The Republican journal., 1918-07-18

cent progress of events has been to annex
70 farm life the very advantages of city
nc. Inc telephone not only connects
the iarm with the city but also with Other
FARMS. The automobile brings the farmer,
MS children and even his employees, as
near the attractions of the city as the
CITY jewellers are themselves. The aver
age farmer has now quicker and easier
access to his social affairs than the aver
age city inhabitant has to his
Wnether these improvements have en-
couIaged our farmers or not, they GER
fanny nave been doing an extra amount
ot much needed work in the last two
years.
In the spring of 1917 famine lowered
so near the European nations that it SEEM
ca mat civilization must die of starva-
lioh. Then there moved to the conflict,
quietly and without beating of drums,
steadfastly and with the will to win,
Americas matchless army of patriot
planters. One of our cornbelt farmers
says that not our own splendid navy, not
tne great army we are building up, not
yet the millions of men that our allies
nave poured into the trenches, not even
the grand fleet of Britain, keeping watch
and ward in its nameless coastal vast
nesses-not one nor all, are as thrill
ing to him as has been the illimitable sea
OF waving, whispering corn, and | wish
that every farmer would get that spirit
IN his particular sphere
The women on the farms began the
food conservation campaign with the food
crops increase campaign, and it received,
If possible, more enthusiastic support. In
practically every neighborhood, both
rural and urban, ill the United States,
canning operations were carried on and
millions of bushels of fruits and vegeta-
bles, that would ordinarily have gone to
waste, were made available for winter
food. But regardless of what has been
done, though we should be thankful that
there was good beginning, there must
be more production this year than ever
before, for the Importance to the nation
of generously adequate food supply can
not be over-emphasized. Many millions
of people across the seas, as well as our
own people, must rely in large part upon
the product of our fields. This situation
will continue to exist even though hos
tilities should end Unexpectedly soon,
since European production cannot be re-
stored Immediately to it's normal basis.
1t is obvious that the greatest and most
Important SERVICE CndC is required OF our
agriculture under existing conditions is
an enlarged production of the staple food
crops. The most effective step that may
be taken to increase the production of
these crops is to enlarge the acreage de-
voted to them in the regions where they
are grown and not in new regions where
good results are not assured.
1t is unnecessary to say that canning
and drying come next in Importance to
the producing.
There are thousands, however, who can
do neither farming on large scale or the
canning or drying, but a great majority of
these thousands can do back yard garden
ing. There are not many citizens so young
or old or feeble that they cannot plant a
small vegetable garden which will pro-
duce the common necessary vegetables. |!
Many farmers think ii beneath their dig
nifty to keep a kitchen garden. But side !
issues like garden, a few chickens, /
COWS, few pigs, and few colonies of
bees things that turn Mr.. Hoover's waste
and odds and ends of time into |
often make up the difference be-
tween profit and loss in the operation of |
a farm.
The time has come when farming, no
matter on how small scale, must be |
educated, efficient and scientific. And