14 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [P. D. 4. 



Cultivation of Herbs. 

 War conditions have not only created disturbing effects on 

 the large and important crops of the world, but also on many 

 of minor importance, yet essential. Among these are the 

 herbs which are used in modern cookery and chemistry, and 

 which w^ere produced largely in Central Europe prior to the 

 war. Shortage in many of these did not appear until 1916, 

 owing largely to stocks on hand, but at this time many of these 

 are in such a small supply that prices have risen abnormally. 

 It would seem that there was a chance for some of our farmers, 

 particularly those having fairly light land, to go into the pro- 

 duction of some of these plants, for once the business can be 

 established here it will be hard to drive it out after the war. 

 The following are some of the plants we might grow : sage, bella- 

 donna, catnip, digitalis, stramonium, or thorn apple. 



The Draft and Farm Labor. 



No definite realization of war was experienced by our farmers 

 until just before the operations of the selective draft. At this 

 time many of those of draft age, realizing the possibility of 

 being called to the colors, volunteered. The lack of regulations 

 relative to farmers and their employees left the matter of choice 

 entirely in the hands of the district boards, who have striven 

 hard in a most difficult situation to deal justly with every one. 

 Persons owning farms or who are essential to farm operations 

 have, in most cases, been exempted. There are, of course, 

 cases on the border line where mistakes have been made. 



At this time the new draft regulations are in effect whereby 

 the farmers are placed in four classes, as follows : — 



Class I. — Unskilled farm labor. 



Class II. — Necessary skilled farm labor in necessary agricultural 

 occupations. 



Class III. — Necessary assistant or associate or hired manager of 

 necessary agricultural enterprise. 



Class IV. — Necessary sole managing, controlling or directing head 

 of necessary agricultural enterprise. 



