Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1917-05-16
EAT CORNBIsEAD--BAR BISCUIT.
World Faces Bread Famine and tilc
American Wheat Crop Short.

Washington. May S--Omcial wheat
crop estimates announced to-day
show that with the world facing
bread shortage the United States, un-
less it cuts its present consumption,
probably will produce only enough
wheat this year to supply it's own
population.
The forecast compiled by the De-
partment OF Agriculture on condi-
tions May 1, put this country's win
ter wheat yield at 100000 bush
els, the smallest in thirteen years
There will be no estimate of spring
wheat acreage until July, but with a
crop of 250,OO0.0O0 bushels, which
is higher than the average, this coun-
try would grow this year a total of
only 100000 bushels The nor
nal American consumption with seed
requirements Is put at slightly more
than 100000 bushels.
The country's greatest spring wheat
crop was 352,0O0,OO0 bushels, pro-
; duced in 1915. The five-year average
| from 1910 to 1914 is 100000.
The estimated production this year of
%GG. 100000 bushels of winter wheat
falls 100000 bushels short of
last years poor crop and 3OS,OOO,O0O
! below that of 19l5, a bumper crop.
1t is 129, 100000 bushels less than
the average for the preceding five
years.
Reserve Stocks Low.
Reserve stocks this year are said to
be lower than at any previous time at
this season. The visible supply is put
now at 30.000,0O0 bushels. with
somewhat larger invisible stock. The
lowest visible stocks ever reported in
the United States were 100000 on
July two years ago. When harvest
, ing o. the new crop begins in July Of
this year it is estimated that the re-
serve will be even lower than that.
| The allies wheat requirements for
the coming year are put at 100000
600 bushels as a minimum. The
: United States will be asked to supply
more than half that amount. Wheat
crops in other parts OF the world are
poor. The Argen tine crop failed and
: home consumption will require the
entire yield. Canada s production is
confined chiefly to spring crop of
normally about 2O0,O00,000 bushels,
much OF which is available for export.
Since the war began America has
exported to Europe vast quantities Of
wheat, reaching high mark Of 332,-
100000 bushels in 1915. Last year
the total fell to % 100000 bushels.
Before the war it ran slightly less
than 100, 100000 bushels.
In a statement accompanying it's re-
port to-day the department Of Agri-
culture declared that although the
winter wheat crop condition is the
poorest on record, crop conditions
otherwise are favorable.
The extent OF plowing and plant
ing done by May l." the statement
said, was above the average. In
1912 the winter wheat crop fell be-
low 400.000.000 bushels, the lowest
since 1904. but notwit hstanding this
low production of winter wheat, the
spring wheat crops and total produc-
ton Of all crops in that year was the
largest on record
Use Corn Meal for Bread.
The department is making every ef-
fort to educate the American people
to a greater use Of corn meal for
bread. Corn is Americas big crop,
but except in the South it never has
supplanted wheat for bread. De-
partment officials believe America
must turn to corn to release wheat
for shipment abroad if the allies are
to be fed and Germany is to be de-
feated
Herbert G. Hoover. chairman of
the food committee Of the Council of
National Defense, who is strongly in
favor OF a more limited use of wheat
in this country, appeared before the
Senate, agriculture committee to-day
and urged a separate department Of
the government to deal with the food
question. lie recommen dcd absolute
government control Of certain STAPLES,
particularly grain and sugar lie
asked prompt action on the admins
tration's food bills and pointed to the
allies food troubles as proof Of the
necessity for taking hold OF the situa-
ton early in the war.