The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1946-07-16
HUNGER FIGHTERS
BATTLE OLD FOE
..-
BY SHERRY BOWEN
APP NewsfeatureS Writer

WAlG 1olllAAkC oAG ASPSAsANS
old, old story.
Grain was the basis for human
existence dates back some 10000
years, when Neolithic man, ply
ing some forgotten river in a
dugout canoe, may nave organ
lied the first famine relief. Grain
was new then and man was just
beginning to learn how to settle
down and give over his restless
wandering in search of wild
game and wild food plants.
Only grain and agriculture
made this possible. But Neoli-
the stone scikles, dug up in
many areas of the world tell
how the primitive farmers
spread their culture around the
globe.
There were several kinds of
grain - millet, barley, rice,
wheat and, in the western hem
isphere, corn. Cultures rose or
fen on their ability to grow these
grains. People lived or died as
their crops flourished or wither-
ed. Since Paleolithic times grain
has been literally the basis for
human life. Many people had and
sfili have little else.
Wheat formed the basis for the
first major organizations which
We Of today might recognize as
civilization. Some 1000 years ago
Egypt and Sumner at the eastern
end Of the Mediterranean grew
their grain on irrigated land. r.
rsnated agriculture requires that
men work together or not live
These peoples, learning that one
mans failure to tend his bitches
can menace a whole community
formed the nations which are
the direct ancestors of our own
cullure.
In Egypt wheat has been founc
la the ancient tombs and ancient
drawings of agricultural scenes
fran the same source show the
Importance attached to grain anc
TIE bread which was made from
a.
Grain ships from Egypt were
one source of the bread which
with eifeuses. was vital in Ro
man affairs. Some authorities
anNaeai that blights and insec
pests Ia southern countries by
lheiF destruction of crops ma.
have contributed to dark ages
New varieties of wheat tina
conid grow in more northerly
cilulates where the pests, coulC
not reach may have been the
basls Tor the northward move
meni Of civilization, Rome may
have failed TO conquer and hole
ms northern barbarians because
Roman varieties of wheat woulc
at grow that far north. And hel
tAifbrx % eivilize the north may
hese contributed to the depth Of
the dark ages. This is suppose
tlon. Of course, but suggestive
when the world faces a new grain
crisis.
Bread, give us breadI" is {
cry that pounds like a drum beat
through history. Comparatively
modern times are no exception
The French revolution was slim.
uiated powerfully by lack Of
bread.
La the middle of the eighteenth
century Nautilus observed the
misery and poverty of the PEG.
pie IN Europe and laid down his
principles asserting the misery
vas inevitable. When enough re.
sources 10 prevent want were de-
veioped. then human populations
would increase until hardship
among the Flower orders" agar
raised the death rate high enough
10 prevent further increases, he
declared.
Ills ideas largely were forgot
ten CO scofned for several gen
erati0ns when grain from the
fields Of the New World flowed
into the markets. The demand
fof grain, mostly wheat, con.
tTibuted in a large measure tt
conquest of the west and the
hullding of America.
Now. in a world which ha,
approximately doubled its hu
man population in 100 years
modern scientists are recalling
what Nautilus said and wonder
ms how accurate his observa
tons were.
With a world population still
growing rapidly despite war dis
Faptions and with no New Worle
81 pour new grain into the mar.
kets. there is speculation as tt
how long world grains can feee
increasing numbers of world PEG.
pies. even after present disrup
tons have been adjusted and al