Evening star., 1920-03-21
By LEONARD ORMEROD.

- HORTAGE of farm labor and the
assumption that prices of farm
products will drop materially
- within the next year will re-
duce to some extent the acreage Of
food crops put in during the spring
of 1920, but it is the belief of Secre-
tary E. T. Meredith of the Depart
ment of Agriculture that these in
iuences will not be felt enough to
affect seriously the food supply Of
the United States
The Secretary bases this belief on
Information gathered by the bureau
of crop estimates which is in touch
with every agricultural community
in the forty-eight states, The ques-
tion facing the agricultural world Is
not whether there will be a labor
shortage, but rather how serious that
shortage will be. Yet. in spite OF
some misgivings. the farmer is not
staying his hand as he plants and
sows for next falls harvest.
Labor Is First Consideration.
Labor is the first thing the farmer
considers when he faces the question
of how much land he will cultivate
during 1920" said Mr.. Meredith. THE
second is the general assumption that
prices of farm products will be re-
duced materially within the next six
months or the next year. These two
things operate to make him conserva-
tive. as any business man would be in
his position, but the indications are
that the decreased acreage this year
will be a decrease from stimulated
wartime production rather than
decrease from the normal acreage.
1T should be remembered that
while the farmer is looked to as one
who will help to bring down prices.
he is compelled to pay the prevailing
high rates to get his crops started.
The machinery he buys this spring.
his farm animals. his living expenses
precedented prices. If. after meeting
these expenses. his product next fall
or next winter is sold at the same
rate that prevailed in normal times
he stands to lose on the years opera
tions.
1.-THE farmer, however, is not taking
. pessimistic view of the future.
NtuOuSH IL UC SdA0 bhdI iiC 10 oC-
ing conservative. We do not fear
that he is going to quit farming and
let the world starve. primarily be-
cause farming is his business. His
capital is invested in his farm, his
source of income is his farm. and he
will continue to grow corn and wheat
and raise cattle and hogs so long as
No Concerted Action.
''It may quiet some of the fears
that have been expressed to say that
in no instance have the farmers TAX
en- concerted action with view of
restricting crop acreage or otherwise
curtailing the food supply of the ma
tion or the world. They have organ
lied and are organizing for their mu-
tual benefit. They are discussing
problems of growing and marketing.
But these activities are directed to-
ward a more abundant food supply
and less waste and friction between
the grower and the consumer. and are
to be encouraged rather than regarded
with distrust."
With the United States and her al
lies dependent on the American farm
er for the greater part of their food
supply. SO that the war against the
central powers might be brought to
a successful conclusion. the normal
crop acreage of this country was in
creased by 100000 acres. which was
more than the titled area of many
European nations. Yet this was done
with less than the normal number of
farm workers. the Army. the Navy
and the war industries having taken
many of the younger men from the
plow and the planter.
The increased production was pos