The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-04-10

FORAGE IS NEEDED "A deficiency of hay and forage for the next winter would jeopardize the future meat and dairy supplies of the country and result in a shortage of roughage for military draft and saddle animals.
 Seed potatoes should be conserved by planting on the best lands avail able for them and planning for thor ough tillage and protection of the crop against disease and insect pests. Po- tatoes can be grown most advantage ously near the centers of population in the northern states where transporta tion cost may be reduced to mini mum. This crop is capable of quick and large increase of production when conditions are favorable. There is. however, considerable risk of unprofit- able production of potatoes when they are grown at long distances from the consuming markets, owing to the dis proportionate weight and bulk of the product in comparison with cereals. Such vegetable crops as carrots, ruta- baga, turnips, onions and cabbage are worthy of much more attention than they generally receive. All these crops are capable of large production on suitable land under intensive culture portions of the country
 Tn the southern half of the country perhaps no crop has larger possibili- ties for quick increase of production of food for both men 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 supply of sugar normally consumed in the United States is produced domestically and this amount cannot be increased appreciably during the coming season.
 VEGETABLES IMPORTANT
 "The high prices for foodstuffs that have prevailed during the last few months have stimulated interest in the interest of home supplies of vegeta bles, 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 extension workers have urged such an increase as necessary for economic reasons un- der normal conditions. Other parts of the country have responded to these appeals. but emphasis on this feature should be continued by all agencies in position to operate effectively.
 Through increased attention to poultry on farms it is possible to add quickly ard materially to the food SUD- ply. When conditions render it feasi- ble, small flocks of poultry should be kept by families in villages, towns and especially in the suburbs of large cities.
 Consumers living in Villages and in the suburbs of cities do not appreciate sufficiently the possibility of adding materially to their food supply by util- izlng suitable idle soil in yards. vacant lots and unused outlying fields. The total contribution to the food supply of families and communities which can be brought through such activities is great Gardening Is peculiarly an ac- uVity in which the family and the community may share with resultant mutual helpfulness and benefit
 '"The duty of the individual farmer at this time is to increase his produc- ton, particularly of food crops. If he has control of tillable land not in use, or money lying idle or labor unenl- ployed, he should extend his operations so as to employ those resources to the fullest extent This does not mean that he should rob his land, waste his capital. or expend his labor fruitlessly. but that by wise planning and earnest effort he should turn out a greater quantity of food crops than ever be- fore. He would not lose by it. and he will perform an important service in supporting his country in the task that lies before if. The ciency of a nation is not attained un- less as the units which compose it are efficient. Those agricultural workers who produce. conserve and marse ct wisely will help toward the achieve ment of national agricultural sufti- ciency and thus will perform valuable service for the nation"