The Pulaskian., 1918-03-01

1913. North Dakotas record acreage in the last five years was S,350,000 in 1915; Minnesota's 4,150000 in 1913 1; Montana's 1.122.0o0 in 1917, and Ida hos 375,000 in 1917. North Dakota's five-year average d912-1916) was 7.65T GOO; Minnesota's 3,995,000; Mon tana's 566.0O0 and Idaho'a 231,000. Montana's annual planting has shown increases during the last four years as follows: 1914-15. 321 GOO; 1915-16 1s5000 1916-17 1S7,0O0 What these states can do this spring it is difficult to determine.
 It is hoped that many farmers, espe- cially in the northern part of the corn belt. will find it possible 10 plant five to ten acres additional in wheat. In some cases they will plant more. In number of states in the eastern and central portions of the country where spring wheat has not been grown in recent years, the crop is now being re- established and it is recommended that this movement be encouraged.
 To small extent the acreage n oats, if necessary, could be reduced in the interest of wheat. Likewise, a very small portion of the acreage which normally would be planted to corn in the northern part of the corn belt might be sown to spring wheat. If the acreage of spring wheat indi- cated for some of the states cannot be planted, the barley acreage which is Ia ia ties, might be increased. The use of barley for food is increasing in this country and it is welcome food in Europe.
 Summary of Other Recommendations
 Following is a summary of other im- portant recommendations regarding cereals, meat, poultry, and perishables.
 Hogs. The number of hogs should be increased by at least 15 per cent during the year 1918.
 Sugar Effort should be made to maintain the acreage of sugar cane and sugar beets, and to increase these areas in so far as these crops are well established or are necessary to sound agricultural practice.
 Production of satisfactory substi- tutes for sugar, including sorghum, corn and cane sirup. maple products and honey can and should be in- creased.
 Sorghum sirup, 1t is pointed out, may be produced in nearly every state in the Union. and increased production of sorghum sweets would enable the pub- lie to conserve still further the sugar supply in the form most available for transportation to our soldiers.
 Dairy Products. The supply of dairy products should be maintained to meet the needs of this country and to help supply the increasing demands of the allies.
 Poultry. Poultry production should be increased greatly, especially in back yards and on farms where waste mate rial is available and the purchase of expensive grains and other material Is not required.
 Corn. An acreage of corn approXi- mately equal to that of 1917 should be planted with possible sli ght reductions
 
 spring wheat.
 Oats, Barley, Rice, 8uctwheat and FIaxseed. The area in oats should be maintained, especially in Ieglons and on soils which are not so well adapted to other grains. but with small reduc ton to provide for increasing the wheat acreage. Barley production should be increased in regions where it grows best, especially in the north ern edge of the corn belt and In sec tions north and west of the belt; and rice, buckwheat and fiaxseed produc tion should be maintained and, if pos sible, increased.
 Grain Sorghums. The production of grain sorghums (kafir milo, feterita, etc.) should be increased greatly throughout the drier portion of the Plains region. Kafirs are the most certain grain crops in this section and they can be made to supplement wheat as human food and to replace corn as animal food.
 Potatoes. The normal acreage of Irish and sweet potatoes should be maintained in 1918, notwithstanding the large crops in 1917.
 Hay Forage and Pastures. Wher- ever feasible, the area devoted to hay, forage and silage crops should be in- creased and these products should be used to a greater extent in place of grains and other concentrates.
 Beef Animals. The number of beef animals should be maintained and, in areas where it is clearly the best range and farm practice, should be increased.
 Beans, Peas and Peanuts. The pro- duction of beans and peas should be increased in regions to which they are adapted, because of their high food value keeping qualities, and availabil- ity for domestic or export trade. Soy beans and peanuts should be increased in order to supplement beans and peas as human food, as source of much needed oil, and as animal feeds.