New-York tribune., 1918-02-21
French Will Till
Farms This Year
With u. S. Tools
Purchasing Agent Here
Seeking Implements for
Projected Bumper Crop

A project for shipping to France
large SUPPLIES of American farm imple-
ments to increase grain cultivation,
and thereby reduce correspondingly the
tonnage of food exports from this
country, is being worked out by a syn
dicate of importers in Paris, cooperat-
ing with the French Department of
Agriculture.
Hugh Reid Griffin. vice president Of
the American Chamber Of Commerce
IN Paris, recently arrived in New York
to deal in this connection with the
International Harvester Company, the
Moline Plough Company, the j. l. Case
Threshing Machine Company, all
American concerns; the Massey Harris
Company. OF Toronto, and other farm
machinery manufacturers.
Mr.. Griffin, who is a retired manu-
facturer Of farm implements. says that
II France can be supplied with trac-
tors for ploughing, and mowers grain
rcapers and binders for use in both
France and her African colonies, it will
mean great economic saving for the
Allied cause.
Quoting from official figures given
him by NJ. Boret, French Minister OF
Agriculture, Mr.. Griffin declares that
= ~
per cent more land under cultivation
tor wheat and other grains than last
year, when the grain acreage was l.
-Zo,UuU hectares, hectare being
equivalent to about two and one-quar-
ter acres. The yield of grain last year
was 39,250,000 quintels, as compared
with $780, 600 Quintels in 1909, when
there were $500, 600 hectares planted in
grain.
Mr. Griffin said that the project Of
exporting sufficient farm machinery
to France had the enthusiastic approval
OF General Pershing, and was being
vigorously pushed by Commissioned
Andre Tardieu.
Nov, all we need to get the ma
chlnery over to France is bottoms"
said Mr.. Griffin, "and that is what I
am here to procure. The implement
corporations are asking no favors from
the American or French government.
They will finance the matter. There
and thrashing machines piled up in
New ork and other Atlantic terminals.
where they have been lying since last
October, but we have not been able to
get the ships
we have made a thorough study Of
the economic phase of this question.
and nave arrived at exact conclusions.
We KNOW that farm implements Sufi-
cient to cultivate ], 900 hectares would
occupy 22O tons Of shipping space The
same acreage would yield, in an ordi-
nary year, q production for offsetting
the expense involved in such shipment.
French farm machinery has gone to
rack and ruin the last four years. 1t
has been used by boys and women, who
did not know how to handle it. Parts
are worn out, and there is great need
of spare parts. These have to be
shipped over from American factories
II the next crop is to be planted, cult
waited and reuped.'
Mr.. Griffin said that Ambassador
sharpe, who is interested in the re-
habilitation of French agriculture, IA
yors sending about $4,000 American
farmers to France to cultivate the soil
This, he said, was opposed by others.
for the reason that French agricultural
methods differ greatly from American,
and, besides. the American farmers
would have great difficulty in making
themselves understood. For some time
past Mr. Griffin has been the official
buyer of supplies for the American
aviation section in France.