Republican farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1810-1920, 1918-02-22

of the planting and production &C
tivities in 1917. 1t furnishes ground
for encoura cement that the farmers
of the Nation can again overcome
difficulties and produce a large supply
Of foods and foodstufs this year, but
it does not afford justification for any
let-up in production activities or in
conservation efforts.
The production of food crops and
of animals and animal products is
always a matter of great interest to
all the people of the Nation. At this
particular time, it is of especial in
terest and concern. Statistics regard
ing the acreages and yields of import
ant food crops planted during the
year 1911 have been available in the
Department of Agriculture for some
time and have been made public. The
recent report of the Bureau of CroI
Estimates on the number of live stock
on farms and ranges, however, makes
it possible now to exhibit a summary
of the principal results of the farmers
operations for the year.
Naturally, when the Nation entered
the war on April 6, 1917, there was
much confusion and app ehension as
to the possibility of increasing or even
of maintaining agricultural produc-
ton. There was special concern as to
the sufficiency of the supply CT labor
that would be available for farming
operations and much apprehension
was manifested over the diturbance
of the supply as the result of indus
4r;o h. 1V-of
volunteering of men for service in the
Army and Navy. AS a matter Of fact
there was no little disturbance and in
some sections the situation was es-
piccially acute. There were other
difficulties confronting the farmers
including those of securing fertilizer
and machinery in sufficient quantities
at a reasonable cost.
notwithstanding all the difficulties
however, the farmers patrioticallJ
responding to the appeals to them and
influenced by the prevailing prices
labored energetically to met the need.
of this Nation for food and also those
of the friendly nations in Europe
They planted the largest acreages il
the history of the country, produced
and harvested record crops of mos
products except wheat, and succeeded
in increasing the number of live stock
including not only work animals, bu
meat and. milk animals.
The achievements of the farmer
and live stock r1en furnish Cause fol
congratulation and announcement
but not for complacency or for an!
let up this year in efforts to better
lhe record and to conserve food. Tht
necessity of again securing larg'
yields from the farms and rancho
this year has been strikingly empha
sized by the President in his messag
&c the farmers of the country and
steadily being pointed out by the DE
partment of Agriculture and othe
agencies through various channels, in
Guiding especially the extensive farr
demonstration activities of the de
partment and State agricultural col
leges. Specific suggestions are no1
under consideration for the sprin
campaign AMI will be made public i
the near future. 1t is clear that
will be economically wise and advar
tageous for the farmers of the Natio
to put forth their best efforts durin
the coming season to equal and,
possible, to exceed, their record of las
year. In spite of the large productio
in many directions during 1917, til
situation is not satisfactory. The SUI
ply of wheat in this Nation and tn
world is inadequate. Owing to shol
crops in preceding years, the reserve
of a number of important commod1tit
have hnnr ra6J1Nnd WhofIe
the war continues or not, the deman
on this country, because of the il
creasing population and of the neet
of Europe, will be great. They wi
continue to be great for a consider;
BILE period even after peace return
There will be an especially strong d
mand made on this country for mea
and live stock.
The record of farmers last yea
made in the face of obstacles,
ground for confidence on their pa
that. with equal application and o
ganization, they can overcome Il
difficulties of last year. Unquestion
bly, there will be difficulties to su
mount-difficulties in respect to lab
and in respect to fertilizers, both as
price and quantity. Prices of farm m
chinery also, with other things, ha
risen. In some. respects, the far
labor situation may not be quite
difficult as last year, although it W
continue to be especially acute
certain sections of the country. T
cantonments have been built and the
will not be renewal of urgent !
mands in many sections for labor f
xunrE Tho dro LOT T,T
vide for the deferred classification
skilled farm labor. The Secretary
War has asked Congress for power
furlough soldiers of the National Arr
for agricultural service if necessa
Bearing these matters in mind,
SENS likely that the farmers. by
ercising their talent for co-operati
and organization, with such assistar
as can be furnished by government
and other agencies, will again be al
to overcome the difficulties. The I
partment of Agriculture and Lat
are continuing to develop their
ganizations to assist farmers in
curing the labor needed in their op
atoms. They are especially plann
to assist in the transfer of labor fir
community to community and fir
State to State.
Acreage of Leading Food Crops
The farmers of the Nation plan
during 1917. an acreage of 246, q
600 of the leading food crops Twin
wheat, spring wheat, corn, oats, b
Icy, rye, buckwheat, rice, Irish pc
' toes, and sweet potatoes), which '
20 G3S, 900 acres (ten perCent) gre
er than the acreage in 1915, and
$4,000 tfiften per cent? gree
than the average for the five We
preceding the outbreak of the
roman war