Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-07-31
ILLINOIS GIVES TO.
]. S. ITS GREATEST.
SUPPLY OF FOODS
THIS STATE AND IOWA PRODUCE
IS PER CENT. OF NATIONS EOI-
BILE GRAINS AND LARGEST
SHARE OF LIVESTOCK.

That Illinois, as war producing
state, IN meeting its war obligations
spiendidly is shown in a report of the
food production and conservation
committee of the State Council of De-
Tense.
Illinois and Iowa are the two
greatest food producing states in the
union" the report says, Together
they produce about % per cent OF
the country's corn crop. and the larg-
est proportion of It's live stock.
Illinois was requested to raise
1fH,0N't atre'$ OF spring wheat this
year Kane county alone put out
more than % 100 acres, and the state
AS a whole will raise al least twice
the number of acres asked for, and
probably three times as many. This
is typical of her re sources
Greatest Food Crop.
There are five counties in Illinois
any one. OF which produce more
bushels Of cereal crops than the
combined total cereal crop of the six
New England states
Illinois this. year is producing her
greatest food crop. and with the
greatest labor shortage the state has
ever had the crops are being cared
for.
The state as whole is experience
Ing its peak period for labor. In
spite of this demand for farm help
tnrOnh our county organizations
and the Chicago Office has been light
er than at any previous time This
Is great recommendation for the
efforts of the United Safes Boys
working reserve in placing Illinois
farms more than 1900 boys and for
our emergency farm labor campaign
which was success sful in enrolling
more than 50.0C0. emergency workers
from the small towns OF the state.
Praise the Farmsrs
Assistant Secretary Of Agriculture
Christie at the conference of repre-.
sentatives OF twelve middle west
states reviewed particularly the work
OF Illinois and Kansas and considered
the results as remarkable He states
that the war department. has contin-
nally received complaints from other
parts of the country on the drafting
OF experienced farm hands, but Gen
Crowder is determined that no eX-
emptlons be granted and in a state
ment 10 the farmers of the northwes,
said:
The farmers in those sections
winch are confronted with the prob.
lem OF harvesting wheat at time
when some OF their help will he.call.
ed TO the color' should receive an
Inspiration from Kansas and Illinois.
In general the farmers of that sec.
ton faced the same situation. vet
every acre of grain was cut and
shocked by small iownspeople who
responded to the call
Must Improve Soil
During the last census decade the
area of improved farm land in Illinois
increased by 349 104 acres. However
We have now about reached the limit
OF total possible acreage. and any in
crease in Illinois crops must be large
~ through soil Improvement Soil
Improvement requires investment
and unless the farm yields an income
above the living and other expenses
1he aVafage farmer has no money to
invest In soil improvement.
In Prof Cyril C. Hopkins our col.
iege of agriculture at Urbana has an
agmnomist with a worlds reputation.
I'M theories on soil problems have
impressed themselves on soil improve.
ment work throughout the country.
ana his limestone and phosphate ex
periments on southern Illinois farms
where the average yields per acre
nave been increased about fourfold
indicates an opportunity of vast nos,
slhilitles, where missionary work is
needed and where an increased pro-
duction can be looked for"