Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 65, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 November 1917 — AGRICULTURAL NOTES [ARTICLE]

AGRICULTURAL NOTES

John Brown, an extensive farmer of Monon, spent Thursday and Friday of last week in the county in charge of a pork production cam-' paign as a representative of the government. The campaign, which was arranged by the Jasper County Better Farming association, was a decided success in bringing about a realization of the need of greater pork production and in explaining the government's attitude in the matter. “All evidence points to the fact that the war will continue for a long time. Those persons who state that the war will be over in a few months are simply sowing seeds ot discontent. “We do not realize the seriousness of the situation. The world is looking to us for large supplies of food during the war, and will continue to do so long after the war is over. “The first question for us to ask ourselves at this time, what can we do to help win? Every man, woman and child can do something. “Let us start doing right now. Thousands of our boys have answered the call. Many will never return. They are doing their part and we must do ours. “What can these boys do without our help’ As much depends upon us as upon them. Without proper equipment they can do nothing. The best equipped armies will

win. “One of the greatest needs is plenty of food. The American farmers can win or lose this war. The more we do at this time the more of our hoys we will save. We must forget the idea of profit. Should we lose our money will be valueless. It will take more than money to win. “We answered the call to the Red Cross. We answ-ered the call to the buying of Liberty bonds. A great many of us cannot contribute money, but we can show our patriotism just as much by doing what -we can in a great many other ways. “The call at this time is for an increase in pork production. This appeal is direct to the farmers of this county, we must answer the call. We are short over 5,500,000 hogs from last year and the demand is greater than ever before. Pork is the main army food. It can be produced more rapidly than any other meat product. “It is our patriotic duty to begin at once to prepare for an increase. Save more breeding stock. Take better care of it. Grow it to heavier weights. Raise two litters of pigs per year. If you cannot finish all you raise some one will buy them that can. “The landlords of this county should begin at once to (provide the tenants with material to use in preparing places to keep more hogs. If they do not have the breeding stock, help them get it, either by furnishing them the money, or helping them get it. “Neighbors must help one another. Take some chances, it is for a good cause. “Cities and towns that now prohibit the keeping of hogs within their limits, should permit the same. Enough hog food goes to waste in the cities and towns of Indiana to produce enough meat for thousands of people. Is it not

much better to have the odor of a clean pig pen than the poison gas and powder of the kaiser? “You are taking no chances in answering this call. The government tells you that it will see that you profit by so doing. It has guaranteed a minimum price of $15.50 per hundredweight lor the present crop of hogs and thirteen times the price of a bushel of corn for pigs farrowed next spring, “These prices are extremely liberal especially as relates to next year’s crop of hogs and will appeal to the pocketbook of those who will not respond to patriotism. “For the sake of our boys that have gone, humanity and our country, America, let us do our best and do it now. And when the world war is over we will still remain the shining light of the world.”