Evening star., 1924-10-29
In TODAY'S SPOTLIGHT
BY PAUL Y. COLLINS.

the farmers in planning their crors
or their stock breeding. The farmers
| needed to know the world conditions
before they decided what crops to
SOW or what line of stock TO breed
Hence he established systems to pro-
cure from consuls and other sources
throughout the world such informa-
tion as to crop and supply conditions
six months ahead of harvest, or meat
conditions year in advance. These
data were sent broadcast over the
land in time to be OF real aid to
farmers and breeders All lines Of
farm economics have been carefully
studied. Stress has been laid upon
sane cooperation and a recognition
of the interdependence of agriculture
with other enterprises.
In addition to the Yields of crops
already known in the United States
the department has added to their
number and variety and has enabled
America to produce many crops in
competition with their native lands
For example, rice has become an i'm
portant crop, especially in Louisiana
where it occupies 600, 900 acres. At
first the cheap labor of China was
cited as absolutely forbidding the
production of rice in America, yet the
American crop now exceeds in farm
value 100000, 900 a year BY reason
of our machinery and methods of ir-
rigating, one American is equivalent
to 800 Cinnamon in rice culture W.
now raise rice more cheaply than can
the Chinese.
Sudan grass for forage. introduced
from Africa. is worth millions an
a
brought from Russia, now covers
thousands of acres in the Northwest.
where the climate is too dry for
other wheatS
The seven-year average yield nf
corn for the period ending in 1914
was per cent greater than for that
ending in 1885.
Potatoes in Wisconsin show an in
crease of 2S per cent per acre other
Increases are equally encouraging
Within the last three years the
department has demonstrated tf.ar
llght-the length of daylight-not
temperature. accounts for the migra-
ton of birds from North to South
and in the blooming and fruiting ,f
plants. This enables gardeners to
produce fruit or flowers at any time
of year. by regulating the hours Of
light.
now numbers 10000. of which 1000
are employed in Washington. 1t is
by far the greatest agricultural or
Sanization in the world. and is the
leader in agricultural science and
practical farm methods. While yield
per acre is greater in some countries
than in the United States, that is dac
only to the greater labor. Nowhere is
the yield. per man, compare bic to
-T
4 * x :;
What are the problems of the i'm
mediate future which confront tho
department? According to a scientist
who has been connected with the
department for 40 years-at one time
as Assistant Secretary-the chief thing
is to convince the farmers that
legislation will not overcome their
difficulties. but that they must work
out their own salvation, by better
farming, and particularly by better
cooperation in mark citing, with
recognition of the interdependence of
agriculture with other interests and
groups.
department symposium of farmers
own ideas of what ails agriculture
brought answers as follows:
Forty-seven per cent attributed
theiI lToupieS 10 low prices on farm
products.
Seventeen per cent blamed high
cost of farm labor.
Eleven per cent claimed high freights.
Ten per cent blamed high rates of
interest
Ten per cent blamed their own
reckless expenditures during the war
imitation of prices--expenditures for
farm machinery and land. especial y.
Five per cent blamed the trouble
on FOO much credit, enticinK the
farmers 10 30 Into unnecessary dVttr
Apparently few farmers coin, de,
with some OF their political lead
that what they need is more ieWisis
tion, since all Of the above causes -
their distress are clearly ee@h"Fnir ~
be met economically, rather th@a
ieNtsiMttvsiy.
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