Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1917-04-26
Some Statements And
Recommendations By Maryland
State Board OF Agriculture.

State Board OF Agriculture.
Herbert C. Hoover, Chairman of
American Food Board of the National
Defense Council of the United States
says: THE foremost duty Of Amer
lea to the allies in this war is to see
that they are supplied with food. v
From the necessities of the
case, we can put but few soldiers in
the field, but every spade full OF
earth turned by our farmers, every
seed we plant, every ounce OF waste
we eliminate, is just as much con-
tribution to the Joint cause as that Of
the man in the trenches.
In recent interview, J. Ogden
Armour, Of Chicago, said: IF i'm
mediate and radical steps are not
taken to increase and conserve the
the food supply in the United States,
this country will find itself next fall
and winter in as bad a state, SO far
as food is concerned, as any of the
warning nations of Europe. n
| should favor the institution, if nee
essary, of meatless days, such as they
now have in Europe"
These statements of experts, and
their full force, can best be apprecia-
ted by a glance at the reports. from
the possible sources of supply.
This country's wheat reserve is
now only about 100, 200, 900 bushels,
as against the usual reserve at this
season of something over $50, 100000
bushels, with heavy winter wheat
shortage in sight in the coming crop.
The present corn supply is under
500, 100000 bushels, as against the
usual reserve of 200, 900 BUSH
els at this season, with conditions
very unfavorable in the southern
corn area.
Potatoes have probably never been
so short as at present in America,
and in all the great potato producing
The estimates place the
worlds 1916 crop at 81 per cent OF
the average.
The food necessary to keep the
world from starving cannot be pro-
duced unless immediate steps are
taken by the general government and
the States to conserve and increase
the supply of efficient farm labor.
This cannot be put off for two
weeks; it must be done now to insure
the proper preparation of the soil and
planting the crops.
1t is the clear duty of all agricul-
turial authorities to state the true
of the food supply in such
plain terms that there can be no UNI
dcr-estimating of its seriousness; not
only by the Federal and State author
tiles, but also by every citizen, no
matter what his or her occupation
may be. The crop reports of the
United States Government fully war
rant the prediction of bread riots in
this country within the next four
months.
We therefore make the following
recommendations, and earnestly urge
that they be put into effect at the
earliest possible date:
CD That legislation, National and
State, be enacted by which idieness
be penalized, and that in conscription
when resorted to, an exemption be
granted to men habitually employed
in agricultural pursuits and in
of foodstuffs.
(2) That all public and private
work not absolutely necessary for the
protection of property, or for the de-
tense of the country, be postponed
where the labor thus made available
,an be employed in the production of
food products.
(3) The immediate employment of
able bodied inmates of reformatories
iails, etc, as far as possible on public
works, SO as to release many able
'arm laborers now 50 employed.
(4) The adoption of the standards
in the milling of wheat flour as now
in use in Europe, so as to give us a
greater yield of flour per bushel of
wheat, and also the greater use OF
corn flour.
(5) The discontinuancc of the fur
ther use of grain in the manufacture
of alcoholic beverages until such time
IS the United States Government de-
sermines that food conditions warrant
the resumption of such use of grain.
Co The increased planting of sta