The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-06-06

1 At the outbreak of the. war almost
 everyone interested in the production Of foodstuffs foresaw the great need of [ the allied countries for American food supplies. Everyone realized that 1t was not only the patriotic duty of all farm owners to plant more and reap more, but it was the essential duty of every one interested in the proper outcome Of the war to think farther in his own business than he had ever thought be- fore.
 Produce more food" .'save food" were worthy and good slogans. But the food producers of the country and the farm machinery manufacturers soon saw that more than this had to be ac- complished. Increased production was essential, but it was the other phase, the getting ready for this production and assuring it in the face of unpar- alleled activities in our factories and on our railroads, that was at the bot tom of the whole problem.
 The department of agriculture fore saw this side of the question. Depart ment officials and specialists quickly analysed the situation and came to the conclusion that the problem of food was as much question of distribution of farm machinery, if not more than one of seed, labor or willingness and ability on the farmers part to blow and SOW more acres The question re- solved itself in the final analysis into one of transportation, and could be an- swered only by some definite knowledge of how much farm machinery there was to be transported.
 Recently, therefore, the situation has been put to the farmers throughout the country in bulletins and publicity mat ter directed from Washington, D. c.
 WHAT DEPARTMENT THINKS
 The department of agriculture says: 'afhe factories have plenty of farm ma chinery, but there is a natural hesi- tancy on their part in distributing it to the transfer houses until they know definitely the amount of business which each transfer house will be called upon to handle The orders for implements that are sent in late are liable to be congested in traffic and greatly de- lay the various farming operations In the fall, especially in blowing time, such delays would be exceedingly cost ly. not only in dollars and cents. but in not unlikely suffering among the great multitude of people who are de- pending upon America to feed the world.
 The department of agriculture haa also senSed another angle to the situa- tion. "The importance of early order- ing of both new farm machines and re- pair parts for old ones cannot be too greatly emphasized at this time. Be- cause of the prevailing high prices of farm machinery and repair parts, spe- cialists in the department of agriculture want to emphasize that there is a natural tendency on the part of retail dealers to maintain a meager stock in order to avoid finding themselves with a large stock of high priced machinery on hand should decline in price occur. This situation makes it exceedingly im- portant for farm owners to place, at the earliest possible moment their or ders so that they may have the ma chimes and repair parts in time for work this fall and next season.
 Numerous instances have already oc- cured where local dealers did not have the stock on hand and delays resulted in obtaining the much needed machines and parts. According to reports received