Part I.] REPORT OF SECRETARY. 21 



coming season all of our farmers should do their utmost to grow 

 and save their own seed, and by careful selection strive to im- 

 prove upon the strains we now have. 



Food Conservation. 

 It has been extremely difficult for the people of this country 

 to adjust themselves to a restricted diet, or rather a change in 

 diet as required by war conditions. The campaign begun in the 

 spring to conserve food found a willing response, particularly in 

 relation to home canning and preserving, but a lack of materials 

 and containers prevented a larger output. In this conservation 

 campaign particular attention has been paid to using less meat, 

 wheat and sugar, and many substitutes have been offered which 

 seem likely to have a direct effect in stimulating other agricul- 

 tural activities; as, for example, the scarcity of sugar has brought 

 greater attention to bee culture, while the lack of wheat flour is 

 stimulating the production and use of other grains. Home can- 

 ning, preserving, pickling and drying of all sorts of fruit and vege- 

 tables have been conducted on a larger scale than ever before, 

 and the organization of canning clubs and kitchens has resulted in 

 the saving of large quantities of food. The lack of containers 

 has developed various drying outfits, and these have done much 

 in saving foods. The increase in commercial canning plants has 

 been slow, and practically only those near or in a few of our cities 

 seem to enjoy any degree of prosperity. The extension of can- 

 ning plants to the country seems to be restricted largely by the 

 lack of sufficient crops in any one locality, or to the very short 

 season of a particular crop. While the general canning plant is 

 an expensive and permanent structure, it is well to call your 

 attention at this time to the less expensive drying plant, which 

 could be made portable, thus serving large sections for a long 

 season. The drying of many of our fruits and vegetables is be- 

 coming more and more popular, and offers a very important 

 addition to the conservation program. Food conservation 

 should last not only during the war, but should be one of the 

 means of paying the expenses of the war when it is over, and 

 should also apply to cattle and poultry feeds as well as to 

 human food. The farmer's part in the food conservation pro- 



