The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1919-12-26
Wa. Completely Upset Normal
Agricultural Procedure and
Left Necessity For Radical
REIMBURSEMENT.

oAS PASSSnS AoI Solutlon. But like
most men, you have probably thought
OF them as tremendously big prob
lens that had to be solved, nationally
and internationally, by statesmen
and diplomats and high executives.
They are that-but not just that.
Every man-certainly every farmer
has reconstruction problem all
his own.
The war unbalanced the agricul-
ture of the United States by unbal-
ancing the agriculture of individual
farms. There had to be produced the
kind of food that could be transported
overseas. Wheat is prominently that
kind of food, and other grain crops
are to an extent such. Very many
farms, therefore, got too heavy on the
side of titled and cereal crops and too
light on the side of hay crops and pas
ture. Many farmers increased their
titled and cereal crops beyond what
they had any basis of experience in
carrying. Labor requirements were
interfered with. To the extent that
the wheat acreage was increased, the
climatic hazard was increased, because
under the extensive farming practice
that characterizcs American agricul-
ture, wheat is a crop that is very SEN
sitive to climatic uncertainty. Such
a practice long continued was likely
to result, therefore, not in increased
food production at all, but in actual
ly reduced food production. In the
long run, that would be the inevitable
result. Even, if by some miracle, the
hazard of weather could be escaped,
the practice would reduce soil fertility
until yields would be greatly cut
down. But, before that even, meat
production would be harnifully re-
duced For it as true physically as
spiritually that man does not live by
bread alone. Very largely, he lives
by meat. And meat anima1s-and
milk animals-do not grow on grain
alone. Most largely, they grow and
produce on green grass and dry grass
pasture and hay.
Return to Sound Farming.
Those are some of the reasons why
z the United States Department of
Agriculture began urging, almost i'm
mediately after the signing of the
armistice and continuously since, a
return to sound agriculture practice
returning to pasture and hay lots,
to clover and other fertilizer fixing
crops, some of the land that had been
used for grain during the war emer-
gency, The suggestion has been criti-
cized from some quarters, because in
some quarters it has been fhisunder-
stood.
Specifically, the department recon-
mended that it was not advisable to
undertake to maintain the wheat
acreage sown for the crop of 1919.
That did not imply that the depart
ment urged a smaller food produc-
ton in the country 1t did mean that
the department was urging an in
crease in the food production of the
country by steadying agriculture, by
reducing the hazards that necessarily
play into the hands of spectators.
by returning agriculture to peace
basis that would insure adequate pro-
duction of all kinds of food for this
year and for other years. And that
meant restoring pastures, restoring
hay fields, insuring feed for the meat
animals upon which the tables OF the
nation depend.
This return to sound agricultural
practice Is important to the farmer,
certainly. But II is not more import
ant TO the farmer than II is to the city
man. II has to do just as much with
reducing the cost of iivingH. S.aoe 5
reducing the high cost Of living as
with reducing the high labor require
ments and the fertility-drasnins
practice of farming
Wheat, officials of the department
of agriculture point out, does not key
the cost of living. 1t is merely one
of number Of coordinate elements.
Zone honest John Tcmpkins, a
hedger and a ditcher." that perfectly
contented man whose praises are sung
In the old verse, had habit of saying,
"If can get my meat, can surely
get bread" Maybe his reasoning was
faulty. But It was not a bit more
faulty than that of some business
and industrial leaders who say by in
ference, "If we can get bread, we can