The Benson signal., 1917-08-25

| In some sections. The only sections In
which dairy products have had rise
in price in appropriate proportion to
| the increase in most of feeds are those
| producing condensed milk and cheese.
Our home milk and butter supplies
are therefore looked at in broad way,
decreasing while our population is in
| creasing. This deficiency Of dairy but
| ter is shown by the increased sales Of
| margarine, which show an increase of
several million pounds per month over
similar periods in 1915. Dairy butter,
however, has qualities which render it
vitality necessary for children. Milk
has no substitute and is not only in
trinsically one Of our cheapest animal
foods, but is absolutely fundamental
to the rearing of the children.
The dairy situation resolves itself
into several phases. First, it is to be
hoped that the forthcoming abundant
harvest together with proper restric
tion upon exports of feeding stuffs will
result in lower prices of feed and di-
mfnish the impetus to sell the cattle
for meat. Second, the industry needs
encouragement so as to increase the
dairy herd and thus our dairy supplies,
| for the sake first of our own people
and second Of the allies. The people
must realize the vital dependence of
the well-being of their children, and
thus of the nation, upon the encourage
ment and upbuilding of the industry.
| Third, we must save the wastes in milk
and butter during the war if we are to
provide milk supplies to all. We waste
large quantities of our milk value from
our lack Of national demand for prod
ucts of skinned and sour milk.
Pork Products.
The hog is the most efficient of ma
chimes for the production of animal fat.
The hog not only makes more fat from
given amount Of feed, but also the
products made are specially capable of
preservation and most economical for
| commercial handling.
The swine of Europe are rapidly de-
creaSing and the consumption demand
induced by the war is much increased,
this particularly because bacon, ham
and lard are so adaptable for military
supplies. Moreover our allies are iso-
lated from many markets and large
amount from northern neutrals is
being diverted to Germany.
While our hogs have increased in
number by 100000 animals, the aver
age weight at slaughter is falling and
our production is probably only about
maintained. The increasing demand
upon us since the war began is shown
by the following figures of comparative
exports:
Three-year, pre-war period, 1867
614000 pounds.
Year ending June 80, 1916, 1872,
$4,000 pounds.
Wool and Leather.
Our national supply of both wool
and leather are less than our needs.
and we are importing them more and
more largely, as shown by the follow
ing figures:
ImportatiOns of wool and manufac-
| lures of wool (value) for the three
year pre-war period, 862, ,457 ,965; for
| the fiscal year ending June 80, 1916,
| $15SO7S,271.
| ImportatiOns (value) of hides, leath-
er, and manufactures of leather aver
| age of the three-year pre-war period,
| $133, III, 1893; for the year ending June
80, 1916. SLIT 7,8S0,9O2.
At the present time the worlds de-
mand for these products has increased
far above the peace level owing to the
extra consumption in supplying the
armies. This demand is now again in
creased by the mobilization of large
American army. In the face of this,
not only is the European herd decreas-
ing, but also American sheep have de-
creased about 100000 since the war
began. After the war is over, the va
riOus countries of the world from
which we formerly drew our wool are
likely to retain it for their own use
until their flocks again become normal.
Sugar.
The sugar supply on which our allies
| in Europe normally draw has been
tremendously reduced, so that they
must have recourse to other sources.
In consequence of the shipping situa-
ton the area from which they must
draw is also curtailed and, as a result,
they are driven into those markets
from which our own supply normally
arises Furthermore, their own pro-
duction has been greatly diminished.
Before the war, Europe supplied in a
large measure it's own needs, through
the production of beet sugar, as will
appear from the following table show
ing the average yearly production and
consumption for the five years before
the war (19O9-1913), in some Of the
| chief countries of Europe:
| Prod'n. Consump. Surp. CD
| (short (short or def
tons) tons) cheney (-)
Germany ...2,525, ,S99 1,2995S5 t1,226,314
Austria .......1, ,651, SS9 679,2O4 y2,6S5
Russia .......1,65s,947 1.3222S5 I S37.662