satisfactory yields.
IF land intended for spring wheat
cannot be put into good condition ear
ly enough for seeding, oats or barley
can be substituted to good advantage
In the sections where these crops are
known to do we'll. The ease with
which barley may be substituted d.
rectly for wheat in human food and
its usefulness to replace wheat mill
ing by-products as food in the pro-
,ductlon Of the milk supply, renders
its abundant production important.
"The place of rye under present
conditions is an important one. The
crop this year should be harvested and
utilized with more than the usual
care.
The high food value Of rice, in the
opinion Of the secretary, warrants a
large increase In planting In the states
where this cereal can be grown. In
creased acreage of grains sorghums Is
also strongly recommended.
Large Acreage Of Corn Urged.
The vital importance of large acre
age Of corn is pointed out by Secre-
tary Houston. He says this crop lis
the leading food and feed crop of the
United States In geographic range Of
production, acreage and quantity of
production. Because Of the prices OBJ
tanned for the last crop and the world
demand for this grain, its profitable
ness to the American farmer during
the approaching season is clear. Con-
ditions now warrant the planting of
the largest acreage Of this crop which
it is possible to handle effectively.
although fall is the proper time for
breaking sod for corn, there are many
unproductive and foul meadows and
Indifferent pastures in Illinois, Indi-
ana, Ohio, and the Middle Atlantic and
Northeastern States that, under exist
ing conditions can be broken now to
advantage and planted to corn. The
resulting reduction Of hay and pasture
would be more than replaced by the