Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1917-04-27
Summary Of the Reasons for Increasing
Production and Conserving Food
Supplies in Louisiana.
Some Suggestions as to What We May
Do to Avert q Food Shortage.

!
Do to Avert Food Shortage.
Every reliable report indicates that
there is shortage in the worlds sup
ply of food stuffs, particularly of meat,
potatoes and the grains we use most
largely for food and for sustaining our
domestic animals. The wheat crop Of
Argentine, the largest wheat produc-
ing country in South America, is prac-
tically failure. The Canadian gov
eminent has already made contracts
for the entire crop of Canada for 1917.
The wheat crop of Australia is too re-
mote to be of service to this country,
and on account of the diminished tom
mage for transportation, will be less
available to European countries. The
inability of Russia to deliver wheat in
quantities anticipated to her allies has
bee1one of the greatest disappoint-
ments of the war to them. In the
United States, the entire wheat crop
has been severely damaged by winter
freezes. IL is reported that in some
regions from twenty to thirty per
cent of the crop has been completely
destroyed.
Throughout the largest grain pro-
ducing sections of the United States
the labor supply has been materially
diminished. Many of the farm hands
have gone into Canada under contract
for higher wages to produce food for
the Canadian government; many have
gone into the munition plants of the
United States and Canada. The enlist
ment of onr young men for military
service will further deplete the avail
able labor. There is scarcely posi-
bility, therefore, that enough grain
can be produced to meet all domestic !
demands and meet our obligation for
helping to feed the allied armies at
war, and at the same time continue to
furnish the South with the large sup
ply of food and feed stuffs that they I
have previously consumed.
Another important fact should be
taken under consideration. During
the past ear we have suffered from
impaired transportation facilities,
when we were at peace, to the extent
that for weeks we were totally unable
to have freight delivered in many
portions of the South, and with the
existence of war, much of the railroad
equipment will undoubtedly be re-
CURED for carrying coal to the Atlantic
coast to supply our enlarged navy, to-
transport provisions, munitions and
war supplies, including building ma
terials, and there is possibility that
we couldn't bring food or feed stuffs
into the State i'm any large quantity or
get our cotton to the market. The i'm
ported foods that are available will
unquestionably be very high priced.
1t is believed that the best way to
avert these possible calamities is to
mobilize our resources and our labor
and to take all reasonable measures to
avoid waste and conserve our food
supply. A program has been mapped
out for the accomplishment of these (
purposes which emphasizes increased
of food and feed stuffs, in
tensified cultivation where labor will
permit, use of an increased amount OF
fertilizer, and the planting of an ample
supply of vegetables and quick grow
ing crops to feed the labor and meet
the demands of local communities. ,
Do not neglect the cotton, sugar cane
and rice. Cotton is necessary, but use
of fortified and better cultivation is
also necessary to make up for small
reduction.
We can materially and comparative
ly quickly increase the supply of meat
through poultry enterprises and the
Encouragement of the slaughter Of
calves and small pigs. We can elimi-
nate many wasteful practices without I
sacrifice. We can adopt many meas
lres that will increase the efficiency of r
The supplies at hand. J.
The amount of productive labor can e
De materially increased by school +
young men and women and O
others at present unemployed who
would willingly render helpeful serv- '
ces as a patriotic duty in the crisis '
hat is before us. The utilization of O
abor saving devices and improved t
Implements will also be important. a
In many instances the negroes may G
'e made much more efficiently proper c
and direction from the t.
white people. q
w. R. DODsoN,
Director of Extension Work in Louisi- !,
ana, Secretary State Food Pre- :,
paredness Commission. :,