THE CAROL OF LIBERTY-CLAN WALTER S. GREENOUGH, in The Indianapolis News Soldier of Somewhere-hail to you, man! Soldier of Somewhere-hail to you, man! Soldier of Somewhere-hail to you, man! FOOD PRODUCTION GEORGE I. CHRISTIE, PURDUE UNIVERSITY The United States occupies the most important agricultural position among the countries of the world to-day. Our country produces three-fourths of the world's corn crop, one-fifth of the wheat, one-eighth of the barley, one-fourth of the oats, one-fifteenth of the rye, one-sixteenth of the potatoes, three-fifths of the cotton, one-fourth of the hop, and one-tenth of the sugar. The United States ranks first in the production of corn, wheat, oats, cotton, tobacco and hops; second for barley and flax, fourth for sugar, and fifth for rye and potatoes. Since the beginning of the European war the United States has exported large quantities of foodstuffs, with the result that the country is now confronted with a food shortage. The United States in 1915 produced ten bushels of wheat per capita; in 1916 six bushels per capita. Furthermore, in 1916 two and one-half bushels per capita were exported. This means then that the country has drawn heavily on the reserve supply of wheat with the result that the surplus of the world has been reduced to a point lower than that of many years. The Argentine crop was practically a failure. The British government has taken an option on all surplus of the 1917 crop of Canada. The Australian crop is far too remote to affect the situation. This nation requires about six hundred million bushels of wheat for its own use. The 1917 wheat crop is estimated at six hundred and fifty million bushels. Therefore, this country will have little food to give to other nations unless something is done in a very effective way. Our country made three pledges to the Allies at the declaration of war. The first was to supply money. Congress came together immediately and passed an appropriation of seven billion dollars, perhaps the largest single appropriation ever made in any country in the world. The second pledge was to furnish men to help fight the cause, and Congress passed the selective conscription act, providing for one of the largest armies of the world. The pledge for men and money was made good. The other pledge was to supply food. But there is some question on this point. Figuring our exports and imports side by side, we consumed in 1916, ninety-nine per cent. of all the foodstuffs produced. Obviously the food problem is a serious one. In 1914 when the war opened Germany had twenty-five million hogs on her farms. Thinking the war of short duration she began slaughtering her live stock and in 1915 the number was reduced to sixteen million; in 1916 to twelve million. Now they are attempting to turn the tide, and this year they have on the farms close to fifteen million head. The German nation after forty years of military training is having her eyes opened to the fact that she stands or falls not through her military machine, but through her agriculture. Agriculture stands back of victory. This conflict is not for a couple of months, but there is every reason to believe it is going to last from two to three years. All plans being made in Washington contemplate a five-year conflict. But should the war stop to-morrow the United States and the countries across the water would have to be fed. Consequently this country must furnish a large supply of food. The food situation, therefore, should be planned on the basis of from three to five years. With over four million men prisoners, over fifteen million men incapacitated, combined with the number under arms, one can readily understand that the producing power of the soils of Germany, England, France and Belgium, because of the removal of these forces and the destruction of the soil, has been depreciated. It will be years and years before they can overcome this handicap. In view of this fact the agriculture of America has a wonderful part to play in the world for years to come. In order not to decrease the production the United States must profit by the experiences of the Allies and not draw too heavily on the farm labor supply. In Canada they have enlisted four hundred thousand young men. Two out of every three have come off the farms, with the result that a terrific drain has been made on the man power of the farms, which has further resulted in making a material decrease in her agricultural production. President Wilson has said: "Upon the farms of this country, therefore, in a large measure, rests the fate of the war and the fate of the nations. May the nation not count upon them to omit no step that will increase the production of their land or that will bring about the most effectual cooperation in the sale and distribution of their products." The present situation can be met only by every man, woman and child doing his or her best. The farmer, of course, will cultivate the larger acreage and will be called upon to supply the surplus. On the other hand, every family in the city and country can produce in back-yard gardens and vacant lots a large amount of foodstuffs for home use and thus allow a larger share of the farm products to be used for army purposes and the starving nations of Europe. Each man should grow the crops he knows how to grow best and for which his soil is best suited. For instance, it is a mistake to plant potatoes on a heavy, poor soil when beans would give much greater returns. With any crop the soil should be well manured and fertilized, and placed in the best tilth. The crop increase will more than pay for the labor and expense. Tile drainage also does much to prepare land for the growing of clover, alfalfa and other legumes. The development of bacteria on the roots of legumes requires that the soil must be warm and well aerated. The tile drain takes from the land only surplus water-water which we call surplus or free because it is not held by the soil particles. LIME FOR SOUR SOILS Do clover and alfalfa fail because of poor seed or because of acid soils? This question is prominently before Indiana farmers, because the failure of the crops has become the rule in many communities. Comparatively few men have learned that while it is important to have pure and germinable seed, yet clover and alfalfa failures are often due to a lack of lime in the soils. The successful growth of clover, alfalfa and other legumes depends upon the presence in large numbers of nodules on the roots of the plants. These nodules which are the results of bacterial growth will not develop in acid soils. It is therefore necessary to have the seed bed sweet, which can be had only through the presence of sufficient lime to neutralize all free acid. Better farming associations which county agents have helped to organize are becoming increasingly important as |