The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-09-20
.F|VE-YEAR AVERAGE
IS GUIDE FOR WHEAT
L. =. Department of Agriculture Makes
Fall Farming Suggestions

/ Washington u G.. Sept ls.-More
wheat should be sown this fall than
was the average in pre-war years, but
not so much should be sown as was
I sown last year This Is the nutstand
: ing fall farming recommendation of
! the United States department Of agrt-
culture which is watching the chang
, es os world supply and demand while
European countries are getting back
! 70 normal in food production and thus
affecting the market for American
products. The departments sugges-
lions are based on the observations
OF specialists who were seut abroad
to report on foreign conditions and
probable needs. and on the most cx-
fensfve reports it has been possible TO
obtain from other sources in this coun-
Try gnd- other countries
As To winter wheat the dcpaFtm ent
suggests that a. eco 900 acres he sown
this fall to this crop, and that 10000
0oe acres be sowu in 1920 10 spring
wh cat. making a probable aggregate
production IN 1920 of $50. GOO. 600
bushels, of which 600 o00 coo bushels
would he available for export after
home reeds are met This rroduc- /
jlnn would Approximately equal the /
average yield OF wheat la the United /
States for the five years 1915 TO 1918 (
Inclusive The iiyc~year average is !
thought 70 ha 4 safe guide FOR Amer |
ica1 FARMERS
The suggested acreage for fail -sown /
wheat is approximately SIS per Ceht /
of the area sown in the fan of 1918 I,
ana is about the same as was sown /
ln the fall of 1917. The suggested |
area for spring wheat is approx |
u3a3sly SIS per cent OF the area sown I
in each II the last two years. The |
combined acreage Of winter and /
spring wheat suggested for 1920 TX IS I
per cent nf the acreage sow'n fer the !
isis crop, slightly more than the /
acreage sawn for the bumper crop IF /
1913 and about 4 per cent less than /
the area for the 1913 crop.
Winter Rye.
The pressure Of war demand for /
rye has ceased and Il does not seem /
probable that exports next year will |
greatly exceed 2S n0o, 900 bushels |
Consumption Of rye in this country
was stimulated by the war to about |
30, GOO 600 bushels II this rate OF
consumption is maintained, a crop Of
seventy five to eighty million bushels
would he necessary to provide 25,
total acreage Of $500, 600 to 5000
coo acres, In comparison with $500,
GOO acres sown Last fall.
Tn any consideration Of the prob
able foreign demand Tor American
wheat and rye based on pre- war con
sumption experience" says the de-
partment. "a greatly Increased trans
portation cost and the existing rondi-
tion of international exchange cannot
he diNre garded. = 1t seems clear
that II the foreign exchange situation
continues as II Is or becomes more
abnormal II will constitute a power
ful stimulus for some foreign coun-
tries 10 seek grain in countries other
than the United States, or to produce
it,"
| Dnirying.
| 1t is probable that several years will
! bc required for European countries 10
+ get back to their normal cattle popu-
| laton. In order to supply their needs
it Will be necessary Tor them TO i'm
port dairy products. and at the pres
ent time this cquutry' is supplying
y large quantities Last years exports
were SO large that about 1000, 000, 900
pounds of milk were required to make
the products. or L 90 pounds from each
cow in the United States, The depart
! ment expects thar exports will Dc
| crease and imports VIII increase with
the exception of condensed milk. 1t
recommends that duiryiuen give par
ttcular attention to economical feed
ing. through tho buying Of coucrp-
tFates in large lots or the cooperative
buying of feeds attention to pastures
that have been allowed Ia run down;
attention to the feeding needs OF their
cows by the use of Cow -teating assoc
Citations; and the best Use of labor aud
labor saving devices
Live stock.
What our foreign trade In meat and
meal. products will be in the future is
+ innp6ssi bic TO 'pfcdi6f with any degree
of accuracy. ewing To many factors
J which may affect it," the department
AaYs The exports will probably do
crease as compared with the past year
as the European countries increase
their production of live stock towards
me pre- war production"
Other factors affecting American ex
port trade are-rates of exchange. which
in many cases are decidedly uufaVor-
able TO those countries most in need O.
our meat and meat products, cam
Ia gas being Wagod In the European
countries for increased production ant
decreased consumption, prices of meats
and meat products in tina country al
compared with the prices in other coun
tries having meats fer export. avail
ahlr ocean tonnage for shipping from
other countries.
However. pork exports at Toast prob
ably will he greatly IN excess mex
wear Of the pre-wHr annual exports
The European countries probably viii
require two ysara "a get back to pre-
war pork production. and their pres
emf needs are. great
Pre-war production % poultry II
! most Eurorean countries the depart
nent saws. wiz soon be resumed. En-
phaSis in this country is placed or
mare efficient methods OF production
Watcher increased production shoult
: he undertaken must netessarjly de
, pend on local conditions as to feed
Ia hnr and nfhnr fact org