The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-05-03

ANCW iOlh NlGy N.--tppGCldlsJ J-I OS- sibly there may come reports from the southern states which will offset the rather unfavorabla estimate made by the department ,f agriculture of cur winter wheat weld. Last year the south. with an unexpectedly large wheat production. did save the situa- tion making good the considerable falling off in wheat prediction in the northwest. That falling off was dus to climatic conditions which so far this year have not given the farm srs of the northwes, anxiety There came d few days ago from Minneapo- lis a report that was almost off cial which showed that the wheat farmers of the northwest are curtail- ing their acreage. This is partly dua to lack of labor. partly to apprefen- sion that the price of wheat will not be high enough to justify the raising Of large crop.
 It is probable that the report of the department of agriculture which was made in April that the winter wheat yeild will show a falling off of 2IS,- COG, 900 bushels in comparison of the wirte wheat Rield of last year. is based upon the reduction of acreage planted to wheat. O,i the other hand, it may be that while the number of acres is smaller than was the case year ago, the quality of the wheat will be excellent. While the early spring reports of the department of agriculture that tell of the promise
 of the harvest of Course occasions
 some apprehension. nevertheless ex- perience has shown that these early reports are not to oe absolutely re-
 lied upon. It has sometimes happened that unfavorable early spring reports lave been in error and that as the harvest time approaches the govern ment sends out more promising re- ports which are justified later by the event
 Some of the experts fear that thAA alarming report of the falling off Tn wheat and rye acreage will be fol- lowed by serious food shortage. There will, however, be no real shortage of fooG unless the climate during the
 remainder of the spring and the sum mer should be very unfavorable. We cannot tell now what the spring seed ed wheat will yield In the harvest
 In any event. the shortage of wheat will probably make it necessary to turn to the reserve supplies of wheat if we are to have any considera ble the high prices for flour and other foodstuffs will follow an unfavorable harvest. The farmers do not look with dismay upon this curtailment of acre. age because they are persuaded that
 they will receive a larger amount for their wheat if the harvest be not a record breaking one.
 FARMERS AND PROSPERITY It is not curtailmert in the acreage of wheat and of rye that causes the most serious problen, in our agricul- tural activities. but instead it is the general agricultural situation The farmers of the United States who have been as class prosperous since the European war began. are now some what anxious. They regard the agri- cultural situation as serious Many of them say they arg obliged to limit production, cutvatine only as much as they are able to handle themselves. There Is authority for saving that there are 1T per cent less hired men on the farms of New York this year than was the case last year and there is 24.000 less rural population than was reported authoritativelv in 1919 MT E. F. Eastman who is the editor
 Of the Dairymen's League News re- port. recently called attention to the serious agricultural situation, ex- blaming some of the reasons why the somewhat alarming outlook now confronts the farmers He says that the farmers are themselves compelled to work from two 10 15 hours a day while their hands receive not less than 1 s5 and in some cases s15 to s20 a day. nor being willing 10 work more than eight hours and many cases not more than six There seems to be a dis position among the farmers 10 aban- don that vocation and seek something else.
 MT. Eastman says that it is obvious that these conditions cannot long con- tinue without causing great short age of food products This situation
 in his view is Of far more importance than the curtailment of the acreage dey oted to wheat witch has justified
 the government authorities in report
 ing that there will .a shortage of winter wheat as compAred with last year. of oAs 100 .OnO hushels
 DIFFERENT POINTS OF VIEW
 One British salesman tells his coun- trymen that England is afflicted with
 financial dementia another British statesman speaking officially, for he is chancellor of the exchequer. tells par liament that England is slowly, but surely recovering and that her reve- nues are beginning to exceed her ex-
 penses It is therefore no wonder that American bankers are somewhat pug zied because thev are unable to get good understanding of the actual fi-
 nan ncial condition in Great Britain
 Nevertheless. inquiry shows that the majority opinion among our interna-
 tional bankers strongly supports the chancellor of the exchenuer. Austin Cha m berlain. who has recently said that Great Britain recovering and
 will soon stand upon firm financial feet.
 Perhaps this view of our American