El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-08-03
IS SHORT,
PLEN TY WHEAT
Bread Substitutes May
Soon Disappear; Sugar
Rationing Continues.
BY FREDERIC ]. HAsKIN

Washington, D. c., Aug Better
than anyone else in the country the
American farmer has made good at
his war job. This is the verdict Of the
department OF agriculture after a
study Of the current year report Of
Leon NJ Estabrook, chief Of the bu-
reau Of crop estimates.
Reports of crop estimates are based
on a scientific knowledge Of climatic
and other relevant conditions, and
compiled and deducted with a
technique evolved during a 30 years
handling Of such problems. In the
past two decades they never have
been more than three percent in er-
ror. 1t is safe, then to state that the
harvests Of this year Will be unpre-
cedented in the annals Of agriculture.
Farmer Handicapped.
Chief credit for this remarka bic
showing the department gives TO the
farmer. Handicapped by a shortage Of
labor. a shortage OF tractors, plows
and other essential implements. in
some cases handicapped by unfavor-
able weather. he has put into cultiva-
tiCn almost twenty million more acres
than last year, and almost forty mil
lion more than in 1916.
The bread cereals situation is a case
in point The total yield OF the country
for 1917, of wheat, corn, rye, oats. bar
ley and rice was 5.705,O06.0O0 bushels.
over this the report forecasts a gain
Of 1876. 600 Just how radical this in
crease is from the normal yield is
shown in the fact that during 1917 the
farmers. in answer to the plea Of war.
produced 1000, 900. 600 bushels more
than the preceding year.
May Need No Substitutes
To what degree this increase viii
l. s--n,-
be guessed at this time. Information
Is reaching the war department in
dicating that the wheat crops OF
France, England and Canada are
thriving past the most optimistic
of hopes It may be inferred
from this that the demands OF the al
lies on our wheat supplies viii not be
the present year.
This added to the big increase
in our own harvest will leave Us
with n comparatively abundant
store Of wheat for home cOnsumP-
tion. Il is altogether likely that
the necessity for wheat substi-
tutes viii be reduced in large
measure.
The largest increase in spring wheat
harvests, II appears. has been
made by the farmers OF South Dakota.
where the yield has been q percent
over normal
Gains. similar 10 the gain in wheat.
have been made in the cultivation OF
oats. barley. rye and rice. Corn.
though its increase IS not 50 great
as with other grains, viii be more
abundant this autumn than last u is
worth noticing that the farms OF the
middle Atlantic and southern states
have done most to raise the corn crop
above average
Potatoes Sufficient.
While the report shows slight de-
clines IN various crops. Il must be re-
mem hered that most farmers do their
planting under regulations OF the law
Of supply and demand Thus, the fore
cast OF the white potato crop shows a
drop OF $1,000. 900 bushels from the
Weld Of last year. This. however. will
afford an adequate supply. vet reduce
the waste caused by the too abundant
crop OF last winter. The average Of
sweet potatoes has Increased sfT 80
cent. and we are promised 5000. 600
Dusnels more than last years SUNNY
In the cotton belt the planters have
expanded the acreage OF cotton he
tween SIX and seven percent: but in
spite OF this disadvantage thew have
maintained OF bettered their normal
acreage Of food and feed.
seemingly, the single cloud In
the report is the Indication thar
sugar rationinE VIII be continued.
me sugar neer crop has dropped
three percent, and the cane crop
even more. We viii be dependent,
then. on South America and the
West Indies for the major part OF
cur supply Of sugar for another
year Mt least.
In regard 10 fruits the situation IS
On the whole, promising. Apricots
show a Il percent increase. lemons
+ percent, catalogues . percent. and
Watermelons percent Apples,
oranges and grapes will be slightly
less plentiful Garden produce. hay,
tobacco and flaxseed keep their gem
cral average.
Prices Drop.
Prices, in the main, show a tendency
to fall. though perhaps the falls are
not 70 be very great. The prices paid
producers are now about percent
under those Of last year, although
they are IS percent higher than two
years ago Meat prices though IS per
cent higher than in 1918. havt de-
clined slightly with a prospect OF still
further drops.
BY and large. the outlook is a rosy
one And we've the American farmer
20 thank for it.
FIFTH YEAR OF THE WAR
tn DR. rnMHFEMnn Atm