224 Journal of AgricvUure, Victoria. [25 April, 1917. 



INCREASE THE WHEAT AREA. 



A National Requirement — -A Personal Advantage. 



By Temple A. J. Smith, Chief Field Officer. 



There are many land-owners in Victoria who can materially assist 

 the Empire, and at the same time their own individual interests, by 

 increasing the production of essential IViod supplies for those at present 

 engaged in fighting against the Central Powers for the lives, freedom, 

 and general welfare of those, who for various reasons, have not been 

 able to offer their services in the firing line, or as assistants in Red Cross, 

 munition or other work actually connected with military operations. It 

 is a well-known saying that " an army fights on its stomach," and it is 

 obvious to the smallest intelligence that a starving or even a semi- 

 starving army cannot have the same efficiency or endurance as the same 

 body of men fighting on good food. Moreover, badly-fed men are more 

 subject to disease, and even under the best fighting conditions the losses 

 from sickness are most serious, being in some cases greater than the 

 casualties received in actual warfare. 



Every man and every woman in the Empire is liable to be affected 

 by the result of the war, therefore, each aud very one should do their 

 utmost to assist in making the outcome a conclusive victory for the 

 Allies. Situated as we are, far from the actual scene of operations, it 

 is difficult to realize the awful struggle now taking place in Europe, biit 

 should failure to secure a decided victory over the Central Powers be 

 the result, the future of Australia must be jeopardized and the ambitions 

 of its people in all probability be ruined. Should by any chance the 

 Grermau submarine menace accomplisli its threat to starve England into 

 submission, Australia, looked upon as the pearl of the British Empire, 

 would almost certainly be taken over by our enemies, when the stern 

 rule of the Germans would render the conditions of life unbearable to 

 the freedom-loving Australian, who would be reduced to serfdom with 

 no ultimate hope of again rising to the surface. 



Befoi-e it is too late, every individual in this Commonwealth should 

 ask himself the question, "How can I help?" and undoubtedly ever;/ 

 man engaged in primary production can help by making a special effort 

 to increase the output of all exportable products necessary for the 

 successful conduct of the war. Every additional bag of wheat produced 

 means the maintenance for six months of a man in the firing line, or 

 in any position assisting towards victory, and every additional bag of 

 wheat means increased profits to the producer. England must rely 

 chiefly upon her own Colonies for food and clothing supplies, the 

 ordinary sources of supply being closed. Russia is so situated that her 

 wheat cannot be exported; Servia and Roumania are in a similar 

 condition ; France, owing to her depletion of man power, and the 

 extraordinary demand in her own dominion, has nothing to spare. The 

 strong probability of the TTnited States being drawn into the war will 

 cut off further supplies: all of which circumstances demand an extreme 

 effort on the part of Victorian farmei-s to make good any deficiency 

 arising from such a combination of conditions. 



