The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1918-04-05
BY ROBERT c. sKERRETT, in the
New York Sun,


New York Sun.
IN UR allies are depending upon
the United States" In these
words David Lubin, the Amer
lean representative in the In
- ternational Institute Of Agri-
culture Mt Rome, recently summed up
the burden Of food production which
stress of war has placed upon the
shoulders Of the farmers of the United
States.
Heavy as this obligation would be In
normal times, the task has become
much more difficult by reason of our
entry into the conflict. II will not suf-
flee that we merely restrain appetites
that have developed during long pc
riOds Of plenty and prosperity. Self
denial will undoubtedly contribute TO
in eXportable surplus, but notable
hardships may be imposed upon US in
order that we may contribute vital
f>Odsmffs to our allies in the course
of the current year.
The crying need, if we are TO have
sufficient food for ourselves and Il
liberal volume to send abroad, Is n
proper supply Of capable farm labor.
Many things have been promised by
the constituted authorities, hut rela-
lively little has been achieved in meet
ing the situation squarely and furnish
ing n really practical solution Of this
fundamental problem.
The up to date tiller of the soil Is
no doubt patriotic, but he has suffered
through the reaction of his prompt re-
sponse to the appeal made TO him ear
~ 'ast year to increase his cultivated
acres. He is a business man and his
readiness TO help has hurt him, as his
annual balance shows. He has been
crowded by many circumstances and
his books bear indisputable evidence of
losses where he counted upon reason
able gains. The prices for fertilizers,
seeds, farm tools and feeds have
mounted to more or less prOhibitive
heights and then, by way of climax,
he has suddenly realized that even
higher wages could not recruit for him
The necessary qualified labor.
There is n widespread disposition to
boast OF American ingenuity in evolv-
ing labor saving farm machinery. 1t is
true that from 1855 to 1891 the human
effort required to produce one bushel
of corn declined on an average from
four hours and a half to span of but
II minutes. And in the matter of pro-
20
manual labor needed diminished from
three hours and three minutes to ten
minutes bushel of marketable grain.
But while cleverly devised appara-
lus has made this time saving possible
and has enabled one man to do in a
day what formerly many men could not
accomplish between sunrise and sun
set, still these mechanical aids have
emphasized the need of greater skill
on the part Of the smaller agricultural
army. Unframed boys, women and
childen unused to farm work and the
unaccustOmed city dwellers are not go
ing to meet the difficulty. The trained
farmland is the man that is now need
I'd more than ever
Opinions of Paul T. Brady upon ag-
ricutural topics have been printed His
position is uncommon and adds espe-
claI force to what he has to say. As
conspicuous figure in one of Ameri-
cas- largest electrical manufacturing
companies, a captain of industry, he
has gone in for farming as Il side is
sue, bent upon showing that business
methods applied to the land viii yield
compensating returns and make of ag-
riculture 4 balanced, dependable indus
try. He has applied to his hundreds
of acres in Duchess county the same
administrative acumen which has
placed him where he is in commercial
life.
In answer to an inquiry as to his
opinion regarding the prospects for an
ample supply of labor on the farms
and the probable production of food
stuffs during 1918 Mr. Brady said:
"When President Wilson made his