The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1918-04-03

ternatiOnal Institute OF Agrl- |
culture at 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. 1t will not suf-
fee that we merely restrain appetites
that have developed during long pc
RODS of plenty and prosperity. Self
denial will undoubtedly contribute to
an eXportable surplus. but notable
hardships may be imposed upon us in
order that we may contribute vital
foodstuffs to our allies in the course
of the current year.
The crying need, if we are to have
sufficient food for ourselves and a
liberal volume to send abroad, Is
proper supply of capable farm labor.
Many things have been promised by
the constituted authorities, but rela-
lively little has been achieved in meet
ing the situation squarely and furnish
ing 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
" last 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 hooks 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 MIN
the necessary qualified labor.
There is a widespread disposition to
boast of American ingenuity In evolv
ing labor saving farm machinery. 1t Is
trua that from 1855 to 1894 the human
effort required to produce one bushe
of corn declined on an average IRON
four hours and half to span of bu
Al minutes. And in the matter OF pro
ducing wheat from 1880 to 1894 thu
manual labor needed diminished from
three hours and three minutes to tel
minutes bushel of marketable grain
Rut while cleverly devised appara
FMS has made this time saving possible
and has enabled one man to do In
, day what formerly many men could no
accomplish between sunrise and sun
sat still these mechanical aids hav
, emnhasized the need of greater ski
on the part of the smaller agriculture
army. Unframed boys. women an
cbilden unused to farm work and tn
unaccustomed city jewellers are not &c
. ing to meet the difficulty. The tralne
farmland is the man that is now neef
ed more than ever.
Opinions of Paul T. Brady upon as
ricultural topics have been printed. Ill
nosition Is uncommon and adds esp'
e c,,l force to what he has to say. A
I q conspicuous figure in one of Amer
9 cas- largest electrical manufacturer
5 comnanies, a captain of industry. h
Il has gone in for farming as side Il
sue, bent upon showing that bushes
4 methods applied to the land will yiel
: compensating returns and make of al
: riculture a balanced, dependable indu
n try. He has applied to his hundred
0 Of acres liz Duchess county the san
administrative acumen when M
# n,,ced him where he is in commercl
u life. :.
e In answer to an inquiry as to h
If opinion regarding the prospects Tor
l. ample supply of labor on the farn
1t and the probable production OF 100
Is stuffs during 1918 Mr.. Brady said:
"When President Wilson made II