Evening star., 1949-06-19
Agriculture
.Lags inSone
ERPNatiOnS
Industry Gets Priority
Over Farming in
Many Cases
By John w. kicoIson

hfLEJ q ftE Ht1dc ~ oLSf Wy
of agricultural conditions in
countries recetping American
dtd.J
The nations Of Western Europe
appear to have slipped a cog" in
their calculations as to what
should be given precedence in de-
veloping their overall economy.
In many of the countries receiv-
ing aid from the United States,
industrial development has out
stripped agriculture. Agricultural
production has Jagged to a fearful
degree.
In various quarters figures have
been cited recently to show the
progress made in different Euro
pean countries in major industrial
production. Very little informa-
ton has been forthcoming as to
developments in agriculture, de-
spite the obvious fact that people
must eat in order to work. and
that Europe's food supplies are
basically dependent on importa-
tions from the Western Hemi-
sphere.
Too much is taken for granted.
Too little thought is given to what
might happen should the normal
flow of food supplies from the
United States be interrupted.
A bad crop year in this country
would be tragic for the ERP coun-
tries now receiving our aid.
Industry Must Wait
It should not require much in
sistance to demonstrate that the
paramount requirement is to see
Europe equipped with the neces-
sary facilities for providing from
within herself as much food as
possible, or at least to have laid
the foundations for very positive
contributions toward self-sustain-
ment, particularly In respect OF
food-grains. In some OF the ERP
countries notable progress toward
this end has been made. par
ticularly In Italy and in the
Benelux countries. But by and
large European agricultural pro-
duction has Jagged woefully.
No country in the world has
ever been able to develop It's in
dustrialization faster than its
agricultural production.
It appears that the European
countries generally, who obviously
had to be their own arbiters as to
what their primary needs were.
started out with a mistaken con-
cept for their economic come
back. Or it may be that the eco
nomic Judgment Of their states
men was outweighed by national
istic ambitions to compete with
their neighbors for exports OF in
dustrial products.
Another factor that led to the
neglect of their agricultural pro-
grams undoubtedly was that the
appeals of their agrarian popula-
tions, comparatively less aggres-
sive because unorganized. were
drowned out by the more vocal de-
mands OF the well-organized in
dustrial centers.
Still Behind Times
The human initiative hasn't
been strong enough to overcome
the obsolescence of old-fashioned
methods of doings things.
Another reason for backward
agriculture is that while there are
numerous farm experiment sta
tions fostered by European gov
ernments, there exists no mech
anism comparable to our Exten-
sion Service for conveying the
results of scientific experimental
ton down the line to individual
farmers.
One of the great factors in
Europe's agricultural limitations
is space. The urban centers every
where are growing faster than
the rural communities, and as in
most other places in the world,
the people constantly are gravi-
tating toward the cities, towns
and villages where the attractions
of convenient recreation and en-
tertainment threaten to reduce
more and more the number Of
workers available for the farms.
The value of land space is indi-
Gated by the manner IN which all
the small farms are cultivated
UP to the very last inch Of boun-
dairy on every side.
It is certain, however. that the
acreage that is available for culti-
vation can be made to produce
far bigger and better crops-and
consequently more food-than at
present, and more and better food
than has ever been produced in
the past.
Here is O simple illustration.
In 1867 the plant-breeders and
growers included in the United
Hybrid Growers Association.
shipped samples Of hybrid seed
corn to Italy for planting on the
Pc Valley experiment stations.
The average production of corn
In the countries where they grow
1t, either for food or for livestock,
had never produced 80 to 40
bushels per acre. The hybrid seed
corn produced in 1947 as high as
ia bushels per acre. Last year
the yields were still higher, where
adaptable hybrid seed was used.
Corn Tests Made
The experiments in Italy were
carried out by technicians and
field labor new to the undertaking.
The shortage Of fertilizers dis
couraged any liberal use Of arti-
ficial plant-food. Hence 1t seems
conservative to say that their best
results are likely to be ahead Of
them.
It can be expected that the
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