Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1918-03-22
FOOD SHORTAGE.

ened food shortage is one of the mos:
important problems of the present
day, and it is our patriotic duty to
give it most thoughtful consideration.
The time was when the pen was
mightier than the sword, but today
the hoe is mightier than either.
This war is forcing changes in food
producing methods which would
hardly have come in twenty-five years
of peace. Estimates show there are
at present upward of 50,000,000 men
under arms. From 100000 to
100000 have been killed and an
other 100000 permanently disabled.
In round numbers 100000 men are
transferred from the productive to
the consuming class. Many Of them
came from the wheat fields of Can
ada, the sheep lands of Australia, and
the dairy farms of New Zealand The
farmers of South Africa, France,
Russia, England, Italy and Belgium
have been poured into the furnace of
war, and the United States has
within the past year withdrawn tens
Il. l.. 1Ja11l
tural pursuits to fight for the great
cause of democracy. All these nom
productive millions, together with
those who remain at home, must be
fed, and it is the patriotic duty of all
Of us to help produce the things most
essential and help win the war.
Statistics show that the six leading
markets have had approximately
2,500,000 head Of cattle more this year
than last. Drought in the southwest
has cut down cattle production to
point where the most favorable con-
ditions for the next five years will be
necessary to bring it back to a normal
condition. Severe winters in the
northwest have greatly reduced the
hay supply and left low feed re-
serve, as well as cutting heavily into
sheep flocks, and reducing the num-
Der of calves on the range.
The Rural New Yorker, March 16,
publishes an article on the damage
done by worthless dogs, which, if in
vesigated by the government, would
be productive of great benefit to the
American farmer. The claim is made
that there is a great source of wealth
for the farmer and of cheap meat and
wool for the nation, if it were not for
havoc created by the dogs which
should not be permitted to run at
large, either night or day. When the
world is short of food and we have
not a supply of wool for our mills is
it to much to ask that the lovers of
dogs should keep their pets at home? ?
We have laws by which dogs are
taxed and licensed, but that does not
protect the sheep. There are thou
sands of acres of land that can not be
cultivated which could be pastured by
innumberable flocks of sheep if it
were not for the vagrant dogs.
Another cause for danger of food
shortage this year is due to the fact
that least year the people were urged
to plant potatoes in every spare piece
of ground. In spite of high priced
seed, fertilizers, tools and labor, they
all planted big crops. In many cases
the planting was doomed to failure
before it was started. The soil was
unfit and the planters knew nothing
about the business. A good share of
those who planted big crops left dol
lars in the soil which could not be
taken out Some will not plant again.
But one failure should not discourage
them, nor prevent them from making
a second attempt, as the experience
of last year will greatly aid in bring
ing success to this summers efforts,
and the pleasure and profit derived
from a bountiful supply from your
own garden more than compensates
for the time and labor devoted to its
care.