72 



we figure out a greater profit at less expense than would belong to 

 my of the common annual erops of the State. The meat of the Black 

 ^V'alnut is rich in proteins and oils and like that of the Persimmon and 

 the Chestnut, contains also vitamins, the fourth essential element in 

 human diet. A pound of Black Walnut meat contains very much more 

 food value than one pound of the best beef. These three sub soil 

 crops in question would be supi^lemented by many other kinds for the 

 mountain farmer and by the prairie farmer throughout the United 

 States. 



l'"urtiiermore many annual crops m;iy be raised between the trees 

 if so desired without injury to the tree crops if it is done judiciously; 

 particularly if it is done before the trees come into full bearing while 

 interspaces are still large. 



Sub soil farming would relieve us from the feeling of necessity 

 for the draining of marshes. This is commonly done in the interest 

 of promoters and the farmer frequently stands a loss because drained 

 land like irrigated land wears out for precisely the same reason that 

 other land does. The time may always be anticipated when the over- 

 head cost of drainage and irrigation runs afoul of the law of diminish- 

 ing returns. Excepting in cases where insoluble earthy salts unex- 

 pectedly make a hardpan on irrigated lands i. e. the shock of financial 

 loss is apt to come more promptly to owners of drained land for the 

 reason that the soil of marshes carries an unbalanced ration of plant 

 food ; too much nitrogen or too much cellulose for example. 



The draining of marshes in this country is going on at the moment 

 when similar marshes are being constructed in some of the older 

 countries of the world. Crops from marsh plants, fish, wild fowl 

 and fur bearing animals often bring larger returns than do those from 

 cultivated uplands. Millions of people in the Orient make trapa nuts 

 and lotus their basic food supply. These plants may be grown as 

 well in American marshes. 



Concerning the second group of essentials in the over-population 

 question, let us consider the matter of distribution of food supplies. 

 Mathus did not even know about steam transportation. Presumably 

 lie did not dream of transportation by air at a time when men could 

 fly from Washington to Panama in less than forty-eight hours. 



Just now cattle men are in conflict with our Forestry Service be- 



