Dickenson County herald. [volume] (Clintwood, Va.) 1939-195?, 1945-10-25
UNRRA Shipped $4,000
Tons Since Early Spring
BY l.. f. Stice,
Extension Marketing Expert.

! Omitted Nations Relief and Rehabili-
tation administration seeds are be-
ing reaped by European farmers
this fall, for despite early difficult
ties Of shipping it was possible to
send some seeds in time for the 1915
spring planting. A shipping program
has been drawn up to meet Europe's
! 1916 spring needs and an initial pro-
gram has been started in China.
From the multiplication of UNRRA
seeds will come seeds for the first
paintings in Jap-free soil.
The 1945 fall and winter seed ship
ping targets for Europe are mainly
wheat, rye, barley, oats, vetch and
alfalfa. Data from current shipping
reports indicate the amounts, vari-
cites and destinations of the seeds,
included with UNRRA cargoes now
going forward from the United
States and Canada.
For instance, on July 2 the Chief
Osceola left Baltimore for Constanza
with 10000 bags Of rye seed for
CZechoslovakia. The following day
the Aleksandar I cleared Montreal
with 934 bags Of alfalfa seed for
Yugoslavia, and the Tamara left st.
John, New Brunswick, for Piraeus,
Greece, with COS bags of alfalfa
seed. The Nicholas Labodie left
Houston, Texas, for Constanza, July
8, with 1920 bags of wheat seed
and 1855 bags of rye aboard to be
routed to Czechoslovakia along with
other UNRRA materials and sup
plies.
Europe Exported Seeds Before War.
In prewar times, Europe was not
only self-sufficient, but a producer
Of an exportable seed surplus. This
was true for cabbage, caulifower,
broccoli, red clover and many other
seeds although seed corn and peren-
NAL grasses were imported. But the
destruction of war forced constant
switches in the normal economy
upon the occupied countries. At the
end of hostilities such seeds as the
edible legumes-beans and peas,
most of the vegetables, wheat and
other cereal seeds were needed.
Many areas in Europe were also
short on grass seeds to rebuild
neglected pasture land, seeds to
grow animal feed and seeds for in
dustrial crops. Forage legumes. al
falfa, the clovers-red, alsike, and
white-and turnips for animal feed
Ing are called for. Seeds to grow
rape and hemp for oil, and fax for
fiber are also needed.
Shortly after UNRRA was formed
by the United Nations in November
Of 1943, these estimates were turned
over to the Standing Technical Com
mittee on Agriculture. The experts
of the committee, representing both
the invaded and the supplying ma
tons, used them as their starting
point for planning rehabilitation
through the importation and manage
ment of seed supply. AS later in
formation came to light the early
goals were modified. The time of
year when countries were liberated
also entered into UNRRA's calcula-
tons. Since the military is respon-
sible for the initial shipments, the
army would undertake to distribute
supplies in countries ready to plant
while military governments were in
charge.
Vegetables Given Priority.
In selecting seeds to be sent, the
committee gave first emphasis to
seeds that grew food for direct hui
man consumption Vegetable seeds
came first, then potatoes and ce-
real. Secondary consideration and
shipping space went to seed that
would produce forage crops for
! areas where the restoration of the
livestock feed supply is considered
urgent. The tonnages shipped and
distributed to date reflect this pri-
ority. Seeds dispatched for 1915
spring planting were largely beans
/ and peas from Canada and the Unit