Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1918-04-26
Secretary of Agriculture Points
Out City's Part in Food
Production.
CITIZENS MUST HELP OUT
" Soldiers Are Willing to Risk Their
Lives Civilians Can Well Afford to
Spare Time 10 Serve in Har-
vest Field.
BY DAVID F. HOUSTON,
Secretary of Agriculture.

Washington.-Some time ago l Is
sued statement concerning the farm
labor problem. Ii was pointed out that
there will be farm labor difficulties TO
overcome this year as last and that in
certain sections, especially in the
neighbOrhOOd of large industrial CEN
ters. the difficulties will be acute. The
lines of effort were indicated along
which the departments of agriculture
and labor. through representatives, IN
various states cooperating with the
agricultural colleges and other agen-
cies. are working to furnish assistance.
Briefly stated these agencies are doing
the following things: (a) making
survey Of the farm-iabOr situation In
each community with view to discov-
er possible surpluses Of labor. in order
To be ready to assist in furnishing la
Dor wherever it is needed; CD assist
ing again in shifting labor from COM
munity to community and from state to
state, as in past years; (c) promoting
fuller cooperation among farmers In
the same community; Cd making
available, so far as possible, high
school boys in rural districts who have
had experience in farming and who are
not normally regularly or fully EN-
plOyed In farming operations; (e) max
ing every effort to see that there Is no
obstacle in the way Of the production
of a larger supply of farm machinery
and its fuller use as supplement to
hand labor.
National Army May Help.
Last year. in spite Of all the difficult
ties, the farmers planted the largest
acreages in the history Of the nation,
harvested record crops Of most tmpor-
tant things except wheat. and sue
ceeded in greatly increasing the num-
Der Of live stock. Since last year
skilled farm labor has been given de-
ferred classification and the secretary
Of war has asked for power to furlOugh
soldiers of the National army If their
training permits. so that they may re-
turn to their farms and assist. 1t Is
believed that the farmers Of the na-
ton can, by effective organization and
cooperation, with such assistance as
can be furnished. again overcome Ia
Dor difficulties and produce large guam
titles of foods, feedstuffs and live
stock.
There Is an opportunity now for ur
ban people sympathetically and con
cOnstructively to study the farm-labol
situation and to render assistance. In
many towns and cities there are mer
who have had farming experience. who
are ablebOdied. and who would doubt
less be willing to serve the nation II
the field of agriculture at this time
Especially for the seasonal strains o.
planting. cultivating and harvesting 4
will not he too much to ask such mel
To aid the farmers in the necessary un
dertaking of maintaining and. If pos
Sble. supplementing. the food suppl.
In order to feed the armies and to sus
tain the civilian population behint
them.
Civilians Should Help.
If soldiers are willing to serve II
the trenches. to dig bitches. build rail
roads and risk their lives, many civil
ians can well afford to spare par
Of their time to serve in the furrOw
and in the harvest fields. If 1t appear
that the farmers of a community O