The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1917-05-19

! food supply for the coming year /
l view of the economic problems WhiC
} ! may arise as a result OF the entranC
of the United States into the wal
) MANY millions of people across tn
seas, as well Il. our own people" say
the secretary, must rely in large par
upon the products of our fields an'
ranges. This situation will continue
to exist even though hostiliticS SHOULD
end unexpectedly soon, since Euro
pean production cannot be restored
Immediately to its normal basis. Rec
ignition of the fact that the world a
large, as we'll as our own consumers
must rely more strongly on American
farmers this year than ever before
the utmost to meet these urgent
needs"
Enlarged production of our staple
food crops is the most important serv-
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-
larry 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 q 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.
taking the winter-wheat territory
as 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
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, 1t should by all
means be replaced by spring-planted
food crops, preferably small grains or
corn. The condition Of the winter
ment in its last report, is more than
% per cent below the average condi- |
ton April l for the past ten years. |
This condition forecasts a production |
this year nearly 100000 bushels |
less than that of 1916 and 243,OOO,OOO
bushels less than the crop of 1915.
Value Of Oats and Barley.
Climatic requirements of spring
wheat during the last few weeks of it's
growth render it more risky crop
than others to plant outside the areas
In which its production has been
proved to be successful, so that it Is
not recommended for regions where
pats or corn will be more certain to
produce satisfactory yields.
eff land intended for spring wheat
be put into good condition ear
y enough for seeding oats or barley
'an be substituted to good advantage
n the sections where these crops are
Known to do we'll The ease with
which barley may be substituted di-
ectly for wheat in human food and
is usefulness to replace wheat mill
ng by-products as food in the pro-
luctiOn of the milk supply, renders
is abundant production important.
THE place of rye under present |
onditions is an important one. The
rop this year should be harvested and
Utilized with more than the usual
are.
The high food value Of rice, in the
pinion Of the secretary, warrants a
arge Increase in planting In the states
here this cereal can be grown. In
reased acreage of grains sorghums is
lso strongly recommended.
Large Acreage of Corn Urged.
The vital importance Of large acre
&c of corn Is pointed out by Secre-
iry Houston. He says this crop "fs
lie leading food and feed crop of the
nited States In geographic range of
reduction, acreage and quantity of
reduction. Because of the prices OBJ
lined for the last crop and the world
amand for this grain, its profitable
asS to the American farmer during
le approaching season is clear. Con-
tons now warrant the planting of
Re largest acreage of this crop which |
is possible to handle effectively.
Although fall is the proper time for |
eaking sod for corn, there are many !
productive and foul meadows and
different pastures in Illinois, Indi- |
la, Ohio, and the Middle Atlantic and
States that. under exist |
g conditions can be broken now to
and planted to corn. The
sulting reduction of hay and pasture
)uld be more than replaced by the \
IN slower, ensilage, and grain pro-
ced.