THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 355 



yield of dry matter in the milk would be 745.5 pounds, while the acre yield of 

 butter fat would be 241.5 pounds. In times of great scarcity of food the con- 

 sumption of the whole milk would tend to relieve the situation, although the cost 

 of distribution would need to be considered, and might be impossible of economic 

 adjustment. Incidentally, in these times of high prices for protein (meats), fat and 

 sugar, all contained in milk in the highest edible form, milk should receive most 

 careful consideration in making up the family dietary. 



There is no common denominator by which the relative values of these foods for 

 human consumption can be accurately stated. However, assuming the usual mixed 

 diet for an American family, the total amount of dry matter is sufficiently accurate 

 for the purpose of determining the ability of a given food to sustain a population 

 during war times. Xo account is here taken of personal tastes, which, except under 

 a forced ration, are an important consideration. All investigations tend to show- 

 that the greater the variety of foods one consumes the better will be his nourishment. 

 A satisfactory diet should include the five great classes of foods, viz: (1) meats, (2) 

 fats, (3) cereals, (4) fruits and vegetables, and (5) sugar. Under such conditions, 

 it is not necessary to make too close reference to the calories, protein, vitamines, 

 carbohydrates, or mineral matter, confessedly important as these are in themselves. 



There lies before me as I write a table giving the amount of protein, fat, 

 carbohydrates, and mineral matter per acre in each of these crops. There is nothing 

 particularly significant in the data, except, perhaps, that the cereals and beans pro- 

 duce higher amounts of protein and, as consumed, less fiber than the fruits, and that 

 olives, almonds and walnuts produce notable amounts of highly valuable fats per 

 acre. The further data in this table submitted herewith have been prepared by 

 Mattill, after examining existing data, conferring with other members of the staff, 

 and after making some independent investigations. Subsequently the data have been 

 submitted to each member of the Staff of the College of Agriculture and thus have 

 had the benefit of the criticism and judgment of more than 150 persons. 



The reader will doubtless be able to arrive at his own conclusions from the data 

 submitted. He will recognize that while only 72 per cent of wheat is converted into 

 flour, the remaining 2S per cent constitutes a highly valuable food product for 

 domestic animals. On the other hand, the by-products of wheat pay only approx- 

 imately for the cost and profit of milling. This statement is, of course, dependent 

 somewhat on the relative prices of wheat, flour and the by-products. He will also 

 note that the by-products of oats are less valuable than those of wheat. 



The growing of potatoes and other vegetables is recognized as a ready means by 

 which the food supply can be increased. It is not so fully recognized that a too 

 great dependence upon them may lead, and indeed has led, in other countries, to 

 famine, because they are frequently subject to crop failure. A production beyond 

 current needs often entails loss, since they can not be carried over into another year 

 without a prohibitive expense. Cereals are held in elevators indefinitely, meats 

 may be permitted to increase in the growing animals within certain limits, but 

 potatoes, onions, cantaloupes and fruits are subject to decay. Few, perhaps, recog- 

 nize the enormous benefit of the canning industry in stabilizing the food supply. A 

 country which depends chiefly upon cereals and meats can not be as densely 

 populated as the one which depends more largely upon vegetables and fruits, but it 

 is less exposed to extremes in its food supply. 



It is, of course, well recognized when land is cheap and labor dear that extensive 

 agriculture is practiced, which means relatively small yields per acre and large 

 yields per unit of labor. When land becomes dear and labor cheap, the intensive 

 agriculture is practiced, which has meant, in the past at least, larger yields of food 

 per acr" and less yield per unit of labor. The claim is not made that this must 

 necessarily be. but that it has been. 



Neither of these conditions exist now, since both land and labor are dear. What 

 is the answer under these new conditions? It is safe to say that no one can foretell. 

 Doubtless, if the war continues for several years, it will be found necessary to raise 

 those crops which give the greatest return per unit of labor, or to devise means 

 for producing existing crops with less human effort. 



If it becomes necessary on account of the unprecedented demand for human labor 

 to reduce those foods which require the most labor per unit of food value, the net 

 result will be a decrease in the total food supply and hence there will be less food 

 per capita. On the other hand, this very fact will tend to increase the demand, and 

 in turn tend to prevent the decrease in the cultivation of intensive crops. 



