New-York tribune., 1917-06-01
Good Crop Outlook
Killing the Spectre
OF Food Shortage
Even Wheat Crop Promises to
Exceed Last Years; Others
May Be Record Breaking
By ARCHER WALL DOUGLAS
81. Louis. Mdu %.

The story Of crops is a cheering one
the story of an apparently poor be-
ginning and the promise OF an unusu-
ally fine ending. All reports of reliable
private observers are agreed as TO the
likelihood of winter wheat yield equal
to that of last year, and possibly
slightly in excess, so much has plenti-
full precipitation and some needed
warm weather done for the growing
plant in the merry month of May.
Harvesting is already on in the south
ern part of the belt, and will be con-
tnuous performance from now until 1t
comes to a conclusion late in August
far up in Northern Canada.
The story of spring wheat is fortu-
nately one entirely opposite in all re-
spects to that of last year. In the fall
OF 1915 but little ploughing was pos
siblc, and in the spring Of 1916 seeding
was much delayed by wet weather, and
everything went wrong in the begin
ming. But the end was worse, for early
in August black rust developed and the
crop was all in, with the smallest yield
in many years. This year things have
gone well. The plant has fine start
and is deeply rooted. which is half the
battle with wheat. There is but little
planted by disking. whereas last season
the proportion was large. Disking Is
an emergency proposition and a poor
way for spring wheat to start life. 50
far as forecasts are permissible at this
early stage of the game, the most con-
servative estimates are for combined
winter and spring wheat yield some
what, and probably appreciably, in ex-
cess of last year.
Great Corn Acreage
Those who have prophesed a food
shortage in this country will be glad to
find themselves confounded by an acre
age. now growing, Of all foodstuifs
which BY far exceeds anything before
known. Corn especially has a prob
able acreage OF 125OOO,0OO acres. or
l 900 600 acres more than the greatest
heretofore recorded. This increase IN
acreage. in varying proportion. IS COM
mon TO all agricultural products.
From now on the weather is the key
note of the situation. 1t must always
be remembered that great yields are as
much the result OF large production an
acre as of large acreages. In 1917 the
acreage planted to corn was nearly
/ $50 900 less than in 1909. Yet the
production in 1912 was 4OO,OOO,oOo
bushels larger than in 1909 because the
production an acre in 1912 was four
bushels greater than in 1909. so great
has been the endeavor on the part OF
the farmers to plant all available lanu
there has not always been taken lhto
that even more labor -
for needed cultivation. Such
amateur labor as has been mobillzed or
NAV volunteer has low percentage OF
{ ficiencv. despite its willingness;
Working on a farm is mans loD, ana
has none of the elements of holiday
experience about it, Especially IN the
South in the cotton belt, is the prob
lem of labor most acute. The mlgra-
ton, that has been going on for months
Of negroes to industrial centres IN the
North and East stripped many sections
of the South of the field hands who
are alone available for cotton cultiva-
ton. Cotton has to be worked all the
time if it is to yield abundantly and
lust now it has a poor start IN some
sections, and needs to be dry nursed
through the weedy paths of life by
having the fields kept clean.
The man with the hoe in the back
yard and the vacant lot is proving a
potent factor in the vegetable situation,
as fast accumulating supply and de-
clining prices testify only too plainly. |
One little city Of $4,000 inhabitants in !
Kentucky has 1900 gardens, and most
other little cities in the country have |
suit.