Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-22
BY II. H, SHELDON.

~ IlOndl congress O1 ASIlCOl-
NV tIlre meets at Prague, Czech
slovakia, from June 5 to 8,
the problems which it will
discuss will be vastly different from
those which were considered not many
years ago in the first conferences. In
fact, the changes which have taken
place in agriculture since this con-
gress first met have been more pro-
found than the changes made during
the previous century.
AS we approach the present, agricul-
ture Is undergoing netamorphosiS at an
ever increasing rate. One can say that
during the past is years the past 5
have held the greatest significance. and
Of the past 5, the past year has meant
more than all the others. Such Is the
pace of agricultural change.
When this congress first met the
problem of agriculture was to feed an
ever increasing world population with
an ever diminishing number of farm
workers. There was never a thought
In the minds of any one that the time
would come when 1t would not be pos
sible to sell all that the farms could
produce either at home or abroad. The
problem was to find land enough and
produce enough to meet the require
ments Of an ever increasing market.
The general program, announced by
the Department of Agriculture, indi-
Gates the extent to which the times
have changed. Broadly speaking, it
may be said to raise the question as to
how best to control production on a
world basis, and how to get the sur
plus manpower out Of the picture with
the minimum loss in readjuStment. IN
general, these two problems villa con-
Stitute the major part Of the discussion
that will be engaged in by the 90 agri-
cultural associations, which viii repre-
sent the 81 countries taking part in the
congress this year.
Undoubtedly the section Of the con-
greSS which will demand the greatest
amount of attention Is that on agrarian
policies and rural economy. Possibilities
of organizing production on a world
wide basis, so as to bring about eQui-
libr1um between supply and demand,
will be definitely discussed. One can
well imagine that direct discussion Of
this topic Is likely to bring forth much
heated debate. It is not likely that any
association present will feel that the
country which it represents should be
the one to curtail production.
Perhaps the most valuable part Of the
discussion which will take place before
this group will be that of the POSSIBLE
ity of forecasting agricultural prices by
research. Nothing win curtail produc-
ton like low prices, and If these could
be predicted in e manner which would
not defeat itself by reducing the pro-
duction below the expected market 1t
would be the greatest boon that could
be conferred upon agriculture today
Perhaps eventually we may agree upon
the number of acres each country shall
be allowed to plant, just as, by mu-
| tual agreement, we have limited the
| building Of navieS. This time may not
be far in the flndre, as should be APP
| parent to any oNe.
Eur Bearing Animals.
While not attacking this problem SC
directly the section on annual produc-
tion will also consider things closely
related to it.
One Of these problems viii be that Of
raising fur-bearing animals on the
farm. This industry. which IS rapidly
expanding In every country today, VII
give profitable employment to q vast
number Of men who would otherwise be
driven of the farm by the close COM
petition.
It is Just as natural q DEVELOPMENT a.
| farming itself. So long as man could
| find his fruit and vegetable necessities
| growing wild in the fields and woods IN
| sufficient quantities to meet all his
needs, there was no need for a science
Of agriculture. But just as that period
has long ago gone by, so. the time has
passed when wild life will meet all ouI
| fur needs. We are, at the same time
becoming more critical of furS and we
can oily be satisfied by the superior
quality of those which we cultivate. II
is possible that this industry may ex-
pand with sufficient rapidity to take UP
both the slack in man power and In
overSupply of land as well. 1t de-
serves the greatest attention and en-
couragement.
Agricultural Industries.
In a somewhat similar way to that
of the animal production section, the
section on agricultural industries VIII
attempt to solve the farmers problem.
This section will discuss the poSibilt-
ties Of the utilization of farm products
for purposes other than food. 1t will
discuss the farmer as a potential pro-
Queer of raw chemicals or as q manu-
facturer. The latter of these possibili-
ties holds the more interest.
In the past the farmer has been able
to utilize his time to good advantage
the year round. His Winter months
were utilized In cutting down trees anq
providing himself with the years fuel
The Spring of the year was made profit
able by the manufacture Of maple sirup
The gradual disappearance of trees on
the farms has resulted in q loss Of these
occupations and in their stead the
farmer has to pay for his fuel, while at
the same time he has time on his
hands for which there Is no market.
The necessity of looking after his
cattle during the Winter, while in gen.
eral minor chore, is sufficient to make
it uneconomical for him to leave the
farm during the Winter to seek factory
employment in the towns, even though
he could compete with the trained city
worker, which may be difficult. If he
could turn these Winter months into
even q small amount of cash the farm