EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Vol. 37. September, 1917. No. 4, 



The passage of the Federal Food Production Act has added to the 

 li.st of war measures an enactment of direct interest to agriculture. 

 It constitutes a tangible recognition by Congress of the exceptional 

 importance attached to the maintenance of an ample food supply as 

 a strategic phase of the present conflict, and of the consequent need 

 of fostering production on the farm and conservation in the home 

 through Federal aid to an extent never before attempted. It ma- 

 terially increases the funds at the disposal of the Federal Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture and enlarges its powers and functions in a 

 number of directions during the national emergency. 



The responsibility resting upon the agricultural interests of the 

 country to develop food production was pointed out by President 

 Wilson soon after the outbreak of hostilities. In his address to the 

 American people of April 15, the President said : 



" The supreme need of our own Nation and for the nations with 

 which we are cooperating is an abundance of supplies and especially 

 of foodstuffs. The importance of an adequate food supply, especially 

 for the present year, is superlative. Without abundant food, alike 

 for the armies and the peoples now at w^ar, the whole great enter- 

 prise upon which we have embarked will break down and fail. The 

 world's food reserves are low. Not only during the present emer- 

 gencj^ but for some time after peace shall have come both our own 

 people and a large proportion of the people of Europe must rely 

 upon the harvests in America. Upon the farmers of this country, 

 therefore, in large measure rests the fate of the war and the fate 

 of the nations." 



An agricultural mobilization of huge proportions followed the 

 declaration of a state of war. The resources of the Federal Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture, the agricultural colleges and experiment sta- 

 tions, and many other agencies were concentrated so far as possible 

 upon the emergency situation with a view to rendering all possible 

 assistance. The campaign to increase production which followed 

 has been without precedent in its magnitude and comprehensiveness, 

 its resourcefulness, and its spirit of intelligent leadership and service. 

 The results have already demonstrated in convincing fashion what 

 important assets these institutions have become in the Nation's re- 



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