The Benson signal., 1918-03-02

10 small extent the acreage Id
oats, if necessary, could be reduced in
the interest of wheat. Likewise, a
very small portion of the acreage
which normally would be planted to
corn in the northern part of the corn
belt might be sown to spring wheat.
If the acreage of spring wheat indi
Gated for some of the states cannot be
planted, the barley acreage, which is
known to grow better in some locali-
ties, might be increased. The use of
barley for food is increasing in this
country and it is a welcome food in
Europe.
Summary of Other Recommendations
Following is summary Of other i'm
portant recommendations regarding
cereals, meat, poultry, and perishables.
Hogs. The number of hogs should
be increased by at least Is per cent
during the year 1913.
Sugar. Effort should be made to
maintain the acreage of sugar cane and
sugar beets, and to increase these
areas in so far as these crops are we'll
established or are necessary to sound
agricultural practice.
Production of satisfactory substi-
tuteS for sugar, including sorghum,
corn and cane sirup, maple products
and honey can and should be in
creased.
Sorghum sirup, it is pointed out, may
be produced in nearly every state in
the Union, and increased production of
sorghum sweets would enable the pub
lie to conserve still further the sugar
supply in the form most available for
transportation to our soldiers.
Dairy Products. The supply of dairy
products should be maintained to meet
the needs of this country and to help
supply the increasing demands of the
allies.
Poultry. Poultry production should
be increased greatly, especially in back
yards and on farms where waste mate
rial is available and the purchase of
expensive grains and other material is
not required.
Corn. An acreage of corn approx
mately equal to that of 1917 should be
planted, with possible slight reductions
in certain sections to free areas for
spring wheat.
Oats, Barley, Rice, Buckwheat and
FIaxseed. The area in oats should be
maintained, especially in regions and
on soils which are not so we'll adapted
to other grains, but with small reduc-
ton to provide for increasing the
wheat acreage. Barley production
should be increased in regions where
it grows best, especially in the north
ern edge of the corn belt and in sec
tions north and west of the belt; and
rice, buckwheat and flaxseed produc-
ton should be maintained and, if pos
Sible, increased.
Grain Sorghums. The production of
grain sorghums (kafr, milo, feterita,
etc.) should be increased greatly
throughout the drier portion of the
Plains region. Kafirs are the most
certain grain crops in this section and
they can be made to supplement, wheat
as human food and to replace corn as
animal food.
Potatoes. The normal acreage of
Irish and sweet potatoes should be
maintained in 1918, Notwithstanding
the large crops in 1917.
Hay, Forage and Pastures. Wher-
ever feasible, the area devoted to hay,
forage and silage crops should be in
creased and these products should be
used to a greater extent in place of
grains and other concentrates.
Beef Animals. The number of beef
areas where it is clearly the best range
and farm practice, should be increased.
Beans, Peas and Peanuts. The pro-
ductiOn of beans and peas should be
increased in regions to which they are
adapted, because of their high food
value, keeping qualities, and available
ity for domestic or export trade. Soy
beans and peanuts should be increased
in order to supplement beans and peas
as human food, as a source Of much
needed oil, and as animal feeds.
PerishabIes. (a) Market gardens
near large consuming centers should
be increased so as to meet, as nearly
as possible, the needs of the communi-
ty, and in order to obviate the neces-
sity of transporting such products
from distant points.
1t is important to do all that is pos
sible to relieve the strain upon trans
portation facilities.
(b) The planting of home gardens,
especially for family needs and for
preserving food for future use, again
should be emphasized.
(c) The commercial production Of
perishables generally should be in
creased above normal wherever it is
reasonably clear that transportation
and marketing facilities will be avail
able.