Crittenden record-press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1909-191?, 1917-11-22
FOOD SITUATION
Of ALLIES BEST
Since WAR began
All, but Especially France, Well
Supplied With FOodstutts.
Only SHORTAGE IS SUGAR
Agricultural Crop in France in Fine
Condition, While the Fruit Crop Is
kbundant-Msat Now Sold on So
Called Meatless Oays-France in No
Danger OF Coal Shortage.

Called Meatless Oays-France In No
Danger OF Coal Shortage.
On the eve of the approaching WIN
fer. the fourth wear of the war, ut least
three of the great powers OF the en-
tonte allies. England, France and Italy
particularly France, are discovered IN
the most favorable light with regard
to food supplies.
Whatever causes may tend to force
an end to the war, it will not be either
starvation or coal famine, IS far as
France is conccruei. While the h"r-
vest Of the most important item OF AL
wheat, has rot yet been completed In
.llcations are that n will ut least equal
last years, and preparations have al
rcndy been made 20 remedy the deficit
between the crop and the average con-
ambition. Coal has been received Sut'
1aent to insure the needs of the popu'
lltlon and the industries for the win
cor while the herds of live stoc"
throughout the republic have never
been in better condition since the out
break of hostIlticS
The scheme Of bread and coal ra-
lions instituted for the first time IN
France, and which has been In force In
Germany since the inception OF the
war, has led many people to believe
that the economic conditions Of the
country we're far from satisfactory
But such is far from being the case,
and only prudence is behind the meas
nres that stern necessity imposed upon
she Ieutonic empires three years ago.
A tour throughout agricultural
France reveals that crops are In eX'
ceedingly good condition. while the
fruit crop has been the largest Of 'nv
year of the war. In some localities
pears, peaches Ind apples actually are
lying rOtting on the ground because OF
the scarcity Of labor to gather them up.
This Is true of the whole Of France
except In some few isolated spots, not
areas Of any notable extent, where To-
cal hnilstorms knocked the fruit from
the trees before 1t had time TO ripen
or where too heavy ralnfalls delayed
The harvest or caused the grain to
sprout too rapidly.
Cattle Are Fine and Fat.
But what damage the rain and hall
have done In some areas has been more
than compensated for by the good 1t
has worked In others. where It has
given such an impetus to the growth
Of fodder the cattle are fine and fat,
the cows affording more than the usual
amount OF milk. This has been made
into butter and cheese and large guam
titles of cheeses have lately appeared
on the market at price that called
for a drop Of from 81 10 81 per hun
,lredweight. Besides, the attractive
prices beef and mutton fetched last
winter have induced the cattlemen to
Increase and preserve their herds, with
The result that all meat prices, with
che exception OF pork, have taken n
downward trend.
Even the constant relu!sltionlng Of
cattle by the French government has
not affected the herds, as may be seen
from the fact that the government not
only promised to suspend the meatless
days on October IS, but the police
nre now tOlcrstlng the open sale OF
meat on the two so-called "meatless
days" In restaurants and hotels. In
most any restaurant In France at least
three meat dishes may be observed on
The menu on the "meatless days" One
restaurant In n popular quarter brazen-
iy posted It's menu on It's window, as Is
the custom. advertising "Meatless day
specials Beef 10 mode. calls head,
mutton stew" thereby calling down up.
on Itself commentary from one of the
newspapers, but no action by the po-
lice.
Before the war Frances annual con-
sumption OF wheat was 2SS,000, 900
bushels. The annual production was
.i0,000,00O bushels, leaving deficit OF
100000 bushels, Imported from the
United States and other wheat grow.
Ing countries. Three years Of warfare
reduced the average production to ia
10000 bushels, or deficit OF l1i.0Oo..
100 bushels. With the ratiOn,ng OF the
population the government experts es-
Innate they will effect q saving OF at
ieast 2l.000.000 bushels. The law fix
ing the percentage Of white flour that
may be used In the baking Of bread
mad the decree requiring the immlx.
lure IL oatmeal, rye, barley or buck.
wheat In the loaf have cut another
per cent ut least OF the consumption.
Deficit 10 Reduced.
Thus subtractlng the saving OF 49,.
10000 bushels, the deficit Is reduced
10 100000 bushels. This deficit may
ne even further reduced By u voluntary
ratlonins Of THO population. The bread
cards provide Id allowance OF u pound
n day for each adult. This may be In.
creased upon simple demand and the
statement OF the consumer that bread
g istitutes hia principal article Of diet.
tho Other hand. those outside the
4 ant and lpborIng classes are asked
eept an allowance Of tinc over
pound n day. which ! 9th doc.
md csrcr's In dlnictics have pfv.
.. ~ sunUi"nt 10 supply the mere,
9r"'i NJ aihum'n without 20