The record., 1918-02-28
ALL. AROUND
THE FARM -
INCREASE FOOD CROPS.
War Demands and Food Shortage
Should 30 Met by American Farmers

SuCGiO NIGC Wy INiHSi 'SeAti "a
-. T. Houston. secretary of agricul
tuT2. in 81 re, cnt statement said in part.
II is OhyihGS that the greatest and
rlSS: important service tliat is required
Cf C:ir agriculture under existing con
C.tioHS is an enlarged production OF
TIE staple food crOpH. Because o. the
shortage cf SiIch crops practically
thgoC%hout the world there is no risk
In the near future OF excessive prcddc-
ton S.;cI rs sometimes has resulted in
Enrrmuncrativc prices to producers.
This is particularly trIe of the
cereals ard of peas. beans, cOWpeaS.
SOY beans and buckwheat. III view Of
the world 81 arcity of food there is
hardly il possibility that the production
Cf tLCSr crops by the farmers Oi the
T,!itCd States r:lI lie too great this
year and there is abundant reason TO
exir"ct generous lrica returns for all
avai;al,le Surplus.
The most effective Ste,' thai may b..
taken to increase the prOIUcticn Of
these crop; is TO enlarge the acreaG &c
devoted IL thcln in the regions where
they are crown haijituaEIy. This cx.
IarsiCn Of acreage should be to the
limit permitted by available good seed
labor and equipment.
Good Seed Wheat Necessary.
The mini!n;.m quality OF seed grain
that should be relied u.on under exist.
i;IC CuiIiitinlS is Il very difficult point
10 decide. In general it l.; not wise to
risk PAN !iu,E seed wheat SHOW ;ng less
tian a Or t,3 per ce1t Serininariol nor
that weighing less than fifty pounds 10
the bu$Acl. Ii the laud is prepared
thoroughly and otherwise is suitable
the Use of slring wheat weighing Gs
low as forty-five pounds per blshel,
if it shows good Sernination. may be
advisable Where better seed is lacking
Tho CeefuIncsa cf Oats and BARLEY.
If land intended for spring wheat
caluOt lc Tut into good condifin!! ear.
" enough for seeding, oats or barley
can bc substituted to GOOD advantage
in tie sections where t3cSe crops are
known To do we'll. Ea1rey can be re
He'd On III the prov cd S,re3S of Wis,
cOusin, Minnesota. Iowa. the Dakota.
and Montana. while oats ;:ave Il much
wii.cr range. The case with which
harley nlaT be substituted directly for
.yheat in human food anu its useful
..css to replace wheat milling byprod-
uc!S as fo3d i'll the prediction of the
mix supply renders its aDGndant pro,
duction important. Bur:cy where IL
succeeds yields a larger weight CT feed
Ter acre than any other small grain
.::up. With an abundance OF oats and
barley available much closer milling
OF wheat than at present could be
prscticed. it necessary, without e1dan'
ger.ing tho milk supply, wh.eh consri.
tutcS ST. important III element i'll the
dietary Of consumers.
aucl<whea+ For Late Planting.
BuckWheat may be planted later thar
Icy similar crop and often does vel
On 2;I meadows or waste land that
can be broken after the more eEacting
crops are planted. In some sections
wne"e experience has demonstrated
that the cereals. except rye. cannot
be relied on, buc1wheat Is q crop OF
considerable Importance. The acreage
: gould well he Increased, especially In
portions CT New York, Pennsy'iTanid
and New England. whore the crop now
is grown to q considerable extent.
Expand the Corn Acreage.
Corn is the leading feed ana tex
crop cf the United States in aeoeraDh
&. range Of production, acreage an6
>x4utity Of product. The vital impor
tan&e Of Q large acreage Of this croI
r,rCDeI'}y cared for. therefore. is cbvi
GUS Because cf the prices obtained
FOR tie last crop and the world denant
for this grain its profitablencss to tn.
American farmer during the approach
Ing scasCn is clear. Conditions nov
warrant the planting of the larGcs
acreage of this crop which it is posi-
shle to handle effectively.
Although fall is the proper time TO
t,ScaEfDg sod for corn, there are man,
tss,pend4etive and focl meadows ak
Indifferent pastures III Illinois. Indiana
Ohio and taa middle Atlantic ant
northeastern STATES that under eXistin
EaINilER)IlS Cttf5 t)Sc tjSSJLSSll A-Of ~ CIV
vantage and planted 50 fsFn. The r.
ga.tfog reduction of hay aiG pastur
would be more than replaced :sy t5
corn stover. ensilage and grain pr
lluced.
Potatoes and Vegetables.
Strd .,:tatOes should be con@erveI
ay ,liantiug cn the best lands avai'abl
for them and planning for thorough
tillage and protection OF the crol
tgaii,st disease aild inscct pests. IOta
soes can be grown lnOSt advantageous:
qy naar fhe c2nters OF population il
aIle northern states. where tran@p"rta
stsn cost 14ay be reduced to a mini
rrsas. This crop is capable of Gu:cI
and far@e Increase Of production Wac
conditions are favorable.
The dufg Of tie iuGivi;iGa5 farmer a
this time is 10 increase his production
rartiC-larIy Of food crops. II lie IN
control of tillablc land not ia Use 0
lSzoq,ey lying idle or labor Ilnciap!OEe'
he should extend his operations 20 Il
10 employ these resources to the fnllc5
extent. Tf.is does not mean that Ii
SLoClQ ROD LIS iHEa. NastH HIS td.lia
or expend his labor fruitleSsy. but th;,
Iby wise planning and earnest effort h
eEnli!I turn out greater quantity c
Go.d crops than ever before. He vii
siot dose by +, and lie will rerf"lro al
Ss1p3TtaAt acrvicc IN supporting II
reYntry ia ci3a taSl; that l:as before !.
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