i\(). 4.] FOOL) ADULTKKATIOX. 1*57 



FOOD ADULTERATION AND THE FAEMER. 



BT DU. H. \V. WILKV, WASHIXGTOX, D. C. 



The subject of food is one that interests us all, — at least 

 about three times a day ; between meals we may consider 

 other subjects of public importance. It seems, however, 

 only fitting that in an agricultural meeting a place should be 

 given now and then to the discussion of the products of the 

 farm as they reach the consumer. In other words, the farmer 

 has a direct interest, not only in the production of the foods 

 which feed the world, but also in their sul>sequent treatment, 

 just as we would follow any other product with interest up 

 to the time of its final use. Usually the subject of adul- 

 teration of food is considered oidy from the manufacturers 

 or from the consumer's point of view ; it is rare that it is 

 treated from the farmer's point of view. It is particularly 

 to this last phase of the subject that I Avill call your atten- 

 tion this morning. 



The products of the farm arc used for the food and cloth- 

 ing of humanity ; therefore agriculture lies at the very base 

 of human life. As agriculture [)r()spers, all other industries 

 prosper ; when agriculture fails, all other industries fail. 

 You cannot have a man work unless he is fed, whether that 

 work be of a physical character or mental chamcter. Every 

 em[)loyee in every factory has his work measured largely by 

 his nourishment, just as a farmer cannot take an ili-nourished 

 steer or horse into the field and get good work out of him : 

 he nmst feed him well, if he wants the maxinuun result. 

 So the laborer nmst be well fed, if you wish to get the max- 

 imum result of his work, and he must be well clothed. And 

 these, food and clothing, are the great lU'oducts of the farm. 



We might get along for the time being without almost 



