INTRODUCTORY 



Volume Eighteen of the Iowa Year Book of Agriculture is 

 hereby submitted. 



The year 1917 was one of most unusual and extraordinary con- 

 ditions. Early in the year the United States declared war against 

 Germany and immediately set about the stupendous task of getting 

 ready for actual warfare. A survey of the food stocks disclosed 

 a very disquieting state of aifairs for a nation about to embark 

 in war. Full granaries were few and far between. Storage de- 

 pots as a rule were either empty or held sadly depleted stocks. It 

 became plain the nation's food supply was considerably below nor- 

 mal, due, of course, to the unwonted demands from the fighting 

 nations across the Atlantic. 



Coincident with the work of raising a great army for immediate 

 service a movement was started designed to increase and conserve 

 the production of food stuffs. As a great agricultural and stock- 

 growing state Iowa's duty was plain and imperative. The farmers 

 promptly accepted the responsibility and sought by every means 

 at hand to produce a surplus of all kinds of crops. 



There was a general awakening and wide-spread enthusiasm in 

 all things pertaining to food production and food conservation. 

 Silo building was everywhere in evidence, more so than for years. 

 The home-canning industry took on all the aspects of a boom. The 

 growing scarcity of labor due to enlistments, the draft and the de- 

 mand for workers for the various war activities was counter-bal- 

 anced by mechanical power and labor-saving machinery. There 

 was a marked growth of interest in farm tractors and the demand 

 far exceeded the supply. The work of installing county agents 

 went forward with such a rush that by corn-planting time every 

 county in the state had been supplied. 



Winter wheat and clover having been largely killed by inclement 

 weather conditions the previous winter a much larger acreage than 

 usual was devoted to corn and oats. The crop-growing season was 



