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 Bulletin. 
 
 3 1924 014 548 865 
 
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 Library 
 
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 There are no known copyright restrictions in 
 the United States on the use of the text. 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924014548865 
 
BULLETIN 1 
 
 MAY, 1917 
 
 New York 
 State Food Supply Commission 
 
 For Patriotic Agricultural Service 
 
 AGRICULTURAL HALL, ALBANY, N. Y. 
 
 A Statement of the Present Plans and Activities 
 of the New York State Food Supply Com- 
 mission, Appointed Under Chapter 
 205 (Act of 1917) 
 
 ' '// Is clearly recognized that the man who tills the soil and 
 produces the food for the soldier in the field and his family 
 at home is rendering a patriotic service, as truly as is the 
 man who bears the brunt of battle, 
 
 — CHARLES S. WHITMAN 
 
 Application for entry as second-class matter at the Post Office at Albany, N. Y., 
 pendlnii- 
 
<2 
 
 ^ O^ CO 7 
 
 i/V 7/. B 
 
 I 
 
 
 hrc^ 
 
 Q\^-2.U3 
 
Statement of the Plans and Activities of the New 
 
 York State Food Supply Commission for 
 
 Patriotic Agricultural Service Appointed 
 
 by the Governor of New York 
 
 (Adopted April 27, 1917.) 
 
 Organization 
 
 The first problem of the ISTew York State Food Supply Com- 
 mission has been to develop an adequate organization to meet the 
 problems before it. This organization is in two divisions: (1) 
 the central office in Albany, (2) local county offices. 
 
 The Commission has located its headquarters in the State 
 Department of Agriculture in Albany. The v^ork of the Com- 
 mission has been divided as follows: 
 
 General Administration. — C. S. Wilson, Chairman. 
 
 Food Conservation. — A. R. Mann. 
 
 County Organization. — M. C. Burritt. 
 
 Schools and Colleges. — J. H. Finley. 
 
 Distribution, Storage, and Marketing. — J. J. Dillon. 
 
 Loans, Unoccupied and Donated Lands. — S. J. Lowell. 
 
 Farm Labor. — F. W. Sessions. 
 
 Seeds, Fertilizers, and Livestock. — R. D. Cooper. 
 
 Transportation and Machinery. — S. J. T. Bush 
 
 Inquiries, other than those which can be answered in the local 
 county offices, should be made directly to the member of the Com- 
 mission in charge of the particular piece of work, in so far as this 
 is indicated. In cases of doubt, communications should be 
 addressed to the Chairman. 
 
 In addition to the central headquarters organization, it has 
 been found necessary to open offices in each agricultural county 
 in the State. In the forty-one counties in the State having 
 organized farm bureaus, the local office of the committee is with 
 the county farm bureau agent. In the remainder of the agricul- 
 tural counties, temporary offices have been opened at central 
 points which have been announced in local papers. All local 
 
 [3] 
 
inquiries regarding labor, seeds, fertilizers, transportation, and 
 other local ■matters, should be addressed to these local county 
 offices of the Commission. 
 
 Becommendwtions 
 
 1. It is recommended to the County Councils of Defense that 
 the executive committees of the local farm bureau associations in 
 the organized counties be the agricultural committees in charge 
 of plans for increasing and conserving the food supply. In 
 counties not having organized farm bureaus, it is suggested that 
 agricultural committees be appointed in cooperation with the 
 grange. 
 
 2. In addition to the above county organization, the Pomona 
 Grange in each of the counties will be asked to designate one of 
 its number to act on an advisory council to the New York State 
 Food Supply Commission in order that the Commission may 
 keep in close touch with the farmers of the State and get their 
 suggestions and experience as to the best means of increasing and 
 conserving the food supply. 
 
 What the Commission Has Already Done. 
 
 1. Following a state-wide meeting at the State College of Agri- 
 culture at Ithaca, at which representatives of fifty-eight counties 
 of the State were present, county-wide meetings were held in 
 every county of the State. In accordance with the proclamation 
 of Governor Whitman designating Saturday, April 21, as Agri- 
 cultural Mobilization Day, meetings were held in more than one 
 thousand communities in the State, and attended by approximately 
 seventy-five thousand farmers. At these meetings both the 
 National and State programs were laid before farmers, and local 
 ways and means for increasing production were discussed. 
 
 2. At its first meeting the Commission approved of a plan for 
 a survey of the agricultural resources of the State and of the 
 needs of farmers. This was on April 17. Since this meet- 
 ing 285,000 survey blanks have been printed and distributed in 
 all of the counties of the State. Census enumerators, who were 
 the county agricultural agents in forty of the counties, and exten- 
 sion specialists from the State College of Agriculture in the 
 other fifteen counties, were appointed. 
 
Upon instructions from the Commissioner of Education, the 
 district superintendents of schools, teachers, and agricultural 
 pupils were enlisted to take this survey. The survey includes 
 questions designed to find out what the farmer needs in the way 
 of farm labor, seeds, fertilizers, machinery, etc., and to determine 
 the exact crop outlook for 1917 as compared with 1916. Farmers 
 were asked to give their proposed acreage of various crops in 
 1917 as compared with 1916, also the number of ai^imals kept 
 in these two years. It is expected that the results of this survey 
 will be available for use not later than April 30. 
 
 3. The Commission has undertaken to mobilize, and to make 
 available to farmers, all the farm boys of the State who have had 
 farm experience, and who are therefore capable of doing efficient 
 work on the farms. The Commission has encouraged the organi- 
 zation of a unit of farm cadets through the cooperation of the 
 Military Commission. The Commission has also developed other 
 possible sources of farm-experienced labor in the cities and else- 
 where, and is planning to make this available to the farmers who 
 ask for this assistance, through the census or otherwise. 
 
 4. The Committee has approved of the Patriotic Farm Loan 
 Fund (Headquarters: Citizens Trust Company, Utica, N. Y.), 
 and has taken steps to aid in making this fund available to 
 farmers throughout the State. 
 
 5. Questions of transportation have also had consideration, 
 and arrangements are being made to notify promptly proper 
 officers of all railroad companies of delays in shipment reported 
 by farmers. All persons who experience delay in securing 
 prompt delivery of seeds, fertilizers, or other farm supplies 
 should notify the local office of the Commission in their counties, 
 as indicated above. Steps are also being taken to insure prompt 
 delivery of farm supplies through preferential delivery. 
 
 6. With the assistance of the Commissioner of Agriculture, an 
 inventory of seeds available and in the hands of dealers, in stor- 
 age and elsewhere, throughout the State, has been secured, and 
 has been distributed. This information will also be utilized 
 through the county officers of the Commission. 
 
 7. In order to safeguard the interests of farmers who respond 
 to the appeal to increase their production of farm products and to 
 
protect them against possible loss, the Commission has expressed 
 itself as favoring action by the National Government looking 
 tov7ard guarantees for the farmer against financial loss resulting 
 from over-production of staple crops. This expression has been 
 telegraphed to the Secretaries of Agriculture and War at Wash- 
 ington, together with the request that statements be issued assur- 
 ing the country that farmers will not be called upon this season 
 to enter the regular army. It is expected that this plan will be 
 facilitated by selective conscription. 
 
 What the Commission Plans to Do 
 
 The Commission has received many suggestions from all 
 parts of the State as to things that might be done to increase 
 production. Many of these suggestions are excellent, others 
 wholly impracticable. Some of the matters which the Commis- 
 sion has under consideration are the purchase of tractors and 
 power drainage machinery, which may be placed in the farming 
 communities of the State under proper conditions; aid to the 
 farmer in purchasing seeds at reasonable prices; assistance in 
 the purchase of supplies of all kinds; using of every possible 
 means for securing experienced farm labor at reasonable prices, 
 and other aid to the farmer in removing the handicaps under 
 which he is now laboring. 
 
 A very important feature of the plans of the Commission is a 
 State-wide campaign ;f or the conservation of our present and pro- 
 spective food supply through practical demonstrations and 
 instruction in canning, drying, and otherwise preserving the sur- 
 plus of perishable products, which is almost certain if the season 
 is favorable; and in the utilization of all food products so as to 
 secure the greatest possible use of these products. The details of 
 these plans, while not yet perfected, are well under way and will 
 be announced by the Commission shortly. 
 
 Another very important part of the Commission's plan includes 
 a systematic effort to lower the cost of distribution of food 
 products from the producer to the consumer, with the view of 
 protecting farmers and the general public against the present high 
 cost of marketing farm products, in the hope that the producers 
 may secure a larger return without proportionately increasing 
 the cost to consumers. 
 
The Situation and the Need for Prompt Action 
 
 The Commission fully senses the fact that the food situation 
 requires all possible haste in taking measures for relief, if these 
 are to be of any help with the spring planting. The problem is 
 a large and difficult one. The public is at present confused by 
 reason of the many proposals, both practicable and impracticable, 
 made by various organizations and individuals and reported in 
 the public press. The Commission is planning to do everything 
 in its power which has any possibility for immediate or perma- 
 nent relief of the present situation. It does not propose here to 
 attempt anything revolutionary ; and, ' while protecting the con- 
 sumer in all possible ways, it proposes to safeguard farmers' 
 interests against possible over-production and consequential 
 financial loss. 
 
 The Agricultural Census 
 Preliminary Returns from Fifty- two Counties 
 
 In a preliminary report submitted to Governor Whitman on 
 ]May third the New York State Food Supply Commission showed 
 an increase in the acreage of grain crops in Xew York State of 
 from twenty to twenty-five per cent, in comparison with last year's 
 acreage. The figures from fifty-two counties of the State and 
 covering 189,602 farms indicate this result. The increase in 
 acreage is one which the Commission regards as most creditable 
 to the farmers of the State. 
 
 The first step taken by the Commission was a census of the 
 agricultural resources of the State. Great care was taken by 
 those in charge of the census to insure accuracy, so the Commis- 
 sion would be in possession of information showing the crop 
 prospects for this year. 
 
 An increase of 67,000 acres of potatoes over the acreage of last 
 year is shown by the report. Last year the acreage reported in 
 fifty-two counties was 284,364, while this year the farmers in 
 same counties will plant 351,091 acres of potatoes. This is an 
 increase of twenty per cent. 
 
 An increase of nearly fifty per cent, in the acreage to be devoted 
 to corn for grain is another result which shows the Commission 
 the State is responding to the call for increased production. The 
 census report shows 301,622 ncros of corn in 1916. For this year 
 
it shows a corn acreage of 449,704, the increase being 148,082 
 
 acres. 
 
 In oats the total acreage in the fifty-two counties covered last 
 year was 1,051,180. This year the census gives 1,203,636 acres 
 to he planted to oats. 
 
 The report shows an increase of 16,000 acres over the barley 
 acreage of 89,598 of last year, and one of 40,095 acres over the 
 buckwheat acreage of last year of 252,400. 
 
 The spring wheat acreage is another which shows a big advance. 
 Last year the spring wheat acreage was 11,626. This year 31,225 
 acres will be planted. Winter wheat shows an increase of 40,000 
 acres over the 315,393 acres of 1916. 
 
 Field beans show an increase of 80,000 over the 182,707 acres 
 of last year, and alfalfa an increase of 18,000 acres over 150,360 
 acres of last year. 
 
 In other hay a decrease of 100,000 acres is shown. In the 
 counties covered the census shgwed a total of 3,740,495 acres of 
 hay this year, with 3,867,534 in hay last year. This indicates 
 that land devoted to hay last year is to be given over to other 
 crops this year, causing a shrinkage in the hay acreage. 
 
 The ' cabbage acreage shows an increase of about eighty per 
 cent, and 26,000 acres. The total for 1916 was 32,250 acres. 
 Members of the Commission pointed out that cabbage is a perish- 
 able product and that there might not be a great advantage in in- 
 creasing so greatly cabbage production. 
 
 A substantial increase in canning factory crops is shown by 
 the census, the acreage last year being 41,507, the increase this 
 year being 12,871 acres. 
 
 The census in the remaining ten counties will be finished within 
 a short time, so that the figures will be available on the total acre- 
 age in the State. 
 
 The Commission is obtaining other figures through the census 
 to aid in carrying out its plans to increase production. 
 
 The Commission Will Operate Farm Tractors 
 
 At its weekly meeting on May 4 the New York State Food 
 Supply Commission purchased twenty-two tractors for farm use 
 and took options on forty additional machines, which will be dis- 
 tributed through the State in accordance with regulations 
 
9 
 
 adopted by the Commission. The Commission's plan in the pur- 
 chase of tractors is to provide a means by which all available 
 land may be cultivated, to the end that production may be 
 increased. 
 
 In taking this action the Commission realizes that it has taken 
 a radical step, but it is of the opinion that the necessity for 
 increased production justifies it. With tractors made available 
 to any community on comparatively short notice, and with seed 
 potatoes and other seed procurable through the Commission's 
 representatives in the counties of the State, .it is believed an 
 important advance has been made. 
 
 In districts where tractors are desired, application should be 
 made to the county representative of the Commission. This 
 representative will explain the plan by which they may be 
 obtained. Some of the tractors purchased have already been 
 sent out and are ready for operation. 
 
 The tractors are being sent out in accordance with a coopera- 
 tive plan. They will be in charge of the county representative 
 of the Commission, and he will assign them to territory for 
 which application is made for their use. A rental will be 
 charged, but this will be simply enough to cover the cost of 
 operation and upkeep. A plan has also been evolved by the 
 Commission whereby these tractors may be purchased outright 
 in communities for the general use of the purchasers. Details 
 with regard to this will also be furnished by the county repre- 
 sentatives or may be obtained from the headquarters of the Com- 
 mission in the Department of Agriculture, Albany, IST. Y. The 
 rental is based on the acreage plowed. 
 
 The Commission has also a plan for the purchase of ditching 
 machines, to be disposed of in a manner similar to that in which 
 the tractors are being distributed. With the use of these in a 
 cooperative manner, a considerable amount of land not available 
 for cultivation now could be made productive. 
 
 Farm Cadets 
 
 On May first the Division of Schools and Colleges of the IN'ew 
 York State Food Supply Commission issued the following state- 
 ment concerning the organization of Farm Cadets: 
 
10 
 
 The prompt and widespread response to the call for enlist- 
 ment in the Farm Cadets is very gratifying to the staff of the 
 Education Department. It is but natural that in a State-wide 
 movement of this kind, time should be required to work out the 
 details of the plan. In the meantime, numerous questions are 
 being asked. Many of these questions will be answered by the 
 following statements: 
 
 1. It is expected that for the most part Cadets will be 
 employed either at home or near home where they will be under 
 the supervision of their parents, but arrangements are under way 
 for the employment and supervision of boys from the large cities. 
 Concerning this, announcements will be made later. In the mean- 
 time these boys shoidd remain in school unless local arrangements 
 can be made for giving them practical instruction in farming. 
 
 2. Service as a. Farm Cadet is not to be considered as a means 
 of getting school credit by pupils who would in all probability not 
 get such credit if they remained in school through the term. 
 
 3. jSTo school credit will be granted to Farm Cadets until evi- 
 dence is presented in each individual case that, real, honest service 
 has been rendered. 
 
 4. Xo pupil should be recommended or accepted as a Farm 
 Cadet unless it is probable that such pupil can render real ser- 
 vice. Age is not the only criterion. A boy accustomed to farm 
 work and farm life may be of real service at a much younger age 
 than a city boy without such experience. 
 
 5. The principal of the school which a student has been attend- 
 ing must take the responsibility of certifying to the record of the 
 pupil up to the tim^ of his leaving school. 
 
 6. In order that a pupil may receive school credit, the school 
 or the community must furnish such supervision as will enable 
 school authorities to certify to the fact that such pupil has ren- 
 dered satisfactory service. 
 
 7. Principals and teachers are called upon to give their ser- 
 vices in supervising this work and in making such reports as are 
 necessaiy. It is expected, however, that there will be in each 
 supervisory district a representative of the Xew York State Food 
 Supply Commission who will cooperate with local school authori- 
 ties in this supervision. Such representative will be appointed 
 from the present school force. 
 
11 
 
 8. It is to be understood that the term of service for Farm 
 Cadets will cover the entire summer. Reports to the Education 
 Department concerning school work should, however, be made 
 not later than July first. 
 
 9. If a pupil or group of pupils work a piece of land under 
 proper direction, they should be considered as meeting the 
 requirements if their full time is occupied in connection with 
 the enterprise. 
 
 10. There is a large field of service for girls on the farm, 
 especially in the work of preserving food and assisting in the 
 increased housework which always accompanies additional labor 
 on the farm. The same rules of service and credit will therefore 
 apply to girls that apply to boys, in ease such girls are working 
 at home or in other homes with the approval of the parents. 
 
BULLETIN 2 
 
 MAY 22, 1917 
 
 New York 
 State Food Supply Commission 
 
 For Patriotic Agricultural Service 
 
 AGRICULTURAL HALL, ALBANY, N. Y. 
 
 PUBLISHED SEMI-MONTHLY BY THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE OF THE 
 
 STATE OF NEW YORK 
 
 A Preliminary Report of the Census of 
 
 the Agricultural Resources of 
 
 New York State 
 
 ' ' /( is clearly recognized that the man who tills the soil and 
 produces the food for the soldier in the field and his family 
 at home is rendering a patriotic service, as truly as is the 
 man who bears the brunt of battle. 
 
 — CHARLES S. WHITMAN 
 
 Application for entry as second-class matter at the Post Office at Albany, N. Y-, 
 pending- 
 
A PRELIMINARY REPORT OF THE CENSUS OF THE 
 AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES OF NEW YORK 
 
 The New York State Food Supply Commission was appointed by 
 Governor Whitman on April 13. Its first step was to order a survey 
 of the agricultural resources of the State and of the requirements for 
 increased production. This census was ordered on April 17, the work 
 being placed under the general direction of the Commissioner in 
 Charge of County Organization, M. C. Burritt, who is also State 
 Director of Farm Bureaus. 
 
 HOW THE CENSUS WAS TAKEN 
 
 • 
 
 A state-wide conference of all county agricultural agents, the presi- 
 dents of farm bureau associations in the forty-one organized counties, 
 and delegates from the other agricultural counties of the State, was 
 called at the State College of Agriculture at Ithaca on April 16. At 
 this conference, details of the general plan for taking the census were 
 worked out and the instructions given. On the 18th and 19th, county- 
 wide conferences of fanners were held. In accordance with the procla- 
 mation of Governor Whitman, community meetings were held in 
 1089 communities of the State on Saturday, April 21, attended by 
 85,075 persons. 
 
 At all of these meetings the census was explained and cooperation 
 solicited. By the I91;h, 250,000 census blanks had been printed and 
 shipped to all the counties. About forty additional helpers, mostly 
 drafted from the senior class of the State College of Agriculture, had 
 been assigned as assistants and all preliminary arrangements com- 
 pleted for taking the census. 
 
 The county farm bureau agents were appointed county enumerators 
 and were made responsible for the results in their counties. In the 
 fifteen counties not having farm bureaus, extension specialists of the 
 State College of Agriculture were assigned as county enumerators, and 
 
 [3] 
 
temporary offices of the Commission were opened. The following 
 telegram of instruction was sent to the 56 county enumerators: 
 
 Commissioner of Education has sent telegrams instructing 
 superintendents of schools and teachers to report to you as official 
 census taker in your county. Oall superintendents together imme- 
 diately. Assistant will be sent as soon as it can be arranged. You 
 are hereby authorized to employ such additional clerical, steno- 
 graphic, and other assistance as may be necessary to properly and 
 rapidly tabulate. Superintendents' and teachers' expenses in con- 
 nection with census to be paid by Commission thpu Department of 
 Education. 
 
 The district superintendents of schools were made responsible for 
 the results in all of the schools in their respective districts, and each 
 school teacher was made responsible for results in her school district. 
 The Commissioner of Education, John H. Finley, also a member of 
 this commission, sent the following telegram of instructions to school 
 superintendents : 
 
 State Food Supply Commission is to make survey of agricultural 
 resources. District superintendents, teachers, and pupils to gather 
 data. County enunierator will get in touch with you. It is ex- 
 pected that each one will do his part promptly. Expenses will be 
 met by Commission. 
 
 The census was made possible by this cooperation of the State 
 Department of Education. Mr. Layton S. Hawkins had immediate 
 charge of the department's part in the work and gave great assistance. 
 
 Eealizing that the facts must be secured immediately if they were 
 to be of benefit to farmers and in order to save expense, the Commis- 
 sion utilized, as far as possible, all of the existing educational organi- 
 zations of the State which were equipped to do the work. Around the 
 organizations already specified, it was simply necessary to gather addi- 
 tional help. This was done with the cooperation of the state schools 
 of agriculture at Canton, Alfred, Morrisville, Cobleskill, Delhi, and 
 Earmingdale and the Joseph Slocum College of Agriculture at Syra- 
 cuse University, all of which rendered valuable assistance. High 
 school principals and teachers of agriculture thruout the State fur- 
 nished help and equipment. The State Bankers' Association banks, 
 business firms, chambers of commerce, and individuals rendered mate- 
 rial aid, and greatly facilitated the tabulations by lending their clerks 
 and other expert employees, and adding machines. 
 
 [4] 
 
By thus utilizing the established school and farm bureau systems 
 and other organizations, the Commission was able to secure the facts 
 immediately, and in just ten days after the copy of the census blank 
 was delivered to the printer, a preliminary announcement of the results 
 of the census was made. In addition to taking the census in record 
 time, it has probably been secured at less expense to the State than any 
 other ever taken. The regularly paid employees of the State were util- 
 ized, and considerable help was donated by public-spirited organizations, 
 and it has been necessary to employ comparatively little help. 
 
 The actual work of taking the census was begun in most of the coun- 
 ties on Monday, April 23, the records being practically all obtained by 
 Wednesday, the 25th. Tabulations were made in the counties on the 
 26th and 27th, and on the 28th complete tabulations from thirty-four 
 counties had been sent to the central census office. The teachers and 
 pupils in each district, assisted by other persons where necessary, 
 obtained the original facts from farmers and made out the summaries 
 for their school districts. The county enumerators, with their assistants, 
 and district superintendents made the summaries for the counties. Dr. 
 G. F. Warren, of the State College of Agriculture, had charge of the 
 summarizing and tabulating of the records for the entire State, and 
 prepared this report. 
 
 COMPLETENESS OF ENUJIERATION 
 
 The present report gives preliminary results for fifty-six counties. 
 1^0 census was taken for the counties of Hamilton, Kings, Queens, 
 Eichmond, and New York. Estimates by the county enumerators indi- 
 cate that approximately 98 per cent of the real farms are included. 
 Many small places that can scarcely be called farms were also omitted. 
 Later returns will result in some additions to the report given here, 
 but a full enumeration would probably not add" more than 5 per cent 
 to these results. The total area of crops here reported is 8,701,964 
 acres. The last United States 'Census reported 8,719,454 acres in the 
 same counties. 
 
 The census includes an enumeration of the transportation difficulties ; 
 of the needs for labor, fertilizer, and spray materials ; of the seed and 
 livestock wanted by farmers and for sale by farmers ; and of the three 
 great agricultural resources of the State — people, land, and livestock. 
 A report of the complete census will be published by the Commip- 
 sion as soon as it can be compiled. 
 
 [5] 
 
IMPORTANT FACTS SHOWN BY THE CENSUS 
 Some of the most important facts shown are : 
 
 1. A shortage of labor. 
 
 2. A poor distribution of seed and a state shortage of potatoes, 
 corn, and buckwheat. 
 
 3. Difficulty in getting delivery by the railroads of seeds, fertil- 
 izer, and machinery. 
 
 4. An excess of 8000 horses above the needs of farmers. 
 
 5. An increase in the number of dairy cows over last year, 
 but a decrease in the number of heifer calves now being raised. 
 
 6. A decrease in the number of sheep and hogs, and in the 
 number of eggs being incubated. 
 
 7. A very striking increase in the area of fruit, wheat, beans, 
 vegetables, alfalfa, and com for the silo, with consequent decrease 
 in the area of land in grass. 
 
 8. In the past eight years there has been a shift of more than 
 770,000 acres from grass to the above crops. 
 
 9. The combined area of fruits, vegetables, and beans is a third 
 more than it was eight years ago. 
 
 FARM POPULATION 
 
 On the 198,487 farms, 816,869 persons are living or working. 
 This is a little more than four persons to the farm. 
 
 TABtB 1. Persons Living ok Working on Farms 
 
 
 Under 
 
 14 years 
 
 of age 
 
 Foirrteen 
 years old 
 or older 
 
 Total 
 
 Male 
 
 Female 
 
 116,968 
 108,879 
 
 323,642 
 267,380 
 
 440,610 
 376,259 
 
 Total 
 
 225,847 
 
 591,022 
 
 816,869 
 
 
 Of the sons of the present farm operators, 44,l70 have left the farm 
 for work other than farm labor, and of the daughters, 43,130 have 
 left to live in villages or cities. 
 
 [6] 
 
LABOR 
 
 The present number of hired men is less than one man for each 
 two farms. Counting all males above 14 years of age, there are 8 
 for each 5 farms. 
 
 On April 24-25, 1917, there were 86,244 hired men on farms. A 
 year ago there were 102,153, a decrease of 15,909 men. Even last 
 year, with a smaller acreage of crops, there were not men enough. 
 
 Each farmer was asked the number of additional help needed for farm 
 woi'k and when wanted. The number required for each week has not 
 yet been summarized, but 55,712 additional men were asked for. In 
 many cases the help is not needed for the entire season, so that less 
 than this number of men are wanted. Probably at least 20,000 men 
 were wanted for the full season. A considerable part of this demand 
 has already been supplied. 
 
 The answers to the questions as to whether inexperienced school 
 boys could be used, indicated that, of the total number of laborers 
 needed, 24,238 boys could be used. Since some of this help is seasonal, 
 it would not be necessary to have this number of boys. 
 
 Some of the shortage of labor has already been provided by action 
 of the State Department of Education releasing boys from the schools. 
 Over 10,000 have left school to work on farms. Several thousand 
 have gone to farms from various colleges of the State, and many have 
 gone from towns to the farms. 
 
 The number of additional persons needed for household help was 
 7573. This is largely to help board the farm labor. It was found 
 that 5027 school girls could be used. Some of these would su.pply the 
 household help called for, and some would be used for farm work, such 
 as berry picking. 
 
 SEED WANTED AND FOR SALE BY FARMERS 
 The census showed a very poor distribution of seed, and a state 
 shortage of potatoes, corn, and buckwheat. 
 
 Table 2. Seed Wanted and for Sale by Farmers 
 
 
 Quantity 
 wanted 
 
 Quantity ~ 
 for sale i 
 
 Alfalfa . . 
 
 Bushels 
 13,071 
 
 378,675 
 54,671 
 96,619 
 
 133,526 
 28,830 
 
 Bushels 
 1,828 
 
 Potatoes 
 
 230,658 
 
 Beans .... ... 
 
 68,106 
 
 
 55,116 
 
 Com 
 
 51 , 126 
 
 Spring wheat 
 
 12,944 
 
 
 [7] 
 
 
 
In order to adjust distribution within the county, each county 
 representative of the Commission was instructed to prepare lists of 
 farmers having seed of each kind for sale, and then send the lists to 
 each farmer wanting seed. As a reSult a large part of the needs were 
 satisfied. This proved to be a very effective means of adjusting local 
 needs. Inquiries have shown that nearly every farmer who had seed 
 for sale disposed of all of his surplus. This would indicate that about 
 400,000 bushels of various kinds of seed were sold in this way, about 
 enough to plant 240,000 acres of the various crops. 
 
 Seven counties had a surplus of potatoes and 49 had a shortage. 
 There was a shortage of seed beans in 42 counties, but 14 counties had 
 enough to supply the demand. The excess is, however, not large 
 enough to justify the sale of any more beans from the farms for use as 
 food until the planting season has passed. 
 
 Only 4 counties have enough buckwheat in the hands of farmers to 
 supply the demand. Xo buckwheat that is good for seed should be fed 
 to livestock or used for milling purposes before the middle of July. 
 
 'County lists of surplus and deficiency were mimeographed and sent 
 to each county representative, and counties that are short are being 
 supplied from counties that have a surplus. For example, Franklin 
 and Clinton counties had a surplus of 25,000 bushels of pot&to seed 
 which was sold in other counties. 
 
 Since the entire State showed a shortage of corn, potatoes, and buck- 
 wheat, it was necessary for the Commission to obtain seed from outside 
 the State. Already the Conunission has purchased about 40,000 bush- 
 els of potatoes and is securing options on both corn and buckwheat. 
 
 SPRAY MATERIALS 
 
 Most of the spray materials wanted are available in the counties. 
 
 Table 3. Quantity of Sprat Materials Wanted 
 
 Arsenate of lead 117,372 pounds 
 
 Paris green 38,871 pounds 
 
 Pyrox 26,013 pounds 
 
 Copper sulphate 118,354 pounds 
 
 Ldme=sulfur 157,794 gaUons 
 
 "fertilizers 
 
 The question on fertilizers asked for the amounts which were wanted 
 and which the farmer was unable to get. Many asked for " potash," 
 but since the commercial supply comes from Germany it is not 
 available. 
 
 [8] 
 
Table 4. Fertilizers Wanted 
 
 Kind 
 
 Commercial . . . 
 Acid phosphate 
 Sodium nitrate . 
 Manure 
 
 Quantity 
 wanted 
 
 Tons 
 
 19,403 
 
 6,437 
 
 550 
 
 1,312 
 
 The quantities of fertilizers used last year and to be used this year 
 are given in table 5 : 
 
 Table 5. Fertiuzers Used Last Year and This Year 
 
 Kind 
 
 Quantity 
 
 used last 
 
 year 
 
 r 
 
 Quantity 
 expected 
 to be used 
 this year 
 
 rinmmernin.1 fprfjlizpr 
 
 Tons 
 
 293,499 
 
 156,484 
 
 TOTIS 
 
 365,163 
 
 Lime 
 
 178,169 
 
 
 
 
 There is an increase of 24 per cent in the quantity of fertilizers to 
 be used as compared with last year. The general use of lime is largely 
 a development of the past five years. There will be an increase of 14 
 per cent this year. Very much larger amounts of lime could be used to 
 advantage in many parts of the State, particularly on the hill faiTas. 
 The amount to be used this year averages only 1 ton for each 49 acres of 
 crops. In many parts of the State an application of from a half a ton 
 to a ton is needed every five years, or a ton each year for each 5 or 10 
 acres of crops. 
 
 MACHINERY 
 
 In answer to the question on machinery, 4879 farmers reported that 
 they needed machinery that they were unable to get. Most of these 
 needs are being supplied locally, but there is some shortage. In order 
 to help out the shortage of labor and increase the acreage of crops, the 
 Commission has purchased 40 tractors which are being placed in com- 
 munities where they will be used on at least 150 acres. 
 
 The Commission is also encouraging the use of power ditching 
 machines in order to drain areas of wet land, and has itself purchased 
 and lent to farmers at the cost of operation two large power ditchers. 
 
 [9] 
 
TRANSPORTATION 
 
 Considerable diflBculty has been experienced in getting seeds, fertiliz- 
 ers, and machinery delivered. In all, 5871 farmers reported such dif- 
 ficulty. The railroad companies are cooperating with the Commission 
 in hastening delivery. 
 
 LIVESTOCK WANTED AND FOR SALE 
 
 Farmers report a surplus of 8000 horses for sale. Probably this 
 number of horses could be taken from the farms of New York State for 
 military purposes without interfering with the farm operations. While 
 prices of horses are not high, the money that they would bring would 
 help to buy other things needed on the farms. There are enough cows 
 and hogs to supply the demand, but there is a shortage of sheep. 
 
 Table 6. Livestock Wanted and for Sale 
 
 Number 
 wanted 
 
 Number 
 for sale 
 
 Dairy cows . . . 
 lieifer calves. . 
 Breeding ewes . 
 Work horses . . 
 Brood sows . . . 
 
 42,601 
 18,076 
 26,525 
 9,310 
 2,770 
 49,677 
 
 49,198 
 16,331 
 
 8,740 
 17,308 
 
 4,453 
 63,223 
 
 Lists of farmers who had animals for sale were distributed to those 
 who wanted to buy, in the same way that seed lists were handled. 
 
 LIVESTOCK ON FARMS 
 Table 7. Number of Livestock on Farms on April 24, 1917 
 
 Mares, 3 years old and older 220 445 
 
 Geldings, 3 years old and older. 250132 
 
 Stallions 4 !562 
 
 Colts, under 3 years old 40 916 
 
 Mules, 3 years old and older 6535 
 
 Mule colts, under 3 years old 1 066 
 
 Total horses and mules 523 656 
 
 Calves to be vealed J3]^ ygg 
 
 Bulls 82871 
 
 Steers and beef cattle ' 38495 
 
 Dairy cows, 2 years old and older .............]..,[ 1 351 '572 
 
 Heifers, 1 and under 2 years old (to be raised for dairy cows) *............... ' 334 ' 850 
 
 Heifers, under 1 year old (to be raised for dairy cows) ' ' . ' 224,295 
 
 Total cattle 2,163,879 
 
 «M ^^* number of heifers 1 and under 2 years old includes a considerable number of heifers over 2 years 
 old that have not yet freshened. Probably somewhat more than 10 per cent of the number are in this 
 
 class. 
 
 [10] 
 
Breediag ewes 326,356' 
 
 Spring lambs 199,357 
 
 AU other sheep gl 419 
 
 Total sheep 5S7_ 132 
 
 Brood sows 74 533 
 
 All other hogs and pigs 361,'375 
 
 Total hogs 435,908 
 
 Hens 10,790,000 
 
 Roosters 610,406 
 
 Turkeys 83,124 
 
 Ducks 488,870 
 
 Geese 29,236 
 
 Total poultry 11,901,636 
 
 Bees (number of hives) 120,355 
 
 DAIRY COWS 
 
 The total number of dairy cows 2 years old or older a year ago was 
 1,308,798, the number now is 1,351,5.72, or an increase of a little more 
 than 3 per cent. There are 334,850 heifers over a year old. This is 
 enough to considerably more than maintain the dairy herds, but the 
 very high cost of feed compared with the price received for milk may 
 result in the selling of an unusual number of cows for beef. The same 
 unfavorable ratio of prices of grain and milk is doubtless responsible 
 for the reduction in the number of heifer calves now being raised. The 
 number under 1 year old is now only 224,295 compared with 302,433 
 a year ago, or a decrease of 26 per cent. 
 
 The number of cows has been about constant for 47 years, but pro- 
 duction per cow is greater than formerly. The production for cows 2 
 years old or older in 1899 was 4429 pounds of milk, and in 1900 about 
 4900 pounds. It is doubtless more at the present time. All figures for 
 years before 1916 are taken from United States census reports. 
 
 Press reports indicate that the cattle of France have decreased by 
 over two million since the war began. A similar reduction has been 
 made in all the countries of Europe. There will undoubtedly be a 
 shortage of cattle in Europe for at least two to four years after the war 
 closes. The probable demand from Europe for dairy products should 
 be considered when deciding how many heifers to raise. Of course it is 
 unwise to raise calves from poor cows. 
 
 [11] 
 
Table 8. Dairy Cows on Farms in New York 
 
 Year 
 
 Cows 
 
 Milk 
 produced 
 per cow 
 
 1850 
 
 Number 
 
 931,324 
 1,123,634 
 1,350,661 
 1,437,855 
 1,440,230 
 1,501,608 
 
 *1, 360, 000 
 1,308,798 
 
 tl, 351, 572 
 
 Pounds 
 
 1860 
 
 
 1870 
 
 
 1880 • • ■ 
 
 
 1890. . . 
 
 3,965 
 
 1900 
 
 4,429 
 
 1910. . 
 
 4,900 
 
 1916 
 
 
 1917. . . 
 
 
 
 
 PASTURE AND ITS USE 
 
 The average estimate of- a large number of farmers is that seven 
 sheep eat as much as one cow. On this basis the grazing strength of the 
 State for 77 years is given in table 9. At times of high and low prices 
 small changes are made, but the grazing strength is practically con- 
 stant. Cattle have largely replaced sheep in the past 77 years. 
 
 Table 9. Sheep and Cattle on Farms in New YorkJ 
 
 Year 
 
 Cattle 
 
 Sheep 
 
 Cattle 
 plus 1-7 
 of sheep 
 
 1840 
 
 1,911,244 
 1,973,174 
 2,339,721 
 2,131,392 
 2,596,389 
 2,423,003 
 2,163,879 
 
 5,118,777 
 2,617,855 
 1,715,180 
 1,528,979 
 1,745,746 
 930,300 
 587,132 
 
 2,642,000 
 
 1860 . 
 
 2,347,000 
 
 1880 
 
 2,585,000 
 
 1890 
 
 2,350,000 
 
 1900 
 
 2,846,000 
 2,556,000 
 2,248,000 
 
 1910 
 
 1917 
 
 
 
 * The number of dairy cows 2 years old is not given in the census of 1910. But the number of cows 
 and heifers 15i months old or older is given, and the number of heifers from 3i to 154 months old. From 
 these facts the number of cows 2 years old or older was estimated fairly accurately at the figure given 
 here. The quantity of milk produced divided by this number gives the milk per cow. 
 
 t For 1900 and 1910, 2-year-old heifers that have not freshened are included with cows. If this were 
 done in 1917, the number would probably be about 1,385,000. 
 
 t In 1850 sheep and cattle under 1 year old were omitted, and in 1870 those born in the spring were 
 omitted in the census reports. These years are therefore not comparable with other years In 1840 
 the cattle includes about 200,000 oxen and in 1860 over 100,000 oxen. These have largely been replaced 
 by horses. Taking these out would make a better showing for the later years. In 1910 and 1917 the 
 census was taken earlier in the year than formerly, before many spring calves and lambs were born. 
 
 [12] 
 
The figures for 1917 show a decrease, but only 56 counties are here 
 included. In part the drop is due also to the decrease in the number 
 of heifer calves now being raised. Judging by the area in farms that 
 has not been in crops or in woods, the pasture area also remained about 
 constant. 
 
 If we assume that the woodland pasture is half pasture and half 
 woods, and if we reduce colts, young cattle, and sheep to their equiva- 
 lent in grown cattle, then we now have the equivalent of 1 cow for 
 each 3 acres of pasture. It is very doubtful whether the State has 
 pasturage for many more grazing animals than are now being kept. In 
 time some more land will be cleared and pastures may in time be im- 
 proved, but any large immediate increase in either sheep or cattle will 
 need to be made at the expense of the other. The reason why dairy 
 cows have replaced sheep and beef is that wool and meat can be 
 cheaply shipped long distances and can be produced where feed is 
 cheapest. Milk is not so easily or cheaply transported. The available 
 pasture in the milk-shipping zones is needed for providing milk. The 
 meat supply can be obtained from the more distant states. 
 
 There are, of course, some farmers who might keep more grazing 
 animals. In the regions where dairying is least developed the most 
 sheep are kept and the demand for breeding ewes is largest. The pres- 
 ent demand for ewes justifies the raising of all the good ewe lambs. 
 
 POULTRY AND HOGS 
 Table 10. Poultry and Hogs 
 
 Year 
 
 Poultry 
 
 Hogs 
 
 1880 .... 
 
 6,945,292 
 
 9,206,131 
 
 9,352,412 
 
 10,564,258 
 
 11,901,636 
 
 751,907 
 
 1890 . 
 
 843,342 
 
 1900. .. 
 
 676,639 
 
 1910 
 
 
 666,179 
 
 1917 
 
 
 435,908 
 
 
 
 Number of eggs incubated last year 29,574,045 
 
 Number of eggs expected to be incubated this year 27,924,397 
 
 Over a series of years hogs are decreasing in number, while poultry 
 is decidedly on the increase and has made up the decrease in hogs. Both 
 of these animals depend to a considerable extent on feed that is shipped 
 from the western states. The large center of hog production for the 
 
 [13] 
 
market will of course remain in the Corn Belt, but many New York 
 farmers find that it pays to grow hogs for home use. In a crisis such 
 as the present one it is necessary to limit the feeding of animals on 
 grain that is suitable for human use. New York farmers are therefore 
 decreasing hogs. 
 
 The great increase in the cost of feed this year without a correspond- 
 ing increase in the price of eggs, is the cause of the present decrease in 
 the number of eggs incubated. It is also resulting in the selling of con- 
 siderable poultry that would otherwise be kept. It is certainly unwise 
 to sell laying hens. Farmers who have hens to sell should keep them 
 till they moult and then sell promptly. 
 
 IS THERE DANGER OF OVERPRODUCTION? 
 
 Some farmers have feared overproduction. This fear might be justi- 
 fied were it not for the conditions in Europe. All of Europe is 
 approaching famine conditions, and there is no chance that farmers of 
 Europe can give the care necessary for the production of the best crops. 
 Large quantities of food are being lost at sea. The world's reserve of 
 food is probably the lowest in history. The grain on farms in the 
 United States on March 1, as given in table 11, is 700,000,000 bushels 
 below last year. The quantity in elevators is much short of last year. 
 The wheat crop that has just been harvested in New Zealand, Aus- 
 tralia, and Argentine is estimated at only YO per cent of last year's 
 crop.^ The winter wheat of the United States is in poor condition. 
 
 Table 11. Grain on Fakms in the United States* 
 
 
 March 1, 1916 
 
 March 1, 1917 
 
 Corn ... 
 
 Bushels 
 
 1,116,559,000 
 
 244,448,000 
 
 598,148,000 
 
 58,301,000 
 
 Bushels 
 789,416,000 
 
 Wheat 
 
 101,365,000 
 
 Oats 
 
 393,985,000 
 
 Barley 
 
 32,841,000 
 
 
 
 Total 
 
 2,017,456,000 
 
 1,317,607,000 
 
 
 The rainfall of the United States is so variable that the crop yields of 
 the country depend much on the weather. Few persons in cities realize 
 
 1 Monthly Crop Report, April, 1917. 
 * Monthly Crop Report, March, 1917. 
 
 [14] 
 
how great this dependence is. The 20-year average yield per acre of 
 all grains, including corn, oats, wheat, rye, barley, and buckwheat, in 
 the United States is 1198 pounds. But in 1901 it was only 913 pounds 
 and in 1912 it was 1381 pounds. Because of weather conditions the 
 yields in 1912 were 51 per cent larger than in 1901. If as low yields 
 should occur this year as occurred in 1901, conditions would be very 
 serious. Even if we get as good crops as in 1912, which were the 
 best in twenty years, there is no chance of low prices for grains. 
 
 INCREASED FOOD CROPS IN NEW YORK 
 
 The intelligent way in which New York farmers have responded to 
 the demand for more food is shown by the following comparisons with 
 the acreage eight years ago. The total area of crops is practically the 
 same as it was eight years ago, but there are over 770,000 less acres of 
 grass. This area has been added to the area of grains, fruits, and vege- 
 tables. In eight years the bean acreage has increased 138 per cent, 
 wheat 45 per cent, fruit 35 per cent. Never before have so many acres 
 of intensive crops been grown in New York. The total acreage of 
 fruits, beans, potatoes, cabbage, and other vegetable crops is a third 
 more than it was in 1909. Farmers are increasing the acreage of those 
 crops which prices indicate are most needed. In the attempt to in- 
 crease production each farmer should, of course, grow crops that do 
 well on his farm. No one knows this so well as the farmer who has 
 learned by experience. 
 
 TABLE 12. Use to be Made or Farm Land in New York in 1917, According to the 
 
 Expected Plantings 
 (Land in roads, yards, and waste land is not included) 
 
 Acres 
 
 Per cent 
 
 Fruit crops 
 
 Potatoes, cabbages, vegetables, and miscellaneous crops 
 
 Beans 
 
 Com, oats, barley, buckwheat, wheat, rye 
 
 Corn for the silo 
 
 Hay crops 
 
 Tillable pasture 
 
 Pasture not tillable 
 
 Woods pastured 
 
 Woods not pastured 
 
 Total 
 
 635,088 
 
 3.1 
 
 624,613 
 
 3.6 
 
 275,790 
 
 1.6 
 
 2,698,016 
 
 15.6 
 
 422,867 
 
 2.5 
 
 4,145,590 
 
 24.0 
 
 2,390,659 
 
 13.8 
 
 2,184,832 
 
 12.7 
 
 1,975,469 
 
 11.4 
 
 2,013,332 
 
 11.7 
 
 17,266,256 
 
 100.0 
 
 [15] 
 
TABLE 13. Acres op Crops in 56 Counties in New York with Comparisons fok 
 
 THE Same Counties in 1909 
 
 Crop 
 
 Acres, 
 United 
 States 
 Census, 
 1909 
 
 Acres 
 
 grown in 
 
 1916 
 
 Acres 
 expected 
 
 to be 
 grown in 
 
 1917 
 
 Percentage increase or 
 
 decrease of 1917 
 
 acreage 
 
 Over 1909 Over 1916 
 
 Com for grain 
 
 Com for the silo* 
 
 Oats 
 
 Barley 
 
 Buckwheat 
 
 Winter wheat 1 
 
 Spring wheat / 
 
 Rye 
 
 Field beans 
 
 Alfalfa 
 
 Other hay 
 
 Cabbage 
 
 Potatoes 
 
 Canning-factory crops 
 
 Other vegetables and garden 
 
 Miscellaneous crops f 
 
 Applest 
 
 Peachest 
 
 Pears J 
 
 Plumst 
 
 Cherriesf 
 
 Vineyards! 
 
 Small fruit 
 
 Total 
 
 511,339 
 
 259,082 
 
 1,302,041 
 
 79,955 
 
 286,128 
 
 289,126 
 
 130,449 
 
 115,695 
 
 35,343 
 
 4,737,326 
 
 33,770 
 
 390,552 
 
 131,686 
 
 21,843 
 
 281,061 
 
 15,340 
 
 13,378 
 
 5,742 
 
 4,211 
 
 52,999 
 
 22,388 
 
 8,719,454 
 
 336,543 
 
 362,413 
 
 1,102,004 
 
 92,422 
 
 257,911 
 
 / 344,278 
 
 1 12,373 
 
 114,691 
 
 194,053 
 
 160,985 
 
 i, 073, 333 
 
 38,898 
 
 305,649 
 
 / 44,098 
 
 1 58,340 
 
 35,056 
 
 495,469 
 
 422,867 
 
 1,250,346 
 
 111,634 
 
 300,090 
 
 387,813 
 
 32,425 
 
 120,239 
 
 275,790 
 
 181,912 
 
 3,963,678 
 
 68,890 
 
 382,840 
 
 60,155 
 
 71,833 
 
 40,895 
 
 346,633 
 
 50,149 
 
 36,802 
 
 8,569 
 
 12,414 
 
 52,350 
 
 28,171 
 
 18,701,964 
 
 —3.1 
 63.2 
 
 —4.0 
 
 39.6 
 
 4.9 
 
 45.3 
 
 —7.8 
 138.4 
 414.7 
 —16.3 
 104.0 
 —2.0 
 
 0.2 
 
 87.2 
 
 23.3 
 226.9 
 175.1 
 
 49.2 
 194.8 
 —1.2 
 
 25,8 
 
 47.2 
 
 16.7 
 
 13.5 
 
 20.8 
 
 16.3 
 
 12.6 
 
 162.1 
 
 4.8 
 
 42.1 
 
 13.0 
 
 —2.7 
 
 77.1 
 
 25.2 
 
 /36.4 
 
 \23.1 
 
 16.7 
 
 -0.2 
 
 Corn — The acreage of corn for grain is larger than last year, and 
 nearly as large as it was eight years ago. When corn for the silo is 
 included, a much greater acreage of corn is to be planted than was ever 
 before planted in this State. Any farmer who still has manure around 
 his buildings that is not spread should haul it and apply it for com 
 or potatoes, or for some other crop so that all such manure will be 
 used. 
 
 put InthTIl^o/noT ^ ™''° '" ^^^ '"" '" ^^"^ "' ^°° ^'^^' ^ **■'" '""'""^^ «" " =<>«'=« forage " whether 
 
 tTa^n^ Zi^l rroa"Jt '"""''^ "^ '''"^- '''"' '""'"^^ ^ *"« P-tllelT^ 'ii.liI°^.TobX Z^e 
 
 [16] 
 
Corn for the silo — This crop has shown a remarkable increase; 
 60,410 farmers are now growing corn for the silo, or nearly one-third 
 of the farmers in the State. Practically every farm on which corn 
 grows well and where a good-sized herd of cows is kept should have a 
 silo. This condition is being rapidly approached. 
 
 Oats and barley — These crops occupy an increased acreage as com- 
 pared with last year. 
 
 Buckwheat — This crop will grow on poor land. There are a con- 
 siderable number of fields that are growing indifferent hay crops, 
 which may yet be plowed and sown to buckwheat. 
 
 Wheat — Last fall was very unfavorable for planting wheat, but the 
 acreage was increased over that of recent years. Unfortunately the 
 condition of the crop is not generally good. A considerable area of 
 spring wheat has been planted. Plans should be made for planting 
 a large area of winter wheat this fall. These plans mean that provi- 
 sion should be made early to get the necessary fertilizers. On lands 
 that are not good enough for wheat a large increase in the planting of 
 rye is desirable this fall. 
 
 Field beans — The proposed planting of this crop is much more 
 than twice the area grown eight years ago. A crop that contains so 
 much food value for its weight and bulk is particularly desirable for 
 shipment to Europe. Seed is available and there is yet time to increase 
 still further the area to be planted. There seems to be no doubt 
 that a high price will be paid for all that can be grown. 
 
 Potatoes — The potato acreage to be planted in New York State in 
 1917 is 382,840 acres which is 77,191 acres greater than in 1916, 
 but 7,000 acres less than in 1909. There is also an uncertain possi- 
 bility of a considerable further increase in production from the many 
 small garden plots planted this year. To offset this and since grain 
 will undoubtedly be high, it would seem that potatoes will likely be 
 used as a substitute and thus benefit from the high price of grain. The 
 safe policy would appear to be to increase the grain acreage in prefer- 
 ence to the acreage of perishable products. 
 
 Cabbage The proposed acreage of cabbage shows an increase of 
 
 77 per cent over last year. So much depends on the weather that no 
 one can tell how much should be planted, but it is possible that some 
 of this acreage might better be planted to corn and bean,s. 
 
 [17] 
 
Fruits — The acreage of fruit shows a very marked increase over 
 the area eight years ago. The acres in bearing trees have doubtless 
 not increased as much as the total area reported. 
 
 Hay — Most of the increased acreage of all the preceding crops is 
 gained by plowing up hay land and pastures. The area of hay other 
 than alfalfa is decreased by 110,000 acres as compared with. last year, 
 and by 770,000 acres as compared with eight years ago. There is on 
 hand on farms now 763,651 tons of hay in addition to the amount 
 necessary to carry the livestock till new hay comes. This is nearly 
 4 tons per farm. Hay is now cheap and it seems desirable for farm- 
 ers to hold as -much as possible of the amount now on hand. With the 
 high-priced grain that is certain for next year, large quantities of hay 
 will be needed. If the season should be unfavorable, the hay held 
 oyer will be very much needed. If not wanted on the farm, it is likely 
 to sell for a good price. 
 
 One of the striking changes is the increase in area of alfalfa. In 
 1899 there were 5582 acres in the State; now there are 181,912 acres 
 or more than 32 times as much. This crop reduces the amount of grain 
 feed required. On all soils where it grows well it is coming to be a 
 very important crop. 
 
 New York State Food Supply Commission, 
 
 C. S. Wilson, Chairman 
 J. J. Dillon 
 S. J. Lowell 
 F. W. Sessions 
 Seth J. T. Bush 
 E. D. Cooper 
 
 M. C. BUERITT 
 J. H. FiNLEY 
 
 A. R. Mann, Secretary. 
 
 J. B. LYON COMPANY, PRINTEHS, ELEOTROTYPEra AND BINDEBS. ALBANY, N. 
 
 I 181 
 
^ • ^ 
 
NO. 3 JUNE 9, 1917 
 
 Bulletin of the New York 
 State Food Supply Commission 
 
 For Patriotic Agricultural Service 
 
 AGRICULTURAL HALL, ALBANY, N. Y. 
 
 PUBLISHED SEMI-MONTHLY BY THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE OF THE 
 
 STATE OF NEW YORK 
 
 How Farm Tractors Are Loaned 
 
 Program for Reducing Crop Losses from 
 Insect Pests and Plant Diseases 
 
 Chapters 205 and 369, Laws of 1917 
 
 County Organization 
 
 'It is clearly recognized that the man who tills the soil and pro- 
 duces the food for the soldier in the field and his family at 
 home is rendering a patriotic service, as truly as is the man 
 who bears the brunt of battle. 
 
 —CHARLES S. WHITMAN 
 
 Application for entry as second-class matter'at the Post Office at Albany, N. Y., 
 pending. 
 
NEW YORK STATE FOOD SUPPLY COMMISSION 
 
 (Address all communications to the Commission at Albany) 
 
 Charles S. Wilson, Albany, Chairman, 
 
 In charge of Division of Administration. 
 
 A. E.. Mann, Ithaca, Secretary, 
 
 In charge of Division of Food Conservation. 
 
 M. C. Bnrritt, Ithaca, 
 
 In charge of Division of County Organization. 
 
 J. H. Finley, Albany, 
 
 In charge of Division of Schools and Colleges. 
 J. J. Dillon, New York City, 
 
 In charge of Division of Distribution, Storage and 
 Marketing. 
 
 S. J. Lowell, Fredonia, 
 
 In charge of Division of Loans and Farm Lands. 
 
 F. W. Sessions, Utica, 
 
 In charge of Division of Farm Labor. 
 R. D. Cooper, Little Falls, 
 
 In charge of Division of Seeds, Fertilizers and Live Stock. 
 
 S. J. T. Bush, Morton, 
 
 In charge of Division of Transportation and Machinery. 
 
 Dwight Sanderson, Albany, Assistant Secretary. 
 Charles Scott, Albany, Accountant. 
 
"' HOW FARM TRACTORS ARE LOANED BY THE 
 
 COMMISSION , ji rij 
 
 Believing that through the use of farm tractors and tillage 
 implements the agricultural products of New York can be largely 
 increased, the Commission has purchased forty tractors of the 
 following make and power: Case 9-18 with two-'bottom plow; 
 Case 10-20 with three-bottom plow; Mogul 8-16 with two-bottom 
 plow, disc harrow, tandem cutaway harrow and 70-tooth peg- 
 harrow; Titan with three-bottom plow and other equipment as 
 with Mogul. So far thirty-one tractors have been permanently 
 placed and four temporarily loaned. The tractors are to be used 
 for two purposes: (a) to increase the number of acres of land 
 plowed and tilled during the season of 1917 in addition to the 
 number of acres that would otherwise be plowed and tilled, (b) as 
 a demonstration of the feasibility of such aid by the state. 
 
 The county representative of this Commission should ascertain, 
 and crystalize local demands for tractors and then take the matter 
 up with the Commission. The tractors are loaned to a County 
 JFarm Bureau Association, a County Home Defense Committee, 
 or some responsible farmers' organization. The Commission 
 depends on its county representative to satisfy himself that all the 
 conditions of the contract are fulfilled, that the increased acreage 
 is available, and that the land is adapted to the use of a tractor. 
 
 When the contract is signed by one of the above organizations, 
 and approved by the county representative, it will be accepted by 
 the Commission and a tractor will be shipped if available. In all 
 cases the organization signing the contract is responsible to the 
 Commission for the tractor and for the repairs necessary for 
 maintenance. The tractor and equipment which is thus turned 
 over by the Commission remains the property of the state and 
 under the control of this Commission, unless and until purchased 
 by the parties securing the tractor. 
 
 It is appreciated by the Commission that a local organization is 
 in much closer and more direct touch with local conditions and 
 requirements than the central office of the Commission can pos- 
 sibly be. Because of this fact the responsibility for the effective 
 use of a tractor within a county lies with the organization signing 
 
the contract, and it is for this organization to determine upon what 
 farms, and upon what conditions the tractor can be placed and 
 used to best advantage. 
 
 From available data the Commission has figured the average 
 depreciation for all of the tractors supplied, irrespective of the 
 exact amount of work done by each. This charge has been set for 
 the season up to December 1, 1917; for a two-plow outfit, at one 
 hundred and fifty dollars ($150) ; for a three-plow outfit, at one 
 hundred and seventy-five dollars ($1*75). These figures cover only 
 the depreciation that must inevitably occur, no charge being made 
 for the interest on capital invested, or for profit of any kind. 
 These charges must be paid to the Commission by the organization 
 securing the machine on or before December 1, 1917. Any time 
 after December 1 the tractors may be purchased by the organiza- 
 tion using them. In case of such a purchase, all the money paid 
 to the Commission for the use of said tractor will be applied and 
 credited on the purchase price. In no case will this Commission 
 loan or sell tractors to individuals. 
 
 The organization ordering a tractor will have the responsibility 
 of determining the method of charging, and the charges to be 
 made to individual farmers for the use of the machine. The Food 
 Supply Commission does not desire in any way to interfere with 
 the local organization in determining the method of charging, or 
 the charges to be made, but for the information of the local com- 
 mittees they offer the following : 
 
 As it is of prime importance that each tractor do the maximum 
 amount of work possible in the brief time available it would seem 
 undesirable to attempt to complete the plowing of fields entirely 
 with inexperienced operators. Much time will be saved if the 
 last bouts in the dead furrows and the plowing of the headlands be 
 done by horses. Finishing the dead furrows and the rolling of 
 completed lands should be promptly done by the farmer so that 
 the tractor may at once begin disking as soon as it has done its 
 work on the last land. While the center of the field is being disked 
 the farmer should finish and roll the headlands so that the tractor 
 may fit them just before it leaves. 
 
 There are two methods of charging, an acre basis, or an hour 
 basis. Of the two the Commission is inclined to recommend the 
 hour basis, as it will tend to insure the greatest results from the 
 
tractor, by making it to the interest of the individual to get the 
 greatest returns for the time consumed. Fields with many fast 
 stones, or wet spots, will be avoided and many vexatious delays 
 prevented. 
 
 In determining the charge per hour the following figures for a 
 day of ten hours may be considered as reasonably reliable for 
 average conditions. The character of work, adjustment of car- 
 buretor, adjustment of plows, and skill of operator will all 
 influence the fuel consumption and repair costs. Interest on 
 capital is not charged by the Commission and need not of necessity 
 be charged by the local committee. 
 
 The estimate of costs indicated is for a day of ten hours. These 
 costs have been put as low as they can reasonably be set. 
 
 Two-Plow Outfits 
 
 Fuel, 15 gallons kerosene at 10 cents $1 50 
 
 Gasolene, oil, grease, waste, etc 75 
 
 Interest, 5% per cent 50 
 
 Depreciation 2 00 
 
 Repairs, plow points, etc 75 
 
 Labor, during running 3 00 
 
 Labor to allow for delays 1 00 
 
 $9 50 
 
 Cost per hour 95 
 
 Cost per acre (plowing 4% acres per day) 2 00 
 
 Cost per acre (plowing 6 acres per day) 1 60 
 
 Cost per acre (disking 15 acres per day) 65 
 
 Thebe-Plow Outfits 
 
 Fuel, 20 gallons kerosene at 10 cents $2 00 
 
 Gasolene, oil, grease, waste, etc 90 
 
 Interest 5% per cent 60 
 
 Depreciation ^ °0 
 
 Eepairs, plow points, etc 1 00 
 
 Labor, during running 3 00 
 
 Labor, to allow for delays 1 00 
 
 $11 00 
 
1 
 
 10 
 
 1 
 
 85 
 
 1 
 
 40 
 
 
 55 
 
 Cost per hour 
 
 Cost per acre (plowing 6 acres per day) . 
 Cost per acre (plowing 8 acres per day) , 
 Cost per acre (disking 20 acres per day) . 
 
 In order to be safe, local committees might charge for two-plow 
 outfits $1 or $1.10 instead of 95 cents per hour, and for three-plow 
 outfits $1.25 or $1.35 per hour instead of $1.10. If experience 
 should show the charges too high, rebates could be made at any 
 time to the first customers, and the rate reduced thereafter. 
 
 The fundamental requirement for successful and efficient 
 tractor operation is the securing of a competent operator. The 
 cost, success, and efficiency of operation and the size of repair bills 
 will be determined largely byj the skill of the operator. Such a 
 machine requires a man with mechanical ability for its successful 
 operation. With this end in view the Commission keeps in touch 
 with men qualified to recommend reliable operators, and it is 
 our aim to assist our local representatives who have tractors in 
 charge to secure competent men. 
 
 The Commission now employs an expert from the Department 
 of Rural Engineering at the State College of Agriculture, Ithaca, 
 New York, as a superintendent of tractors. He will have general 
 supervision of the operation of all our tractors and will do his best 
 to prevent trouble by personally visiting each machine several 
 times during the season and giving instructions in the proper care 
 and operation of these machines. The companies are closely 
 co-operating with the Commission in this work with one common 
 end in view : the least amount of breakdown possible and the least 
 possible amount of time lost through unavoidable breakdowns. 
 
 With the same end in view the Commission is preparing a set 
 of instructions to be placed in the hands of all operators, explain- 
 ing just how to telegraph for repairs, where the nearest supply 
 station is, who to telegraph for an expert repair man, the essential 
 facts to include in such telegrams. 
 
 The companies and the Commission have put themelvess at the 
 disposal of our representatives who are handling tractors and it is 
 our intention to make the operation of these tractors througliout 
 the state as successful and efficient as possible. 
 
PROGRAM FOR REDUCING CROP LOSSES FROM PLANT 
 DISEASES AND INSECT PESTS 
 
 A. E. Mann, Commissioner in Charge 
 
 Geneeal Chabactee of the Woek 
 This phase of the Food Supply Commission's work is to be in 
 the nature of a special advisory service to growers throughout the 
 State. The work is to be done by expert plant pathologists and 
 entomologists. Special field agents under the immediate direction 
 of these experts will be stationed in regions where the intensive 
 cultivation of staple crops demands such assistance. 
 
 Oeganizatiokt oe the Woek 
 
 In organizing and carrying out this program, the work is to be 
 made supplementary to the regular work of the Farm Bureau and 
 of the other emergency work of the Food Supply Commission 
 throughout the State. The Commission expects that the work will 
 be done through the cooperation and coordination of existing 
 State agencies, such as the State College of Agriculture, State 
 Experiment Station, the State Entomologist's office, farm bureaus, 
 farm associations, agricultural high schools, and of available 
 Federal agencies. 
 
 The county is, in general, to constitute the unit. The farm 
 bureau or commission representative's office will usually be the 
 headquarters for local field assistants, and the machinery of that 
 office will be the channel through which the farmers are to be 
 reached. The local field assistant will be virtually a field assistant 
 to the farm bureau or commission representative. He will, how- 
 ever, be under the general direction of an expert leader on the 
 special line to which he is assigned. 
 
 Work is to be undertaken only on the request or hearty con- 
 sent of the county agent or representative and his advisers. 
 
 Ceops Which aee to Receive Special Attention 
 In determining what crops should receive first consideration, 
 the factors considered were — importance as staple food, acreage 
 and yield, diseases and pests which may be effectively combated 
 
during the current season, control measures tliat will be effective 
 in decreasing losses of next year's crops. With these factors in 
 mind, the following crop list has been decided upon : 
 
 Potatoes. 
 
 Fruits (apples, pears, peaches, cherries and small fruit). 
 
 Cereals and forage crops. 
 
 Truck and garden crops. 
 
 Live stock (insect pests of). 
 
 Beans.-;- While it is realized that the bean crop is one of the 
 most important, two considerations have made it seem unnecessary 
 to provide a special project for conducting work on the pests and 
 diseases of this crop: first, because the state has this year made 
 a special appropriation for the work on the bean crop, which work 
 is already under way : and second, because effective work on most 
 bean diseases must be undertaken the autumn preceding planting 
 of the crop. Such work on beans is provided for under the cereal, 
 field and truck crop project. 
 
 Peojected Lines of Woek 
 The following distinct projects or lines of activity have been 
 approved and are being organized: 
 
 1. Potato spraying for blight and bugs. 
 
 2. Increasing of yield and quality of potatoes for table and seed 
 by selection and seed treatment of seed for next year's planting. 
 
 3. Control of diseases and pests of fruits. 
 
 4. Control of cereal and forage crop diseases and pests. 
 
 5. Control of diseases and pests of truck and garden crops, 
 including such field crops as cabbage and cauliflower. 
 
 6. Control of insect pests of live stock. 
 
 7. Insect pest survey and information service. 
 
 8. Plant disease survey and information service. 
 
 Leadees and Specialists 
 
 In charge of plant disease work: M. F. Barrus and H. H. 
 Whetzel, of the State College of Agriculture, Ithaca. 
 
 In general charge of insect pest control : C. R. Crosby and R. 
 Matheson, of the State College of Agriculture, Ithaca. 
 
9 
 
 In charge of insect pest survey and information service : E. P. 
 Felt, State Entomologist, 'State Department of Education, Albany. 
 
 In charge of plant disease survey: H. H. Whetzel (in co-opera- 
 tion with Federal Plant Disease Survey). 
 
 Leaders of potato spraying : W. H. Rankin, of the State College 
 of Agriculture, Ithaca and F. C. Stewart, of the State Experi- 
 ment Station, Geneva, with six or eight field assistants. 
 
 Leaders of potato crop improvement by seed treatment, selec- 
 tion, inspection: R. J. Haskell, State College of Agriculture, 
 Ithaca, assisted by two experts, Robert Rands and E. V. Harden- 
 burgh. 
 
 Leader of fruit disease control : L. R. Hosier, State College of 
 Agriculture, Ithaca, with five or more field assistants. 
 
 Leader of cereal, beans and forage crop disease control: C. T. 
 Gregory, State College of Agriculture, Ithaca (to come on late in 
 summer). 
 
 Experts on diseases of field and garden crops: M. F. Barrus 
 and C. T. Gregory. 
 
 Expert on insect pests of live stock : J. W. Richardson. 
 
 Expert on fruit pests co-operating with L. R. Hesler: A. B. 
 Buckholz of the State Department of Agriculture. 
 
 Expert on insect pests of field and truck crops, co-operating 
 with M. F. Barrus and W. H. Rankin : C. C. Hamilton. 
 
 The State Department of Agriculture is co-operating in the 
 work by placing so far as possible the services of its horticultural 
 inspection force at the disposal of the Commission. 
 
 The Department of Agriculture of the Federal Government is 
 materially assisting the work through its co-operation on the 
 disease and pest surveys. 
 
 Use This Service 
 The Commission desires that growers of crops throughout the 
 state take advantage of the service thus afforded them and make 
 every possible use of it to decrease their losses from insect and 
 fungous attacks. County agents of the Farm Bureau and the 
 Food Supply Commission are urged to advise the project leaders 
 at once of their particular needs for assistance. Such assistance 
 will be promptly provided so far as available. 
 
10 
 
 WHAT ONE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT IS DOING 
 
 " We have one hundred and fifty pupils out, and they 
 report to me by postal cards once a week. We know that the 
 boys who are working gardens under Mr. Chappell's direct 
 supervision are working O. K. On the other hand, the 
 parents of those pupils who are working on farms sign the 
 postals, so it will not be necessary for us to go to their homes, 
 as we know that if a boy is working on a farm, his father 
 will make him work. 
 
 " I have organized a corps of boys from fourteen to 
 eighteen years old, who will work during the months of July ■ 
 and August under my supervision, together with Mr. Butler 
 and Mr. Chappell. We stand ready to go out in squads of 
 five or ten, in and around Canandaigua, to assist the farmers 
 if they need us, and I have already had inquiries from differ- 
 ent farmers, who asked if we would be able to furnish boy 
 labor for weeding onions and beets, hoeing potatoes, etc. Mr. 
 Butler, Mr. Chappel, and I also have three acres of ground 
 which we are working ourselves. We have two acres of 
 ground back of the Academy that the manual training boys 
 are working under Mr. Butler's supervision, but I expect that 
 by July 1, the manual training boys will leave and we will 
 have to take it over. 
 
 "We have a lot of work mapped out and we expect to 
 carry it out, as there is little use in planting a lot of gardens 
 and not taking care of them. 
 
 " Tours very truly, 
 
 "(Signed) LUTHER N. STEELE, 
 
 " Superintendent of Schools, Canandaigua, N. Y." 
 
11 
 
 CO-OPERATIVE POTATO GROWING 
 
 Ceestwood, N. Y., April 24, 191T. 
 
 Believing that we can perform no greater service at this time, 
 than to do our best to increase the food supply : We, the under- 
 signed, purpose to secure as much land as we can properly care 
 for, prepare it and to plant potatoes. To the accomplishment of 
 this end we subscribe to the following agreement : 
 
 Two of us to be appointed a governing committee. The 
 governing committee to supervise the work until the crop is 
 harvested, division of same made and the organization dis- 
 banded. 
 
 The governing committee will arrange for the preparation 
 of the ground, plowing, harrowing and marking. Purchase 
 the seed, fertilizer, supplies for the extermination of bugs, 
 insects, etc. To cover this expense an initial assessment is 
 made of ten dollars on each of us to be deposited with the 
 governing committee and disbursed by them. 
 
 The governing committee shall keep an accurate account 
 of all expenditures and report same to a full meeting to be 
 held at least once each month. If any money remains 
 unspent at the end of the season a dividend shall be paid, 
 made up of each balance equally to each of us. 
 
 We pledgee each of us to do Ms full share of the tvork, of 
 planting, cultivating, exterminating hugs and insects arid 
 harvesting the crop. In case some of us find it impossible 
 at the prescribed times to be on hand and keep up his end of 
 the work he shall furnish a substitute worker and personally 
 pay the expense. 
 
 The governing committee shall appoint the time through- 
 out the season for assembling for work and keep an accurate 
 record of the time each of us puts in. 
 
 It is further agreed that there shall be no profit made by 
 any of us in this venture. The potatoes after being harvested 
 shall be equally divided, each of us to share and share alike. 
 If some of us require more potatoes than his individual share 
 
12 
 
 he will be permitted to purchase (at cost) from those of us 
 who wish to sell. 
 
 If more potatoes are produced than we ourselves require 
 we agree to pool such surplus and see to it that they are dis- 
 posed of to people who are in actual need or to hospitals at 
 a price not to exceed the amount of money we have, paid out 
 for production. 
 
 We, each of us, further agree that any one of us who breaks 
 this agreement shall forfeit his interest in the. organization 
 and shall not receive any share in the division of the crop. 
 
 Governing Committee. 
 
13 
 
 THE ACT CREATING THE NEW YORK STATE FOOD 
 SUPPLY COMMISSION 
 
 Ohaptek 205, Laws 1917. 
 
 Approved by the Governor, April 17, 1917. 
 
 AN ACT to provide for assuring an adequate food supply and for 
 promoting the production thereof, and making an appropriation 
 therefor. 
 
 Section 1. A commission is hereby created, for the purposes 
 of this act, to consist of the commissioner of agriculture, the com- 
 missioner of education, the dean of the New York State College 
 of Agriculture, the state director of farm bureaus, the commis- 
 sioner of foods and markets, and four other members, who shall 
 be appointed by the governor. The commissioner of agriculture 
 shall be chairman of the commission. The members of such com- 
 mission shall receive no compensation for the performance of 
 their duties under this act, but shall be paid their actual and 
 necessary expenses incurred in connection therewith. 
 
 The commission shall have the power, and it shall be the object 
 and purpose of the commission, to adopt all necessary measures 
 to assure an adequate food supply in the state and to promote the 
 production of such supply, by co-operating with the state depart- 
 ment of agriculture, the state department of education, other 
 state departments and commissions, the State College of Agricul- 
 ture and other state institutions, and the various farm bureaus 
 and official and unofficial organizations. Moneys used in aiding 
 the functions of a state department, commission or institution, 
 shall be applied in accordance with laws governing the exercise 
 of such functions. Within the amount of moneys appropriated, 
 the commission may employ such assistants as may be necessary, 
 and, if so directed by the commission with the approval of the 
 governor, additional assistants may be employed by any state 
 department, commission or institution for carrying out the pro- 
 visions of this act. By reason of the emergency which occasions 
 the enactment of this statute, all assistants employed under this 
 act shall be exempt from civil service examinations, rules and 
 regulations. 
 
14 
 
 § 2. The commission may, if in its judgment the public inter- 
 est requires, buy and distribute at cost seed for staple productions 
 in any section of the state and may accept loans from private cor- 
 porations or individuals for the same purpose. It may also act 
 as the agent for any voluntary organization to distribute seed or 
 otherwise stimulate agricultural production or co-operate with 
 such orgahi'iation or organizations foif that purpose. 
 
 § 3. [As amended by chapter 506, Laws 1917. Approved by 
 the Governor, May 16, 1917.] The sum of five hundred thousand 
 dollars ($500,000), or so much thereof as may be necessary, is 
 hereby appropriated out of any moneys in the state treasury not 
 otherwise appropriated, to carry out the provisions of this act. 
 Such money shall be paid to the commission or to its order by the 
 state treasurer from time to time on the warrant of the comp- 
 troller, upon requisition signed by the chairman of such commis- 
 sion and the governor. 
 
 The comptroller is hereby authorized and directed to advance 
 to said commission for use in making purchases for sale and dis- 
 tribution, as provided in section two hereof, such sum of money 
 as said commission may require and request, not to exceed one- 
 fifth of the amount appropriated herein. The said commission 
 is hereby authorized to use such money in making such purchases 
 and to use the money received from sales of goods so purchased 
 in making further purchases of the kind provided in section two 
 for resale, but such purchases shall be approved by the comp- 
 troller. The provisions of section thirty-seven of the finance law 
 requiring the payment of moneys into the state treasury on or 
 before the fifth day of each month shall not apply to money re- 
 ceived by the commission from the sales of goods purchased as 
 provided herein. 
 
 On or before September first and December thirty-first, each 
 year, until the close of tlie present war, the commission shall make 
 a verified report to the comptroller of the disbursements made by 
 it to such date. The commission shall expire at the close of 
 such war or at such earlier time as the legislature shall determine. 
 
 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately. 
 
15 
 
 THE ACT CREATING THE STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE 
 
 Chapter 369, Laws 1917. 
 
 Approved by the Governor May i, 1917. 
 
 AN ACT establishing a state council of defense and defining the 
 powers and duties of such council and making an appropriation 
 therefor. 
 
 Section 1. The governor may appoint a council consisting of 
 not more than seven persons, each of whom shall have special 
 knowledge of some industry, public utility or the development of 
 some natural resource or be otherwise especially qualified for the 
 performance of the duties hereinafter provided. The governor 
 shall be chairman of the council and he may designate a vice- 
 chairman thereof. The members of such council shall serve with- 
 out compensation but shall be allowed actual expenses of travel 
 when attending meetings of the council or engaged in investiga- 
 tions pertaining to its activities. 
 
 It shall be the duty of the council to make investigations and 
 to report in reference to the location and capacity of railroads, 
 automobiles, and all other means of transportation and convey- 
 ance within the state so as to determine their availability to the 
 military purposes of the state and to render possible the expedi- 
 tious mobilization and concentration of state troops and supplies 
 to points of defense and military advantage ; to make such investi- 
 gations and report in reference to the military and naval resources 
 of the state and the development and the enlargement thereof; to 
 make such investigations and report in reference to the production 
 within the state of articles and materials essential to the support 
 of the military forces of the state and the location, method, means 
 of production and availability of military supplies ; the giving of 
 information to producers and manufacturers as to the class of 
 supplies needed by such military forces and the creation of rela- 
 tions which will render possible in time of need the immediate 
 concentration and utilization of the resources of the state for 
 military purposes; and in general to make all investigations, 
 arrangements and plans for the efiicient co-ordination and co- 
 operation of the military, industrial, agricultural and commercial 
 resources of the state in time of war. 
 
16 
 
 The council shall have power to employ assistants and subordi- 
 nates and fix their compensation. Persons so employed shall be 
 deemed to be in the military service of the state. 
 
 § 2. No board, officer or commission shall hereafter order or 
 contract for the purchase of property or direct that any expense 
 be incurred pursuant to the appropriations made by chapters 
 three, one hundred and three and two hundred and five of the 
 laws of nineteen hundred and seventeen until the state defense 
 council shall have authorized the purchase or expense, limiting 
 the amount of the expenditure therefor, and shall have delivered a 
 certificate of such authorization to the comptroller and to the 
 board, officer or commission for whom or which such appropria- 
 tions were made. Such authority may be revoked at any time by 
 the commission except as to obligations incurred before such 
 revocation. Except as to expenditures heretofore ordered or 
 incurred, no warrant shall hereafter be drawn by the comptroller 
 for the payment of moneys from any such appropriations unless 
 the item or account to be paid is included in an expenditure 
 authorized by the state defense council, as herein provided. The 
 authority of the state defense council for each item of a pro- 
 posed purchase or other expenditure shall not be necessary. Such 
 authority may be granted for the expenditure of stated amounts, 
 from time to time, for stated purposes. 
 
 § 3. The sum of one million dollars ($1,000,000), or so much 
 thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated out of any 
 moneys in the treasury not otherwise appropriated, for carrying 
 out the provisions of this act, and for the organization and develop- 
 ment of the military resources of the state. The sum hereby 
 appropriated shall be expended upon the approval of the council 
 and the audit and warrant of the comptroller of the state. 
 
 § 4. This act shall take effect immediatelv. 
 
17 
 
 COUNTY REPRESENTATIVES 
 
 County Offices of the Commission aee in Charge op the 
 Following County Representatives and Assistants 
 
 Albany H. E. Crouch 90 Court House, Albany.. 
 
 Manager, Albany Co. Farm Bureau. 
 
 Assistant, R. C. Van Horn. 
 Allegany R. Q. Smith Belmont. 
 
 Manager, Allegany Co. Farm Bureau. 
 
 Assistant, R. L. Gillette. 
 Broome J. F. Eastman Court House, Biughamton 
 
 Manager, Broome Co. Farm Bureau. 
 
 Assistant, H. J. Rood. 
 Cattaraugus. . . H. K. Crofoot Clean. 
 
 Manager Cattaraugus Co. Farm 
 Bureau. 
 
 Assistant, H. J. Metzger. 
 Cayuga E. C. Weatherby Auburn. 
 
 Manager, Cayuga Co. Farm Bureau. 
 
 Assistant, W. E. Knapp. 
 Chatauqua. ... H. B. Rogers Jamestown. 
 
 Manager, Chautauqua Co. Farm 
 Bureau. 
 
 Assistant, R. F. Frioke. 
 Chemung T. W. Vann Chamber of Commerce, 
 
 Manager, Chemung Co. Farm Bureau. Elmira. 
 
 Assistant, A. S. Burchard. 
 Chenango E. P. Smith Norwich. 
 
 Manager, Chenango Co. Farm Bureau. 
 
 Assistant, T. U. Billings. 
 CUnton C. B. Tillson Plattsburgh. 
 
 Manager, CUnton Co. Farm Bureau. 
 
 No special assistant. 
 
 Columbia W. I. Roe Court House, Hudson. 
 
 Cortland A. S. Merchant Cortland. 
 
 Manager, Cortland Co. Farm Bureau. 
 
 Assistant, M. T. Merrick. 
 Delaware E. R. Eastman V/alton. 
 
 Manager, Delaware Co. Farm Bureau. 
 
 Assistant, O. H. Chapin. 
 Dutchess F. H. Lacy Poughkeepsie. 
 
 Manager, Dutchess Co. Farm Bureau. 
 
 Assistant, G. N. Hammond. 
 Erie W. L. Markham Chamber of Commerce, 
 
 Manager, Erie Co. Farm Bureau. Buffalo. 
 
 Assistant, J. L. Laycock. 
 Essex H. J. Tillson Essex. 
 
 Manager, Essex Co. Farm Bureau. 
 
 Assistant, P. B. Woodford. 
 Franklin G. M. Austin Malone. 
 
 Manager, FrankUn Co. Farm Bureau. 
 
 Assistant, J. M. Hurley. 
 
 Fulton N. E. Beers 5 South Main St., Glovers- 
 
 ville. 
 
 Genesee F. B. Cullinan Batavia. 
 
 Greene N. C. Rogers CatskiU. 
 
 Herkimer C. A. Taylor .^ Herkimer. 
 
 Manager, Herkimer Co. FarmjBureau. 
 
 Assistant, C. F.^Cochrane. 
 
18 
 
 ■ Jefferson F. E. Robertson Watertown. 
 
 Manager, Jefferson Co. Farm Bureau. 
 
 Assistant, E. S. Stone. 
 
 Lewis H. N. Young Lowville. 
 
 Livingston. ... H. N. Humphrey Mt. Morris. 
 
 Madison D. F. Putnam Cazenovia. 
 
 Manager, Madison Co. Farm Bureau. 
 
 Assistant, J. L. Finneran. 
 Monroe L. A. Toan Chamber of Commerce- 
 Manager, Monroe Co. Farm Bureau. Rochester. 
 
 Assistant, G. H. Miller. 
 Montgomery. . Wm. Hagar Canajoharie. 
 
 Manager, Montgomery Co. Farm 
 Bureau. 
 
 Assistant, B. A. Allen. 
 Nassau T. M. Avery Mineola. 
 
 Manager, Nassau Co. Farm Bureau. 
 
 Assistant, M. G. Briggs. 
 Niagara N. R. Peet Lockport. 
 
 Manager, Niagara Co. Farm Bureau. 
 
 Assistant, J. W. Robson. 
 Oneida O. F. Ross Chamber of Commerce, 
 
 Manager, Oneida Co. Farm Bureau. ITtica. 
 
 Assistant, A. D. Davies. 
 Onondaga J. R. Teall 112 Court House, Syra- 
 
 Manager, Onondaga Co. Farm Bureau. cuse. 
 
 Assistant, Ehner J. Bucknell. 
 
 Ontario. ...... O. W. Dynes Room 3, Kinde Block, 
 
 Canandaigua. 
 Orange T. E. MiUiman Middletown,. 
 
 Manager, Orange Co. Farm Biu'eau. 
 
 Assistant, J. C. Crissey. 
 Orleans L. J. Steele Albion. 
 
 Manager, Orleans Co. Farm Bureau. 
 
 Assistant, O. M. Smith. 
 Oswego E. V. Underwood Oswego. 
 
 Manager, Oswego Co. Farm Bureau. 
 
 Assistant, F. A. Wangler. 
 Otsego F. S. Barlow Cooperstown. 
 
 Manager, Otsego Co. Farm Bureau. 
 
 Assistant, D. T. Johnston. 
 
 Putnam Glenn J. Wight Brewster. 
 
 Rensselaer. ... N. G. Farber Court House, Troy. 
 
 Manager, Rensselaer Co. Farm Bureau. 
 
 Assistant, P. W. Carter. 
 
 Rockland L. A. Muckle Spring Valley. 
 
 St. Lawrence. . Errol S. Bird Canton. 
 
 Manager, St. Lawrence Co. Farm 
 Bureau. 
 
 Assistant, C. L. Allen. 
 Saratoga C. S. Phelps Saratoga Springs. 
 
 Manager, Saratoga Co. Farm Bureau. 
 
 Schenectady.. . S. G. Judd Court House, Schenectady 
 
 Schoharie R. F. Pollard Cobleskill. 
 
 Manager, Schoharie Co. Farm Bureau. 
 
 Assistant, G. C. Porter. 
 
 Schuyler H. C. Chapin Watkins. 
 
 Seneca H. E. Haslett First Nat. Bank, Ovid. 
 
 Suffolk R. C. Parker Court House, Riverhead. 
 
 Manager, Suffolk Co. Farm Bureau. 
 
 Assistant, Geo. W. Creighton, Jr. 
 
19 
 
 Steuben CO. DuBois Alfred. 
 
 Manager, Steuben Co. Farm Bureau. 
 
 Assistants, Luther Banta, & B. E. 
 Poutina. 
 
 Branch Office, Jay Geldor Bath. 
 
 Sullivan H. P. Smith Ijberty. 
 
 Manager, Sullivan Co. Farm Bureau. 
 
 Assistant, S. Sabel. 
 Tioga E. R. Zimmer Owego. 
 
 Manager, Tioga Co. Farm Bureau. 
 
 Assistant, L. A. Maynard. 
 Tompkins V. B. Blatchley Ithaca. 
 
 Manager, Tompkins Co. Farm Bureau. 
 
 Assistant, R. C. Beach. 
 Ulster W. H. Hook Kingston. 
 
 Manager, Ulster Co. Farm Bureau. 
 Warren E. W. Cleeves Warrensburgh. 
 
 Manager, Warren Co. Farm Bureau. 
 
 Washington. . . F. A. Roper Hudson Falls. 
 
 Wayne F. E. Rogers Sodus. 
 
 Manager, Wayne Co. Farm Bureau. 
 
 Assistant, E. S. Warner. 
 Westchester. . . J. G. Curtis Chamber of Commerce, 
 
 Manager, Westchester Co. Farm White Plains. 
 Bureau. 
 Wyoming H. M. Bowen Warsaw. 
 
 Manager, Wyoming Co. Farm Bureau. 
 
 Assistant, Henry Brower. 
 Yates A. F. Lockwood Penn Yan. 
 
 ADVISORY COUNCIL OF NEW YORK STATE FOOD SUPPLY COMMISSION 
 APPOINTED BY MASTERS OF POMONA GRANGES 
 
 Albany WiUiam Blodgett Glenmont, N. Y. 
 
 Allegany W. U. Rexford WeUsviUe, N. Y. 
 
 Broome Arch Acheson Binghamton, N. Y. 
 
 Cattaraugus. . . A. A. Bird Cattaraugus, N. Y. 
 
 Cayuga Frank J. Riley Sennett, N. Y. 
 
 Chautauqua. . . A. A. Van Vleck Jamestown, N. Y. 
 
 Chemung O. M. Wixon Elmira, N. Y. 
 
 Chenango E. B. Clark Sherburne, N. Y. 
 
 Clinton Seward Arnold Peru, N. Y. 
 
 Columbia Robert G. Partrie Livingston, N. Y. 
 
 Cortland Prank L. Burnham Little York, N. Y. 
 
 Delaware H. C. McKinzie Walton, N. Y. 
 
 Dutchess James C. Allen CUnton Corners, N. Y. 
 
 Erie E. F. Cook Alden, N. Y. 
 
 Essex R. W. Eggleston Wadhams, N. Y. 
 
 Franklin A. J. Moe Burke, N. Y. 
 
 Fulton W. H. Thompson Gloversville, N. Y. 
 
 Genesee W. F. Pratt Batavia, N. Y. 
 
 Greene W. K. Crosby Halcott Center, N. Y. 
 
 Herkimer W. E. Kay Herkimer, N. Y. 
 
 Jefferson B.J. Ives Watertown, N. Y. 
 
 Lewis Ira Sharp LowviUe, N. Y. 
 
 Livingston. ... L. W. Warner Geneseo, N. Y. 
 
 Madison S. B. Taylor Canastota, N. Y. 
 
 Monroe George W. Dunn Webster, N. Y. 
 
 Montgomery. . W. J. Hagar Canajoharie, N. Y. 
 
 Niagara Charles Parker Lockport, N. Y. 
 
 Oneida W. G. Comstock Clinton, N. Y. 
 
 Onondaga John T. Roberts Bastable Blk., Syracuse, 
 
 N. Y. 
 
20 
 
 Ontario Walter W. Dorman Stanley, N. Y. 
 
 Orange C. B. Coleman Goshen, N. Y. 
 
 Orleans G. Edward Snyder Albion, N. Y. 
 
 Oswego C. G. Eldred Oneonta, N. Y. 
 
 Putnam Oscar Bailey Brewster, N. Y. 
 
 Rensselaer. ... I. W. Abbott Troy, N. Y. 
 
 St. Lawrence . . George G. Royce De Peyster, N. Y. 
 
 Saratoga John H. Holmes Sehuylerville, N. Y. 
 
 Schenectady. . . Edgar VanZandt Schenectady, N. Y. 
 
 Schoharie Wilson MacNeil Vintonton, N. Y. 
 
 Schuyler H. E. Behan Watkins, N. Y. 
 
 Seneca Edward Hawkes Trumansburg, N. Y. 
 
 Steuben P. P. Mason Cameron, N. Y. 
 
 Siifiolk Orvis H. Luce Soimd Ave., Riverhead, 
 
 L. L 
 
 Sullivan Frank Lorenze Ferndale, N. Y. 
 
 Tioga Harry S. Treman Owego, N. Y. 
 
 Tompkins R. C. Smith Groton, N. Y. 
 
 Ulster W. M. Trueman Lake Katrine, N. Y. 
 
 Washington. . . Jesse Gibson South Hartford, N. Y. 
 
 Wayne R. L. Oakes North Rose, N. Y. 
 
 Westchester. . . G. D. BriU Bedford Hills, N. Y. 
 
 Wyoming W. A. Hawley Wyoming, N. Y. 
 
 Yates George B. Barden Penn Yan, N. Y. 
 
NO. 4 JULY 30, 1917 
 
 Bulletin of the New York 
 State Food Supply Commission 
 
 PUBLISHED SEMI-MONTHLY BY THE DEPARTMENT 
 OF AGRICULTURE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK 
 
 REPORT OF THE CONFERENCE 
 
 CALLED BY THE 
 
 New York State Food Supply Commission 
 
 AT 
 
 Syracuse, New York, July 5 and 6, 1917 
 
 For Consideration of the Problems Incidental to the 
 Present Food Crisis 
 
 " II is clearly recognized ihal the man who tills the soil and pro- 
 duces the food for the soldier in the field and his family at 
 home is rendering u patriotic serolce, as truly as ts the man 
 who bears the brunt of battle. " 
 
 — CHARLES S. WHITMAN 
 
 Entered as second-class matter July 11, 1917 ,at the Post Office at Albany, New 
 York. »»dw the Act of June 6 1900. 
 
NEW YORK STATE FOOD SUPPLY COMMISSION 
 
 (Address all communications to the Commission at Albany) 
 
 Charles S. Wilson, Albany, Chairman, 
 
 In charge of Division of Administration. 
 
 A. E. Mann, Ithaca^ Secretary,^ 
 
 In charge of Division of Food Conservation. 
 
 M. C. Burritt, Ithaca, 
 
 In charge of Division of County Organization. 
 
 J. H. Finley, Albany, '"'" 
 
 In charge ci Division of Schools and Colleges. 
 
 J. J. Dillon, ]Sre\v York City, 
 
 In charge of Division of Distribution, Storage and 
 Marketing. 
 
 S. J. LoweU, Fredoniaj 
 
 In charge of Division of Loans and Farm Lands. 
 
 F. W. Sessions, Utica, 
 
 In charge of Division of Farm Labor. 
 
 E. D. Cooper, Little Falls, 
 
 In charge of Division of Seeds, Fertilizers and Live Stock. 
 
 S. J. T. Bush, Morton, 
 
 In charge of Division of Transportation and Machinery. 
 
 Dwight Sanderson, Albany, Assistant Secretary. 
 Charles Sco'tt, Albany, Accountant. 
 
THE ORGANIZATION OF THE CONFERENCE 
 
 At a mooting of the New York State Food Supply Commission 
 held June 12, 1917, it was voted that the following arrangemenl s 
 he made for a conference to be held at Syracuse, July 5 and 6. 
 
 1. That the central oflBce of Farm Bureaus be requested to ascertain from 
 its agents and county executive committees the most pressing production, 
 transportation, marketing and other food problems to be met during the 
 present season and in preparation for next year's work. 
 
 2. That similar information be gathered by letter from members of the 
 Commission's Advisory Committee, Experiment Stations, agricultural school 
 and college workers and the Chairmen of the Agricultural Committees of the 
 County Home Defense Councils. 
 
 3. That the Chairman and the Assistant Secretary analyze the replies and 
 classify and list the problems reported, and that they arrange for their con- 
 sideration by small committees at the Syracuse conference, the questions to 
 be considered by each committee to be sent to the members of that com- 
 mittee in advance of the conference. 
 
 In pursuance of this resolution the following letter was sent to 
 the chairmen of the agricultural committees of the County Home 
 Defense Committees, to the County Representatives and the 
 County Councillors of this Comuiission, to all members of the 
 committees appointed for the conference and to a large number 
 of leading farmers and business men : 
 
 Albany, June 14, 19'17. 
 
 This Commission will hold a conference at Syracuse, July 5 and 6, com- 
 posed of representatives of the agricultural industries of the State, for the 
 consideration of a definite program for guiding its work in encouraging 
 greater production and more successful distribution of foods. 
 
 In order tliat the Commission may have before it the real problems which 
 are confronting Kew York farmers and their attitude toward them, the Com- 
 mission will appreciate it if you will send us as soon as possible your judg- 
 ment as to what are the principal problems of production, marketing and 
 distribiition which the farmers of your county feel that this Commission 
 should attack. ^Ye are getting similar expressions of opinion from the county 
 farm bureau associations and from other sources. Upon receipt of these 
 replies we will determine the outstanding problems and will submit them 
 for consideration to small committees with the request that they prepare 
 definite recommendations for consideration at the Syracuse conference. In 
 order that this may be done, it is important that we have your reply as soon 
 as possible, not later than June 20. 
 
 We trust that vo>i will appreciate that we earnestly desire to make the 
 work -of this Commission sncli as will meet the needs of the food situation in 
 New York State and we thank you for your co-operation in furnishing us 
 with the above information for that purpose. 
 
 Verv truly yours, 
 X, Y. STATE FOOD SUPPLY COMINIISSION, 
 
 Chart-KS S. Wii.sox, Chairman. 
 [3] 
 
Accompanying this -was a sheet for reply headed as follows : 
 
 Name County. 
 
 Postofflce address 
 
 ( Please indicate briefly the pi'oblems of crop and animal production, market- 
 ing, distribution and food supply, which, you think this Commission should 
 consider. Wliat crops, live stock or live stock products do you think should 
 be increased or what change in methods of production, marketing or distribu- 
 tion should be advocated by this Commission? Please make your suggestions 
 definite and specific, keeping in mind the emergency of the present food 
 situation. ) 
 
 At the same time the chairman of the Commission appointed 
 
 committees covering the principal divisions of agriculture and 
 
 representing the leading agricultural organizations of the State 
 
 as follows : 
 
 Committee on Feuit 
 
 Seth J. T. Bush, Morton, Glmirman. 
 U. P. Hedrick, Geneva, Seoretwry. 
 W. P. 'Rogers, Williamson. 
 Charles G. Porter, Albion. 
 Professor W. H. Chandler, Ithaca. 
 G. W. Dunn. Webster. 
 W. D. Auchter, Barnard. 
 L. L. Morrell, Kinderhook. 
 Samuel Fraaer, Geneseo. 
 Frank M. Bradley, Barker. 
 T. B. Wilson, Hall. 
 F. E. Rogers, Sodus. 
 
 Committee on Dairying 
 R. D. Cooper, Little Falls, Glmirman. 
 Professor W. A. Stocking, Ithaca, Secretary. 
 George A. Smith, Geneva. 
 George E. Hogue, Arcade. 
 W. N. Giles, Skaneateles. 
 Frank Sherman, Copake. 
 Fred H. Thompson, Holland Patent. 
 Albert Manning, Otisville. 
 W. G. Markham, Avon. 
 Herbert E. Cook, Canton. 
 Dr. V. A. Moore, Ithaca. 
 
 D. V. Farley, Campbell Hall. 
 Professor E. S. Savage, Ithaca. 
 C. A. Taylor, Herkimer. 
 
 COMMITTEJE ON LiVE STOCK 
 
 Fred W. Sessions, Utica, Chairman. 
 H. B. Winters, Albany, Secretary. 
 Professor H. H. Wing, Ithaca. 
 H. B. Harpending, IXindee. 
 
 E. S. Akin, Syracuse. 
 Wing R. Smith, Syracuse. 
 
 E. A. Powell, Syracuse. 
 Professor Wm. M. Rider, Syracuse. 
 Albert Brown, Syracuse. 
 
 Dr. J.. G. Wills, Albany. 
 W. H. Depew, Auburn. 
 
 F. S. Barlow, Cboperstown. 
 
COMMITTESE ON FabM CBOPS 
 
 Dean A. E. Mann, Ithaca, Chairman. 
 
 Professor E. G. Montgomery, Ithaca, Secretary. 
 
 Dr. W. H. Jordan, Geneva. . 
 
 George B. Hiscock, Skaneateles. 
 
 J. H. Barron, Nunda. 
 
 Edward P. Dibble, Honeoye Falls. 
 
 Dean Frank W. Howe, Syracuse. 
 
 Edward van Alstyne, Albany. 
 
 F. E. Robertson, Waterto^vn. 
 S. L. Strivings, Castile. 
 Parry Wellman, Kendall. 
 Frank M. Godfrey, Olean. 
 
 Committee on Poultry 
 
 L. S. Hawkins, Albany, Ohairmam. 
 
 Professor James E. Rice, Ithaca, Secretary. 
 
 Robert Seaman, Jericho. 
 
 W. H. itanning, Saratoga. 
 
 K. M. Turner, New York 'City. 
 
 Professor Adrian A. Brown, Syracuse. 
 
 G. B. Brill, Bedford Hills. 
 Grant M. Curtis, Buffalo. 
 
 D. L. Orr, Orr's Mills. 
 H. P. Schwab, Rochester. 
 
 Committee on VEfiETABLES 
 
 S. J. Lowell, Fredonia, OliavrmoAi. 
 Paul Work, Ithaca, Secretary. 
 iHenry Greffrath, South Lima.. 
 S. J. Cook, Silver Creek. 
 Henry Burden, Cazenovia. 
 W. H. Harris, Saratoga Springs. 
 H. R. Talmage, Riverhead, L. I. 
 W. F. Hallaner, Irondequoit. 
 Edward Arnts, Syracuse. 
 Oscar F. Day, Fulton. 
 
 E. N. Reed, Cortland. 
 E. R. Smith, Kasoag. 
 G. P. AVrigley, Elmira. 
 
 Committee on Co-operation, TRAjfsroETATioN, and Marketing 
 
 John J. Dillon, Xew York City, Chairman. 
 
 Dwight Sanderson, Albany, Secretary. 
 
 S. J. Cook, Silver Creek. 
 
 John H. Love. Xew York City. 
 
 E. C. Gillett, Penn Yan. 
 
 V. S. Welsh, N. Y. C. Railroad, Xew York City. 
 
 M. C. Burritt, Ithaca. 
 
 H. M. MeKenzie, Walton. 
 
 C. W. Kimball,* New York City. 
 
 IR. G. Phillips, Rochester. 
 
 C. Ti. White, Ionia. 
 
 J. W. Pincus, New York City. 
 
 A. J. Hepworth, Marlboro. 
 
 Professor G'. N. Lauman, Ithaca. 
 
 Floyd Schoemaker,* Elmira. 
 
 *Mr Shoemaker was represented at the conference by Mr. C. H. Chadwick of Syracuse ar.d 
 Mr. Kimball by Messrs. R. S. French and William T. Gerow, New York City. 
 
6 
 
 Tlie replies to the letters were abstracted and the suggestions 
 were sent to the chairman and secretary of each committee con- 
 cerned. Upon the basis of this information the secretary of each 
 committee compiled a set of questions for the consideration of 
 the membership of his committee, which was sent to each member 
 several days prior to the conference, and which formed a basis for 
 the work of the committee at the conference. 
 
 Invitations to attend the conference were sent to over one hun- 
 dred co-operative farmers' organizations in the State, to all of the 
 Farm Bureaus and to a considerable number of leading farmers 
 and business men. The invitation to the co-operative organiza- 
 tions was as follows : ^ 
 
 We are calling a conference of representatives of the difiFerent branches 
 of New York agriculture to meet with us at Syracuse, July 5 and 6. The 
 object of this conference is to suggest to the Commission a constructive pro- 
 gram for its work in meeting the problems of increased food production and 
 better methods for its distribution during the food crisis incident to the war. 
 
 The most pressing problems now before us are those of better means of 
 transportation and marketing. These involve the necessity for better 
 organization and co-operation among both producers, distributors and con- 
 sumers. To this end the major part of the second day of the conference wiU. 
 be devoted to a consideration of the problems of co-operation, transportation 
 and marketing. 
 
 We, therefore, ask your association to send a delegate to this conference, 
 which will meet in the Onondaga Hotel, Syracuse, Friday, July 6, at 10 
 A. M. We request that you furnish your delegate with credentials ad- 
 dressed t'o the secretary of this Commission. No action will involve any 
 financial or other obligation upon the part of your organization. Please 
 advise us at once as to whether you wiU be represented and send the creden- 
 tials of your delegate to us here, or have him present them to the secretary 
 at the conference. The work of the conference will be in charge of small 
 committees, which will meet and formulate definate suggestions for the con- 
 sideration of the conference as a whole. 
 
 Please instruct your delegate to come prepared to make constructive sug- 
 gestions as to how the marketing problems which are now confronting you 
 may be effectively met this season. If possible, ha/ve him place these in 
 written form and send them to us prior to the conference, so that we may 
 assemlle them for the consideration of the Market Committee. 
 
 Trusting that we may have an early and favorable reply, we are. 
 Very truly yours, 
 N. Y. STATE FOOD SUPPLY COMMISSION. 
 
 Chasles S. Wilson, Ohairmam. 
 
 Prior to the meeting of the conference, it was voted by the Com- 
 mission " that all matters for the consideration of the conference 
 be first presented to the conmiittees concerned and that any sug- 
 gestions presented in the general sessions be referred to the appro- 
 priate committees for recommendation." It was also arranged 
 that a general session for the consideration of any matters not 
 
previously presented to tlie conference be held on Friday after- 
 noon. As a result of this organization the committees were able 
 to proceed at once to formulate definite reports for the considera- 
 tion of the conference and these were presented by them at the 
 morning session of July 6. The program of the conference 
 was as follows: 
 
 PBOGtRAM 
 Thuksdat, July 5 
 
 2:30 P. M. (Ball Eoom, Onondaga Hotel.) 
 General Session 
 
 A statement of the Purpose of the Conference. 
 
 Commissioner Chabus B. Wilson. 
 Address — The Food Problem. 
 
 Dr. W. H. Jordan, Director, New York Agircultural Experiment Station, 
 Geneva. 
 3:30 P. M. The Committees of the Conference will meet in the following 
 
 rooms, and will receive suggestions: 
 Committee on Dairying — West End of Ball B.oom. 
 Committee on Marketing — Hall, East of Ball Eoom. 
 Committee on Fruit — Parlor A. 
 Committee on Live Stock — Parlor H. 
 Committee on Poultry — East End of Ball Room. 
 Committee on Vegetables — South End, Hiawatha Eoom. 
 Committee on Farm Crops — Parlor D. 
 
 Thuesday, July 6 
 
 8 P. M. (Ball Eoom, Onondaga Hotel.) 
 
 General Session 
 
 Address — The Present Farm Crop Situation in New York. 
 Dr. G. F. Waeren, Professor of Farm Management, New York State College 
 of Agriculture. 
 9 P. M. The committees will continue their sessions in the same rooms. 
 
 Friday, July 6 
 
 10 A. M. (Ball Eoom, Onondaga Hotel.) 
 
 General Session 
 
 Eeports of Committees. ■■ i,i , .- 
 
 General Conference on Co-operation, Tranaiportation, and Marketing. 
 2:30 P. M. Eeports of Committees. 
 General Conference. 
 
 On the first evening of the conference after the address of 
 Dr. Warren, his excellency, Governor Charles S. Whitman, was 
 prevailed upon to address the conference, and at the conclusion 
 the members of the conference were presented to the Governor. 
 
8 
 
 It should be understood, as explained by Commissioner Wilson 
 in opening the conference, that the conference was practically a 
 hearing by the New York State Food Supply Commission and 
 that the reports of the various committees were in the nature of 
 suggestions to it and in no way obligatory upon the Commis- 
 sion. The Commission met at Albany, Tuesday, July 10, for a 
 detailed consideration of the reeommendations of the committees, 
 and their reports as approved by the Commission follow : 
 
 REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON FARM CROPS 
 As Adopted by the Commission 
 
 Resolved that the Commission approve the following recommen- 
 dations of the Committee on Farm Crops of the Syracuse Con- 
 ference and that the necessary steps be taken to bring these 
 recommendations to farmers throughout the State: 
 
 I. That we do not advocate the cultivation of more land than 
 can be cared for. The increasing cost of tilling land makes it 
 more important that every acre brought under cultivation shall 
 produce a fair crop or as much better as circumstances make 
 possible. 
 
 II. Tillable land in l^ew York is now devoted largely (about 
 80 per cent) to the production of feed for stock, and the stock is 
 largely for the purpose of producing himian food as meat or dairy 
 products. The present system is well adapted to the State, and 
 stock raising requires the least human labor. Increased cultiva- 
 tion of land will require increased labor. The probability is that 
 we shall have a decreased labor supply. If we increase the culti- 
 vated land devoted to human food crops — wheat, rye, beans, 
 potatoes — we shall have to decrease the live stock. Inasmuch as 
 some 8,000,000 to 10,000,000 people are largely dependent on 
 I^ew York State for milk supplies, and milk must be produced 
 within 300 to 400 miles of the market, it becomes our first duty 
 to maintain the milk supply. If we maintain our present system 
 in order to keep up the milk supply it means that we shall have to 
 leave material increase in grain crops largely to other States. 
 
 III. That until the human food situation becomes more criti- 
 cal, it is essential that we produce as nearly as possible the maxi- 
 
9 
 
 mum acreage of grain food for stock. This increased acreage can 
 only be secured by breaking up hay land or pasturage. 
 
 The production of more clover and alfalfa is desirable not only 
 because legumes reduce the grain required, but also it is necessary 
 to increase the forage supply to make up for the decrease in acre- 
 age of hay land. (It will require liming in most of the State to 
 grow alfalfa and clover, but they will grow more feed per acre.) 
 
 IV. We must look to the wheat-growing section of the State for 
 most of our wheat. The principal wheat counties are : Cayuga, 
 Seneca, Yates, Ontario, Wayne, Livingston, Monroe, Wyoming, 
 Genesee, Orleans, Erie, and Jfiagara. The increased acreage in 
 this section for 191Y was 13 per cent over 1916, and data just 
 collected forecasts a further increase of 23 per cent, making a 
 toial of 36 per cent in two years. It is apparent that economic 
 and general war conditions are producing a rapid increase in 
 wheat acreage. This would seem to be as rapid a readjustment 
 of the cropping system as good farm management will justify. 
 
 The rest of the State, including fully three-fourths of the area, 
 produces normally very little wheat; but the proportion of land 
 in meadow and pasture is large. It is suggested that a small area 
 of old meadow or tillable pasture be broken up and sown to 
 rye, or wheat in those sections where experience has shown that 
 wheat can be properly grovm. This brealdng should be done in 
 July in order to have time to prepare the land thoroughly by seed- 
 ing time. Two to four hundred pounds of fertilizer should be 
 used, and lime when clover is to be grovm. 
 
 V. Buckwheat sowing can be continued in much of the State 
 up to July 20. It is urged that effort be made to have land under 
 plow, not otherwise occupied, sown to buckwheat. 
 
 VI. The great economic value of an intelligent use of fungi- 
 cides and insecticides is one of the most clearly demonstrated facts 
 in agricultural practice. Large preventable losses are still incurred 
 through a failure to combat the ravages of fungous diseases and 
 insect pests by the use of well-established defense methods. This 
 Commission heartily commends comprehensive efforts to increase 
 the use of sprays and other remedies in our field, fruit, and 
 garden crops and urges that this work be imdertaken with all 
 possible vigor. 
 
10 
 
 REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON DAIRYING 
 
 (The Commission voted that this report be received and that 
 such items as it sees fit to carry out be taken up and adopted from 
 time to time.) 
 
 1. There is evidence for the committee to believe that it is not 
 possible for the dairymen to make a reasonable profit with the 
 present relation on most farms between the cost of producing milk 
 and the price that is received for it. 
 
 2. As a direct result, whole herds are in some cases being sold 
 for beef ; in many cases few, if any, heifer calves are being raised. 
 
 3. This means that a shorter milk supply in the future is 
 certain. 
 
 4. The price of milk and dairy products is lower than its true 
 value when compared with other animal products. 
 
 5. The feeds used by dairy cows are not now economically dis- 
 tributed. Better roughage may be grown. 
 
 6. The only way to ensure a proper milk supply and to put the 
 dairy business on a sure footing, is to make the business reason- 
 ably profitable. 
 
 1. Many herds are inefficient and the risks of the business are 
 large because of contagious abortion and other diseases. 
 
 EECOMMENDATIOnsrS 
 
 In the light of these facts, your committee recommends that the 
 Commission do certain things, which it clearly may do, and which 
 it appears to your committee is its duty to do. These recommen- 
 dations may be considered under the heads — business, law, and 
 education. 
 
 Business 
 
 1. The Commission shall see to it that a farmer or. group of 
 farmers may buy feed for cash direct from the wholesaler. The 
 Commission may do this through co-operation with some already 
 established agricultural organization, such as the Dairymen's 
 League or the Grange. 
 
 In case no organization will undertake this business with the 
 backing of the Commission, the Commission shall make this pos- 
 sible for the farmer. 
 
11 
 
 Briefly, farmers desire a central feed agency, through which 
 cash orders may be put. They desire a service which will make 
 available to them a regular price list at least once a week. 
 
 Your committee recommends that as far as possible arrange- 
 ments be made with the local feed dealers to act as local purchas- 
 ing agents at a fixed maximum rate per ton over the wholesale 
 prices published by the central agency. 
 
 2. The Commission shall investigate through existing agencies 
 the present cost of milk production to secure data for the use of 
 the Dairymen's League in adjusting prices. 
 
 Law 
 
 1. The Commission shall approve legislation to prevent the use 
 of grain for the production of alcohol in beverages. 
 
 2. The committee is opposed to legislation attempting to regu- 
 late the slaughter of calves, but believes that the growing of more 
 heifers should be encouraged. 
 
 3. The losses from abortion and other infectious diseases are 
 alarming. The committee recommends the careful consideration 
 of legislation leading to the control and prevention of these 
 diseases. 
 
 Education 
 
 1. The committee commends the Commission in placing county 
 representatives and their assistants in each county. The commit- 
 tee recommends that the Commission continue these representa- 
 tives and that more stenographic help be made available. The 
 new work of these representatives shall be to inform farmers 
 individually and collectively how they may purchase feed. These 
 representatives shall aid in the formation and continuation of 
 dairy improvement associations and shall give further financial 
 assistance to promote this work. All efforts shall be made in 
 co-operation with the Farm Bureau Association to make a State- 
 wide campaign for more legume crops and silage on dairy farms. 
 
 2. The Commission shall educate the consuming public that 
 higher prices for milk are necessary to the producer. Money shall 
 be made available for this purpose. 
 
12 
 
 3. The Commission shall investigate the drying of whey and 
 the use of other dairy manufacturing by-products for food for 
 human beings and animals. 
 
 4. The Commission shall investigate the feasibility of estab- 
 lishing agricultural training camps on unoccupied farms in gen- 
 eral farming sections to train boys to work on farms in these 
 sections. 
 
 5. The Commission shall take active steps to see to it that 
 experienced farm labor now on farms be not removed. 
 
 6. The Commission shall encourage by active co-operation the 
 work of existing agricultural educational institutions. The Com- 
 mission shall use the facilities of the departments of these insti- 
 tutions for investigative work. 
 
 REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON FRUIT 
 
 As Appeoved by the Commission 
 
 Wheeeas, jSTew York State Fruit Growers have been working 
 separately^ and independently in packing and grading their fruit 
 and not securing an even grade that can be guaranteed ; therefore 
 be it 
 
 Resolved, That we recommend to the iSTew York State Food 
 Supply Commission to use their influence in the establishment of 
 central packing houses, co-operative or otherwise. 
 
 Wheeeas, There has grown up a pernicious custom of moving 
 fruit from one point of production to another — for instance, 
 peaches from Michigan to New York and New York peaches to 
 Michigan, and even from greater distances — resulting in an un- 
 necessary use of cars, a great addition to the cost to the consumer, 
 and with detriment to the food itself ; therefore be it 
 
 Resolved, That we urge that fruit be used as near the point of 
 production as possible. 
 
 Wheeeas, At the present time it is necessary for shippers to 
 state routing and destination of shipments at the time of ordering 
 case, and 
 
 Whereas, Shippers are often unable to state routing and desti- 
 nation before loading and frequently desire to change routing of 
 cars after they have been ordered and loaded ; therefore be it 
 
13 
 
 Resolved, That the New York State Food Supply Oonumssion 
 be urged to take steps to have this ruling of the railroad companies 
 abolished. 
 
 Whereas, The matter of fai-m drainage in New York State is 
 very important, and 
 
 Whereas, The law in this State at the present time does not 
 compel a neighbor to open up outlet ditches ; therefore be it 
 
 Resolved, That the Food Supply Commission recommend to the 
 State Legislature an amendment to the drainage laws of the State, 
 making it possible for farmers to secure an adequate outlet for 
 their drainage systems across adjoining farms. 
 
 Resolved, That it is the sense of this conference that the work 
 of the Food Supply Commission, in placing field assistants in 
 various sections of the State to aid in protecting fruit and other 
 crops from insects and diseases, is commendable and should be 
 continued. 
 
 Appreciating the truth of Grovernor Whitman's statement " That 
 the most important thing we can send to our Allies is food " — 
 we would emphasize the fact that such cannot be produced even 
 in sufficient quantities to feed our own people, if the labor supply 
 is to be decreased, no matter how favorable the climatic conditions, 
 nor how remunerative the crop, to produce it there must be labor, 
 sufficient and efficient. 
 
 Therefore, we respectfully request those in charge of the enlist- 
 ment and draft of men for our army and navy to refuse men who 
 because of their skill and industry are worth more to the State 
 and Nation as producers of food, than they possibly could be on 
 the battlefield. 
 
 That patriotic men from the farms, who are anxious to serve 
 their country, may not be thought slackers, we ask that like recog- 
 nition be given to the man with the hoe as to him with the musket. 
 
 REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON VEGETABLES 
 
 As Approved by the CoMMissioisr 
 
 I. Over supply of some crops, faulty facilities for transporta- 
 tion and storage, and the failure of retail markets to respond to 
 fluctuations in wholesale prices, occasion every year great waste 
 
14 
 
 of vegetable food. The following suggestions are offered as a 
 means of reducing this loss. 
 
 1. Growers should be definitely urged to carefully study the 
 market situation from day to day, using the United States Crop 
 and Market Eeports as well as information secured directly or 
 through market papers to the end that their shipments may be 
 as well directed as possible. 
 
 2. Storage of the semi-perishables as potatoes, beets, carro1;s, 
 turnips, onions, cabbage, and celery should be encouraged. In- 
 formation as to the best methods of storage should be prepared 
 and distributed. 
 
 3. Special measures should be taken to eliminate as far as 
 possible lost energy and deterioration due to reshipment and 
 other wastes during distribution. 
 
 4. The movement to encourage home canning is heartily en- 
 dorsed. ' Drying is an almost unknown method of preserving as 
 regards both processes and products. Careful and fundamental 
 studies should be made of its possibilities and the findings should 
 be made known for use both this season and in the future. 
 
 5. While the energy value of vegetables in general is not high, 
 they provide essential elements in human nutrition. This ^ fact 
 is recognized by dietitians and by military authorities. On this 
 basis and for the sake of relieving the pressure upon the supply 
 of other food stuffs, the consumption of vegetables should be en- 
 couraged especially in times of existing or threatened over-supply. 
 Information as to the special values of various vegetables and 
 as to the methods of using them should be distributed by circular, 
 by press notice, and if necessary, by advertising, a method which 
 has been effectively employed by California orange producers. 
 
 II. The Commission is asked to seek out cases of car shortage 
 and to take steps for immediate relief through the car service 
 bureau of the Council of !N"ational Defense. Many market garden 
 products are shipped by express to the smaller cities and towns. 
 Such shipments have been so seriously delayed as to be Tenderer^ 
 useless on arrival. These shipments should receive preferential 
 handling in order to relieve over-supply at the point, of origin and 
 shortage at the destination. 
 
15 
 
 III. Growers have thus far suffered comparatively little from 
 labor shortage, but the tedious harvesting of the vegetable crops 
 remains to be done. The Farm Cadets have proved most useful 
 in many communities and a mobile supply of these as well as other 
 labor should be ready for speedy movement to sections where 
 crops are maturing. 
 
 IV. The Home Garden movement has had little imfavorable 
 effect upon commercial markets and is of real service in amend- 
 ing the food supply of thousands of homes. Many a consumer 
 is learning the cost of vegetables and at the same time learns 
 quality and will demand it ia future purchases. Home produc- 
 tion should be encouraged along sane lines. 
 
 V. The problems of psychology and of feeling which arise in 
 war times are no less serious than the material problems. The 
 two great groups that are interested in- the food supply — ^the 
 producer and the consumer — are each sincerely seeking the wel- 
 fare of the whole Nation and neither wishes harm to the other. 
 Grave misunderstandings have arisen. The grower has been urged 
 to increase production and he has responded loyally and nobly, 
 sacrificing himself and his permanent scheme of management in 
 the interest of immediate yields for a hungry world. He feels 
 that his own interests have been grossly neglected especially as 
 regards the development of markets for his stimulated production. 
 His viewpoint has been little considered. His difficulties have 
 been overlooked. Unless there is brought about on the part of 
 each, producer and consumer, a clear conception of the problems 
 of the other, these misunderstandings are sure to grow into dis- 
 turbances of the gravest character. The influences of all agencies 
 laboring to assist the producer will be nullified and organization 
 will break down into chaos. The basis of all understanding is 
 mutual acquaintance. Definite measures should be taken to bring 
 about such understanding. This may be accomplished by personal 
 contact of individuals and by conferences of those who are en- 
 gaged in production and distribution and who are leaders among 
 consumers. Such conferences should by all means include visits 
 to both growing and distributing centers. 
 
16 
 
 REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON LIVE STOCK 
 
 As Appeoved by the Commission 
 
 Resolved, That the committee realizes that nothing will con- 
 tribute to the increased production of food to a greater extent than 
 the proper horsepower on the farm and the proper use of that 
 horsepower, and it would therefore recommend that the Commis- 
 sion encourage the disposal by the farmers, of light-weight horses 
 and of their obtaining draft mares and breeding from them horses 
 for their own use and, where practicable, for sale. 
 
 Resolved, That it is the sense of this committee that in many 
 localities of the State that the number of swine could be profit- 
 ably increased and we direct particular attention for this purpose 
 to the utilization of waste products, pastures, and forage crops to 
 the greatest possible extent for the two-fold purpose of reducing 
 the cost of production and increasing the general health of the 
 herd. 
 
 Resolved, That sheep raising should be encouraged. 
 
 Resolved, That the provisions of the Dog Law should be spread 
 through the counties. 
 
 Resolved, That the Commission encourage sheep clubs and 
 organizations in different parts of the State. 
 
 The following was offered from the floor as a substitute for a 
 similar recommendation by the committee : 
 
 Resolved, That the Food Supply Commission urge upon the 
 War Department the desirability of its purchasing horses for 
 military use in I^ew York State. 
 
 ACTION OF THE COMMISSION ON THE REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE 
 
 ON POULTRY 
 
 Whekeas^ The market price of poultry and eggs has. not in- 
 creased in proportion to the price of food, 
 
 WheeeaS;, Producers are sacrificing poultry stock to an alarm- 
 ing extent, 
 
 Wheebas^ The best stock can be retained with profit even at 
 present prices. 
 
17 
 
 Whekeas^ Grain fed to unproductive birds lessens the amount 
 of food available for man without reasonable replacement in the 
 forna of poultry products, 
 
 Resolved^ That the Commission cooperate vi^ith poultry raisers 
 in a campaign to eliminate low producing birds; the plan of 
 campaign to include press notices, circulars, and an organized 
 movement for conducting field meetings and formation of local 
 associations in poultry centers. 
 
 Resolved, That the $5,000 tentatively set aside for the potiltry- 
 campaign be definitely authorized as an expenditure for this 
 campaign. 
 
 Resolved, That this project be assigned to the Division of 
 Live Stock. 
 
 Moved that the report of the Committee on Poultry be adopted 
 at a cost not to exceed $5,000. Carried. 
 
 REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON CO-OPERATION, TRANSPORTATION, 
 
 AND MARKETING 
 
 With the Actiox of the Commission 
 
 Resolved, That the fixing of a minimum or maximum price 
 for food products by the State or Federal Governments is not 
 favored. 
 
 Resolved, That this committee requests the I^ew York State 
 Food Supply Commission to apportion a suificient sum to pro- 
 vide adequate market news service for the State. 
 
 Resolved, That it is the sense of this committee that the stor- 
 age, distribution, and marketing of food products is a matter 
 of public concern which should be so regulated as to prevent undue 
 speculation. 
 
 Resolved, That we recommend that sufficient funds be appor- 
 tioned by the Commission for the organization of cooperative 
 producers' and consumers' associations, utilizing the organization 
 of the Department of Foods and Markets, and that the Commis- 
 sion render assistance wherever possible in the standardizing, 
 storing, and preserving of all food products. 
 
18 
 
 At its meeting on July 10 and 11, the Commission discussed 
 the first resolution, but took no formal action on it. It also voted 
 to approve the recommendation for a market news service and 
 that Conmiissioner Dillon be authorized to establish a market 
 news service in the State of iN ew York in cooperation with the 
 Bureau of Markets, U. S. Department of Agriculture, at a cost 
 not to exceed $10,000. ISTo formal action was taken upon the 
 third resolution. 
 
 The Commission acted upon the fourth resolution at its meet- 
 ing at Syracuse, July 6, as follows : " Resolved that this Commis- 
 sion endorse the principle of public markets and that it authorize 
 an expenditure not to exceed $25,000 by the Department of Foods 
 and Markets for this work, and that this Commission approve 
 the establishment of cooperative farm produce associations and 
 approve the item of the budget of the Division of Distribution, 
 Storage and Marketing for this purpose. 
 
 RECOMMENDATIONS ON FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO FARMERS 
 
 There was presented from the floor by Mr. A. M. Loomis, the 
 following motion which was the result of an informal conference 
 of representatives of the banking interests mentioned in the reso- 
 lution and members of the Executive Committee of the State 
 Grange : 
 
 Whereas, Many recommendations have been made at this conference look- 
 ing to increased food production, many of which involve farm readjustments 
 and increased cost for labor, equipment and storage, and 
 
 Whebeas, This entire program of advanced agricultural procedure involves 
 increased use of money, both investment and fluid capital 
 
 Resolved, That this conference recommend to the Nevr York State Food 
 Supply Commission that active steps be taken by the Commission to assist in 
 the work of extending the operations of the Federal Land Bank and of the 
 Land Bank of the State of New York; and in co-operating with the Patriotic 
 Farmers' Fund and with the regularly organized banks and bankers of the 
 State of New York in extending credit under the best possible terms to every 
 worthy farmer who can use such credit to increase the food supply. 
 
 This resolution was unanimously adopted. 
 
 At the meeting of the Commission July 10, the following recom- 
 mendations for future work under the direction of the l^^ew York 
 State Food Supply Commission in providing more and better 
 financial assistance to farmers, were presented and approved: 
 
19 
 
 1- — Definite work to be done iy the Division of Loans and 
 Farm Lands: 
 
 (a) Circular letter of instruction to every County Representa- 
 tive, covering methods of co-operation with the Federal Land 
 Bank and the New York State Land Bank. Same letter to Chair- 
 men Home Defense Committees, Chairmen Agricultural Commit- 
 tees, and Secretaries of all Chambers and Boards of Commerce 
 and. Trade in the State, and all Building and Loan Associations. 
 
 (b) Request to each assistant County Representative to issue 
 circular letter to entire mailing list of each County Farm Bureau 
 on same subject, provided same can be franked. Copy of circular 
 to be provided for duplicating and mailing from each County 
 office. 
 
 (c) The offer of the facilities of this Commission to the Agri- 
 cultural Committee of the New York State Bankers' Association, 
 to send out any literature that committee may wish to put in the 
 hands of the members of said association, to include the service of 
 an employee of this Commission to assist in the preparation of 
 such literature, which is to be subject to the approval of the Com- 
 missioner in Charge. 
 
 (d) Co-operative arrangements with said Bankers Association 
 to hold group meetings of bank representatives and represent- 
 atives of this Commission in the various counties, or groups of 
 counties, to discuss in detail the necessary st^s to be taien to 
 more fully extend banking credit to those engaged in food pro- 
 duction. 
 
 2. — Definite worh to he done hy County Representatives: 
 
 (a) Complete the County record of Grange Loan Committees 
 immediately, and extend fullest co-operation in work of the Patri- 
 otic Farmers Fund. 
 
 (b) Carry out suggestions (see " b" above) to secure widest pos- 
 sible publicity for work of Federal Land Bank and the New York 
 State Land Bank. - , _ 
 
 (c) Take up personally matters of loans to farmers, to aid in 
 increasing food production with each bank in the county, report- 
 ing on the general situation to the Commissioner m Charge, a^d 
 offerino- services of County Representative and his organization 
 to each banker in improving credit conditions where needed. 
 
20 
 
 A STATEMENT OF THE PURPOSE OF THE CONFERENCE 
 
 Commissioner Charles S. Wilson 
 
 By referring to the program you will gather an idea of the 
 plan or organization of this conference, and, in a measure, its 
 purpose. In order that I may convey a more definite idea of the 
 thought that was in the minds of members of the Commission 
 when you were asked to assemble here, however, I wish to speak 
 more fully of the purpose of this gathering. 
 
 At the time the Commission was appointed by Governor Whit- 
 man, about the middle of April, and just before the planting sea- 
 son, certain emergency assistance was necessary on the part of the 
 State to the farmer if our farmers reached the maximum of crop 
 acreage. These needs stood out conspicuously, and the eflForts of 
 the Commission were directed to them. Farmers required labor 
 and laboTers were found. Also students at schools and colleges 
 were released to assist. Tractors seemed necessary to plow and 
 till the soil, and these were purchased. Potatoes and buckwheat 
 seed were insufficient and had to be secured. Now, however, since 
 the planting season is over and these emergencies have been met 
 in so far as the Commission has been able to meet them, onr atten- 
 tion is turned to the harvest and marketing; to problems of con- 
 servation and economy in consumption; and this reference to 
 conservation is used in its broadest sense, referring not alone to 
 saving, but also to the substitution of one product for another, 
 such as corn for wheat. Furthermore, the Commission is think- 
 ing not only of this year's crop, but of the crops for several years 
 in the future and has in mind provision for increased production 
 of staples; for the maintenance of our dairy herds, our sheep 
 industry, our poultry ; and for the up-keep of our orchards. The 
 problems relating thereto must receive careful thought now, and 
 a definite policy must be outlined. 
 
 The greatest possible production and the strictest economy in 
 the consumption of food are recognized in this emergency as 
 imperative. The, farmer has shown his willingness greatly to 
 increase his crops and is straining every nerve to do his part. 
 The city man is thoroughly impressed with the high cost of living 
 and feels that better methods of distribution are needed. Each 
 
21 
 
 must understand better the problems of the other. It is evident 
 from the histoi-y of this problem in recent years that our object 
 of production and conservation in staples can be met best through 
 the hearty co-operation of both farmers' organizations and com- 
 mercial interests. Only through better understanding and mutual 
 confidence and a true spirit of co-operation can we solve the pres- 
 ent problem. To this end we have invited to this conference not 
 only farmers and representatives of farmers' selling organizations, 
 but representatives of the marketing industries in the cities. 
 
 This food crisis must be met in a spirit of devotion to a com- 
 mon cause, which is larger than that of any class. If the business 
 interests of the city -^yill attack the problem of distribution with 
 an understanding of the fanners' situation, and if the farmer will 
 produce and organize his selling with the assurance of the fullest 
 and fairest co-operation of commercial organizations, bankers, 
 railroads, and of progressive and reliable distributors, we shall be 
 able to meet this crisis in so far as it is possible. 
 
 The work of the Food Supply Commission evidences the fact 
 that it has endeavored not onlj^ to meet the problems of greater 
 crop production in order to supply a surplus for export, but also 
 to insure an adequate food supply for this great Empire State and 
 to conserve it so that there may be no waste and that well-estab- 
 lished food habits may be formed. We must have the co-operation 
 not only of the housewife, but of all engaged in the manufacture 
 and purveying of food. As an example: If our large cities are 
 to eat more com bread, the bakers must furnish it. If it is to be 
 baked in the home, the grocer must offer com meal at the lowest 
 possible price. Thus, there is required the aid and co-operation 
 of the miller, the wholesale grocer, the baker, and the retailer. 
 This is but one of the angles of our food supply and is given to 
 show that the work of this Commission is not only one of aiding 
 larger production and better distribution, but it must increas- 
 ingly involve questions relating to the direction and organization 
 of the commerce and manufacture of foods within the State of 
 New York. Obviously, it will be impossible for this Commission 
 or any other agency to meet this phase of the food proUem with- 
 out the most hearty co-operation of all of the many interests 
 involved. 
 
22 
 
 The Commission asks for your suggestions as to what these 
 problems and difficulties are and how their solution shall be 
 approached. What assistance should be rendered by the State? 
 The plan of the conference contemplates an expression of opinion 
 on these questions from representatives of different industries, 
 both farm and commercial. Later in the afternoon the conference 
 will divide itself into groups as outlined in the program. Each 
 group will discuss the problems relating to its subject and decide 
 upon a course of action to be presented to a general conference 
 either this evening or to-morrow forenoon. 
 
 THE FOOD PROBLEM 
 
 De. W. H. JoEDAiir, DiKECTOE, New Toek State Expeeiment 
 
 Station 
 
 It is a delicate task, gentlemen, to address you on this occasion, 
 for I suspect everyone here is charged fully with his ovsn view 
 as to the solution of the food problem. For me to impose my 
 point of view before such a body may seem presumptuous. 
 ' It is a complex situation, one that involves the interests both . 
 of the producer and of the consumer, and in our deliberations 
 on this matter we must be careful not to appear to favor class 
 interests. The consumer has as many rights in this food situation 
 as the producer, which is to say that the farmer has no more 
 rights than any other class manufacturing or providing the neces- 
 sities of life. Let us keep this in mind. 
 
 We should also keep in mind the future. The stress' of tMs 
 emergency should not lead us to advocate measures that vsdil not 
 make for the prosperity of the farmer in years to come. This 
 war wiU not end this year. The products of the farms will be a 
 large and vital factor in the future, and we should have a regard 
 for the continued prosperity of New York farms. Let us not 
 then, advocate that which will in any way cripple the farm or 
 the farmers in future, but rather let us urge sound practice and 
 methods. 
 
 Yesterday morning Commissioner Wilson put in my hands a 
 mass of material, which up to this very last minute I have been 
 sorting and analyzing, — recommendations coming from r-all over 
 
23 
 
 the state of New York as to remedies, or policies, or the agencies 
 that should be applied to this food situation. The hundred and 
 thirty-seven individual suggestions may fall into fifty classes. 
 Some suggested the same thing. The labor situation was sug- 
 gested twenty-nine times as the critical factor, the marketing and 
 distribution of crops twenty-eight times, price control twelve 
 times, and more machinery six times. It was proposed five 
 times that we cut out that bothersome individual — the middle- 
 man. Of the other proposals, ten were mentioned from two to 
 five times and thirty-three only once. But the methods or policies 
 mentioned only once seemed to me to include some of the most 
 important, such, for example, as controlling speculation, directly 
 or indirectly ; education and cooperation — dissemination of 
 information, use of boys effectively for definite work ; more cows ; 
 better seed; waste. Other suggestions were more cattle, more 
 horses, milking machines, business training, spreading of knowl- 
 edge, municipal ownership, cooperative buying, price control, 
 storage over night in cities, better packing of fruits, dissemination 
 of crop prices, better distribution of crops, giving the Foods and 
 Markets Department more power, use of warehouses and supply- 
 ing local needs first, lower freight rates, boats for freight into 
 ^ew York harbor, economizing labor, living more economically, 
 taking boys out of school, use of school students and boy scouts 
 for labor, prohibition, use of the military for farm work, canning 
 perishables, buckwheat and rye as late crops for replacing other 
 crops, keeping more stock, breeding Holstein-Friesians more 
 largely, distribution of seeds by the government, abolishing taxes 
 on farm products and equipment, reducing waste in the home, pro- 
 tection against dogs, securing fertilizers early, more limestone, 
 fall grain on run-out meadows and reducing the price of fer- 
 tilizers. 
 
 The public is thinking about a good many things, and I expect 
 it is our fimction to sift out, if we can, some of these suggestions 
 and try and reach practical conclusions. It seems clear that our 
 discussion will lie along three lines, namely, production, which 
 is the farmer's part, conservation, which is largely service ren- 
 dered by the family, and outside aid, which is the function of the 
 government. 
 
24 
 
 As to production, it is my conviction that we will accomplish 
 more by merely intensifying what the farmer is doing now. I be- 
 lieve it will be exceedingly unwise to attempt in any way to bring' 
 about a marked disturbance of the equilibrium of the farmers' 
 business management. We shall need all our crops in the variety 
 we have them. Instead of urging the farmer to concentrate his 
 energies on a few specialties, we should simply attempt to aid and 
 intensify the production with which the farmers of the State are, 
 acquainted. We cannot coerce farmers as to what they shall raise, 
 and we had better give their own judgment as to their own busi- 
 ness a large place. I do think, however, that we should encourage 
 so far as we can, the staple crops, for two reasons. It is the staple 
 crops that will mainly furnish the energy necessary to maintain 
 our human activities, and it is to be hoped that farmers will find 
 it profitable to increase the production of the staple foods. Every 
 effort should be made not to diminish dairy production. There 
 are very definite reasons for building up the milk supply. I re- 
 gret to hear that fanners are selling cows and not raising heifer 
 calves. 
 
 !N'ow as to conservation; there is no question but that wheat is 
 our most important crop, and we should make every effort to 
 conserve what we produce. It has been my fortune to speak 
 freely and frequently in Ontario County and vicinity in the mat- 
 ter of food conservation and I have urged the substitution of other 
 cereals for wheat. In my own home we are eating wheat bread 
 that is one-fifth bolted corn-meal, and one-third may be used with 
 satisfaction. Such bread is just as palatable and just as nutritious 
 as if made of whole flour. But women say to me, " My husband 
 won't eat such bread." " Well, my answer is, " tell him to 
 enlist." 
 
 In order to conserve food energy for human use, we should eat 
 less meat. It has been shovsru experimentally that the relation 
 between the energy of the food used by an animal and the energy 
 stored in the animal in the process of growth is at least 10 to 1. 
 In other words, there is lost for human use 90 per cent of the 
 energy of the cereal foods when used to produce beef. 
 
 Milk should be substituted for meat so far as possible because 
 it requires less food energy to produce a unit of energy in milk 
 
25 
 
 than when food is used to produce meat. It is for this reason, if 
 for no other, that we should speed up milk production ratlier 
 than diminish it. 
 
 We should bear in mind that this is ultimately a question of 
 fuel. The Germans stopped the production of animals, so far 
 as possible, for the reason that this occasioned a fuel loss to the 
 human machine. 
 
 If this war continues for any length of time, we shall be sub- 
 jected to high rates of taxation. For this reason, families should 
 adopt more economical methods of food purchase. Perhaps you 
 are not aware that a pound of puffed wheat at fifteen cents a 
 package costs you sixty cents. Certain other breakfast foods are 
 nearly as expensive and are no more nutritious than rolled oats 
 or hominy. Under conditions requiring economy we cannot 
 afford for the sake of pleasing our palates to purchase the break- 
 fast foods that, nutritively speaking, are very expensive. 
 
 Waste should be eliminated. It is not unreasonable to suppose 
 that one slice of bread is wasted in every home in the United 
 States each day. This means 20 million slices or 2 million loaves. 
 It is time we learned economy. 
 
 If possible, we should secure the cooperation of all our public 
 eating places in the matter of food conservation and waste. 
 Menu cards should be greatly simplified. When proprietors of 
 hotels and restaurants keep on hand a large list of eatables as now 
 shown on their menu cards in order that the desires of every 
 patron may be met, great waste is inevitable. It is unreasonable 
 to ask the farmers to make strenuous efforts to produce more and 
 urge upon families economy and condone such enormous waste in 
 our hotels and restaurants. 
 
 The problems of marketing and food distribution are involved 
 in food conservation. My confidence in law as a means of solv- 
 ing these problems has been greatly weakened. In my judg- 
 ment, whatever is accomplished in the way of economy, both for 
 the producer and the consumer, will be through voluntary organ- 
 ization and the securing of mutual and sympathetic cooperation 
 between the country and the city. 
 
 It is gratifying to know that a movement has been begun in 
 ISTew York City looking toward frequent conferences between a 
 
26 
 
 committee representing food distribution and a committee Repre- 
 senting food production. I have great hopes that this movement 
 will be greatly productive of good. 
 
 In conclusion, permit me to call attention to one of the recom- 
 mendations in the long list that I examined, which is " Let the 
 farmer alone." The advice which the farmer is getting from pro- 
 fessional and commercial interests, largely from city men, is 
 sometimes amusing and sometimes irritating. No class of men 
 have been subject to more advice and more paternalism than has 
 the tiller of the soil. I fancy his judgment as to what he ought 
 to do is fully as good as that of the man who views him at long 
 distance. We should distinguish between what the farmer can do 
 for himself and what must be done for him. Scientific investiga- 
 tion has been active in his behalf with great results. He can be 
 aided in the matter of distribution of his products, in securing 
 labor, and in certain other ways that have relation to govern- 
 mental control. In the name of good sense, let us stop coddling 
 the farmer and weakening his self-dependence. He is a. man 
 among men, and should be regarded as such 'and left largely to 
 his own initiative to work out his business problems. If he can- 
 not do this, his future is discouraging. 
 
 THE CROP SITUATION IN NEW YORK 
 
 De. G. F. Waeeeit, !N"ew Toek State College of Ageiculttjee 
 
 By direction of Commissioner Burritt of the Food Supply 
 Commission, information as to the present crop outlook has been 
 gathered by the county representatives of the Food Supply Com- 
 mission. Each of these persons was asked to obtain estimates 
 from at least ten farmers in representative parts of his county. 
 The estimates were made July 2 and 3. 
 
 The state census taken in April indicated the expected plant- 
 ings this year. The present reports indicate what percentage of 
 the proposed area of each crop was actually planted. Estimates 
 were also given of the probable yield compared with the yield 
 last year. A surmnary of results is given in Table 1. 
 
27 
 TABLE 1. — Ckop Acreages and Conditions in New York, July 3, 1917.1 
 
 A 1 X J July estimate o£ July estimate of 
 
 ppnp Acreage planted probable yield probable total 
 
 ^"■^'^ compared with per acre compared crop compared 
 
 . last years ^^i, j^gj yg^ ^^^ l^j. ^^ 
 
 Corn, Gram 138 89 123 
 
 Corn, Silo 109 88 96 
 
 O^'*! 115 108 124 
 
 ^'^'i.^y -V 118 106 125 
 
 Buckwheat ISO s 
 
 Winter Wheat 113 96 Jq8 
 
 Spring Wheat 2S2 93 234 
 
 Jye 105 107 112 
 
 Beans 122 3 
 
 ^ay 96 '93 '89 
 
 Cabbage 163 ___3 
 
 Potatoes 126 ... 3 
 
 Sweet Corn 95 96 ,,[ 
 
 Tomatoes 98 lOil 
 
 Apples ... 63 
 
 Peaches ... 173 
 
 Cherries ... 60 .. . 
 
 Grapes ... 76 ," 
 
 The acreage of practically every crop except hay has been 
 greatly increased this year. Most of the increase has been ob- 
 tained by reducing the area of hay. Owing to the excessive 
 amount of rain it has not been possible for fanners to plant all 
 that was expected. The percentages indicating the expected total 
 crop this year looks large, but it must be remembered that they 
 are compared with last year, which was a poor year except for hay. 
 
 With the exception of peaches the fruit crop is to be very short. 
 The peach crop of the lake regions is better than last year, and 
 the crop along the Hudson river promises very much above last 
 year. It is none too soon to have plans made to transport and 
 sell all these peaches without waste. Since other fruit will be 
 short, consumers will do well to purchase peaches for canning so 
 that these may be substituted for other fruit. 
 
 ^ The averages here given are weighted ; that is, if one county grows twice 
 as many acres of hay as another Its report is given twice as much weight In- 
 making averages. The figures are slightly different from the preliminary figures 
 because of receipt of additional reports. 
 
 " The Bureau of Crop Estimates of the United States Department of Agri- 
 culture has had no means of correcting the acreage estimates since 1909. The 
 recent state census gives the areas In 1916-. The acreages as estimated by the 
 Bureau of Crop Estimates were too high for wheat, oats, rye, buckwheat, 
 potatoes, and hay and were too low for cabbage, beans and barley. The corn 
 acreage aa reported for this State evidently Is a mixture of corn for grain and 
 for the silo. ' It is very much more than the area raised for grain and much 
 less than the area for both grain and the silo. The Bureau of Crop Estimates 
 reports on conditions of crops are more accurate than the ones here given. 
 
 ' Too early in the season to estimate conditions. 
 
28 
 
 These figures merely indicate the present (July 3) outlook for 
 crops; what we are to get depends on the weather. In general 
 the present outlook is better than last year, but not so good as 
 we had hoped for. Last year was a very bad year. This year 
 promises to be about an ordinary year. The estimates made by 
 the Department of Agriculture for the entire United States will 
 be out in a few days. 
 
 This year we started out with a very low reser\'e. On March 
 1 there were on farms 700,000,000 bushels less grain than a year 
 before. While the outlook is better than last year, it is doubtful 
 whether it will more than make up for the shortage in the hold- 
 over. When we consider the growing shortage of food in Europe, 
 it certainly looks like another winter of food shortage. Evidently 
 we mnst do everything possible to prevent waste. 
 
 As stated before, what we get is dependent on the weather. 
 Plow great this dependence is, is shown in Table 2. 
 
 TABLE 2. — Yield per Acke of Potatoes ix New York. 
 
 Year Yield per acre 
 
 1907-16 94 
 
 1913 74 
 
 1914 ; 145 
 
 1915 62 
 
 1916 70 
 
 We never know what the crop is to be until it is harvested. 
 The ten-year average yield of potatoes in New York was 94 
 bushels. In 1914 the yield was 145 bushels per acre and in 1916 
 it was only TO bushels. The enormous crop of 1914 (over double 
 last year's crop) was due to the more favorable weather. The 
 one crop was so large that we did not know what to do with it ■ — 
 the other so small as to be a calamity. 
 
 In times of peace the effect of the weather is not realized, by 
 the city population, because if our crops are poor we import from 
 other countries ; but now we feel the full effect of the weather and 
 the weather of America is decidedly variable. 
 
 What the farmers plan for and what they get is shown in Table 
 3. Based on the average yield per acre for 1910-13, the acreage 
 of potatoes planted in New York in 1914 would have been 
 
29 
 
 expected to produce 32,000,000 bushels, but the crop was 
 53,000,000 bushels. The next year the farmers planted enough 
 to have given 31,000,000 bushels but got only 22,000,000. 
 
 TABLE 3. — Potatoes is New York 
 
 Year 
 1910-13 
 
 Expected production 
 
 from acreage planted 
 
 Bushels 
 
 Raised 
 Bushels 
 
 34,307,000 
 53,215,000 
 22,010,000 
 22,400,000 
 
 1914 
 
 1915 
 
 32,663,000i 
 
 .T1 .w."; 000 
 
 1916 
 
 1917 
 
 28,480,000 
 
 ■ 34,738,000 
 
 -Yields of Hay in Xew York 
 
 TABLE 4.- 
 Year 
 1907-16 
 
 Yield per acre 
 
 1 24 
 
 1911 
 
 
 1 02 
 
 1014 
 
 
 1 20 
 
 191.^ 
 
 
 1 30 
 
 1916 
 
 
 1 . 62 
 
 1917 (July estimated) 
 
 
 1.51 
 
 If a manufactiirer buys hides for making shoes, he knows how 
 many shoes he will have and can sell them before they are made. 
 A farmer plants for an average crop but knows little of what he 
 is to get. 
 
 The effect of weather on the hay crop is shown in Table 4. For 
 ten years the average yield was 1.24 tons per acre in jN'ew York. 
 In 1911 the yield was only a ton, but in 1916 it was 1.6 tons, 
 the largest yield ever reported for this state. The yield this year 
 promises to be a little less per acre, and the area is also less. 
 There is an element of danger in these high yields of hay. If, 
 after two years of such good crops, farmers should reduce the 
 hay acreage to what is necessary on the basis of such good crops, 
 there is great danger of a serious hay shortage in a year of ordi- 
 nary or poor crops. To meet such a probability we should exert 
 every effort to have the present hay supply conserved and held 
 over for next year so far as possible. 
 
 More important results showing the variations due to weather 
 are given in Table 5. This includes the grain crops, — com, oats, 
 wheat, barley, rye, buckwheat. For twenty years the average 
 yield of grain crops in the United States has been 1,198 pounds 
 per acre. In 1901 the yield was only 913 pounds, but in 1912 it 
 
30 
 
 was 1,381 pounds. In a good year the yield is over 50 per cent 
 more than in a poor year. If while the war continues, we should 
 have as poor a year as occurred in 1890 or in 1901, conditions 
 would be extremely serious. If it can be done, it seems to me 
 to be exceedingly desirable to save something over from this year's 
 crops until next year's crops are in sight so as to guard against 
 a possible poor crop year in 1918. 
 
 TABLE 5. — ^AvEKAQE Yield ik Potjitos pee Acre of Gbain Chops in the 
 
 United States. 
 
 Pounds 
 Year per acre 
 
 20 years 1897-1916 1198 
 
 1897 1105 
 
 1898 1157 
 
 1899 1230 
 
 1900 1136 
 
 1901 913 
 
 1902 1261 
 
 1903 1144 
 
 1904 1216 
 
 1905 1311 
 
 1906 1359 
 
 1907 1167 
 
 1908 1182 
 
 1909 1204 
 
 1910 1257 
 
 1911 1075 
 
 1912 1381 
 
 1913 1123 
 
 1914 1223 
 
 1915 134« 
 
 1916 1110 
 
 TABLE 6. — IWheat in the Uhtied Statbs.i 
 
 Expected pro- 
 Acres Acres duction from 
 Year planted harvested acreage planted Raised 
 
 1910-14 '. 52 49 ... 728 
 
 1915 61 60 854 1,026 
 
 1916 55 53 770 640 
 
 1917 59 472 826 6562 
 
 The plans for the wheat crop in the United States are shown in 
 Table 6. When the war broke out, farmers expected wheat prices 
 to foUow the Civil War experience, but prices in 1915 were not 
 so high as had been expected. The phenomenal yield was the cause. 
 Had the crops of 1915 been average crops the food shortage would 
 have occurred a year sooner than it did. Much of the wheat acre- 
 
 > Alt figures indicate millions. 
 ' June Estimate. 
 
31 
 
 age planted last fall has been plowed up, but according to the 
 June crop estimate we may expect 656,000,000 bushels. 
 
 The influence of weather is shown in another way in Table 
 7. The countries with a cool moist climate obtain the best yields. 
 In general, the warmer parts of Europe and of America obtain 
 the poorest yields. 
 
 TABiLE 7.— Yields op Wheat: Unitbid States 1906-15; Eotope 1905-14. 
 
 State or country . p™d^ 
 
 British Isles 33 4 
 
 Germany gn'rj 
 
 Maine . '■.■■'■'.'. .'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.[[[['.[[[[['.[is'.S 
 
 New York 20 2 
 
 France 20 1 
 
 Hungary ...■....■'......'.'.'. .'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.18'.1 
 
 United States I5 
 
 Virginia .....'.'.'.'.'.['.'.'.'.12.6 
 
 North Carolina 10.. 4 
 
 The primaiy reason for the difference in yields in Europe and 
 in America is climate. The same reason explains the differences 
 between France and Germany and between Maine and New York. 
 Many persons blame the American farmer for not obtaining as 
 good yields as Europe. But this same American farmer raises 
 much better crops of corn than does Europe. 
 
 Possibly I should apologize to you for giving so much attention 
 to the weather, but this is now a preeminently important subject. 
 In times of peace a poor crop in one country is evened up by 
 other countries. England and France looked to all the world for 
 food, but to-day the results depend primarily on us. 
 
 Because of the importance of the wheat crop the cost of pro- 
 duction is important. The cost of producing wheat on thirty 
 "New York farms in 1915 is shown in Table 8. The quantities 
 used in other years check very closely with those here given. In 
 1915 the average cost on these farms was $25. With the great 
 increase in cost of seed, fertilizer, lime, manure, twine, labor, and 
 every other item, the costs this year will certainly be nearly $35, 
 and the present outlook is that the cost next year will be at least 
 $40. Of course, no one can tell in advance what costs will be. 
 We know about how much seed, twine and labor are required, 
 but do not know what these will cost. 
 
32 
 
 TABLE 8. — Costs of PEODUcirNG Wheat on Thibtt New Yoek Fabms in 
 19r5. AvEawGE AoRBS of Wheiat per Fabm 14.2 
 
 Estimated costs 
 Quantity 1915 1917 
 
 Seed 114 pounds $4.00 
 
 Fertilizer i 142 pounds 1 . 78 
 
 Lime i 38 pounds .07 
 
 Manure i 2,666 pounds 2.4)6 
 
 Xwine 2.. 8 pounds . 62 
 
 Use of buildings 2 $ . 73. .73 
 
 Use of land 2 $4.49 4.49 
 
 Fire insurance -06 
 
 Interest 3 $ .83 .83 
 
 Coal for threshing 47 pounds . 15 
 
 Threshing $1.14 1.00 
 
 Threshers' meals 0.5 .15 
 
 Threshers' horses' meals 0.2 .04 
 
 Labor 24.3 hours 6.07 
 
 Horse labor 35. 1 hours 7.02 
 
 Equipment labor $1 . 54 2 . 63 
 
 $32.10 
 
 Farmers in 'New York have had two rather poor years. Some 
 have made an unusual profit and some have lost heavily. Con- 
 ditions have been very uneven, but in general the past two years 
 have not been very profitable. Farmers are now beginning to be 
 somewhat disturbed by the agitation from citiea. Many dangerous 
 expedients are being advocated. For instance, a recent publica- 
 tion coming with federal endorsement advocated that farmers 
 should increase dairy products by more liberal feeding, double 
 poultry production, and greatly increase hog production. The 
 same publication called for milling more closely and for the use 
 of com as human food. We must eat more com and other grains 
 to save the wheat supply, but, if we do so, we decrease the food 
 for livestock. We should keep no more livestock than the remain- 
 ing food will carry. We cannot eat the corn and middlings and 
 also feed them. 
 
 A dairy herd returns 15 per cent of the protein and 10 peor 
 cent of the energy of the feed in f onn for human use, beef cattle 
 
 ^ Fertilizer, lime, and manure represent the share of these costs that should 
 be charged to wheat. The manure and lime include cost of hauling which is 
 now much more than in 1&15, hence the figures given are too low. 
 
 ' Use of land and 'buildings Includes Interest at 5 per cent taxes andl labor 
 of upkeep. These costs have increased so that the figures given is too low. 
 
 ' Interest on average costs to time of harvest. Since these costs have increased 
 the figures given are now too low. 
 
33 
 
 return much less tliau half as much.^ We should maiutain ov 
 increase our dairy herds if possible, but it is inevitable that meat 
 animals will be decreased in this country as they are being 
 decrease in every other country. The fact that people are eating 
 what was stock food makes such a decrease inevitable. Of course, 
 we must do our best to hold up the supply of meat by raising more 
 food and feed, but any arbitrary methods of preventing the 
 slaughter of meat animals are worse than useless. It will not pay 
 to keep any more animals than we can feed well. 
 
 The press agitation against the slaughter or consumption of 
 calves and young chickens is particularly ill-advised. Compara- 
 tively few good young pullets are ever killed; the young poultry- 
 killed is nearly all cockerels, while the old stock killed is nearly 
 all hens. The recent state census showed only one old rooster 
 to 20 hens, the other roosters all died young. In April there were 
 on JSTew York farms more than one old hen for each three eggs 
 incubated in the preceding year. Combining this information 
 with the well-knovra facts as to number of chickens raised for 
 each one hundred eggs incubated, it is evident that, on the aver- 
 age, pullets are kept for over two years and that very few are 
 killed. It nearly always costs more to raise a pullet than it is 
 worth for meat, so there is no incentive for killing good ones. The 
 broiler is usually the cockerel, and is a by-product. 
 
 The average period of use of a dairy cow/ in New York is about 
 seven years. ■ If one heifer is raised for each five cows the dairy 
 herds will be maintained. These heifers should be, and generally 
 are, the most promising ones. It is a mistake to advocate the 
 raising of dairy calves that are not wanted for dairy purposes. 
 The sooner these are killed and eaten the better. The food that 
 these calves eat will feed more persons than will the meat grown 
 on this food. Calves of beef animals are rarely sold as veals ; they 
 are raised for beef, but daiiy calves in excess of the number neces- 
 sary to maintain dairy herds ordinarily should be slaughtered 
 young, if we are to conserve our food supply. 
 
 If regulations, boycotts, and agitation result in lowering the 
 price that the farmef receives, there is danger that we will not get 
 
 •Dairy herds return 20 per cent of the protein and 15 per cent of the energy 
 of the digestible food they consume. 
 
34 
 
 the necessary increase in production, for costs of production have 
 increased enormously on farms. It is much better to have enough 
 at a high price than to have too little at a low price caused by 
 agitation or regulation. 
 
 This is a time when clear thinking and a practical kuowledge 
 of agriculture need to be combiued. We have a new and compli- 
 cated problem before us. The solution is not easy. Many of the 
 proposed remedies will accomplish the opposite of the desired 
 result. We must do our best to increase production and at the 
 same time be prepared to meet the emergency of a poor crop year. 
 What we raise must all be got to the consumer and consumed with- 
 out waste. Personally, I wish that we could eliminate the use of 
 human food for the manufacture of alcoholic beverages. 
 
 GOVERNOR'S ADDRESS 
 
 HONOEABLE ChAELES S. WhiTMAN 
 
 Gentlemen. — I had not expected to make a speech, but I am 
 very glad to make it — to be here personally and appear before 
 you. I am here because I think it would be most unfortunate so 
 far as the State administration is concerned, to have it appear that 
 the Governor of the State of New York was indifferent to this 
 critical situation which confronts us and which so deeply concerns 
 our entire State and JSTation. The steps we are about to take in 
 this matter deeply concern not only you yourselves, but the whole 
 people. I say you are deeply concerned; the agricultural inter- 
 ests of the State are deeply concerned. No men are more deeply 
 concerned about the interests at stake in a practical way than the 
 farmers. Of the men and women, of all the millions in this great 
 State, none are more concerned than the farmers. The subject 
 that concerns us as a people, whether engaged in professions or 
 mantifucturing, is the welfare of those who are engaged in agri- 
 cultural pursuits. The food supply, the means of sustenance and 
 support, not only here in our State, where we live, but all over the 
 United States and the world, is the most vital question to-day. 
 And not only now are we concerned ; we shall be concerned in the 
 future, not only throughout our land, but throughout the world. 
 
36 
 
 I am not much of a mathematician, but reference has been 
 made here to the effect that under certain conditions the products 
 of the United States would support a hundred and twenty mil- 
 lioiis of people. That did not seem to me to represent what the 
 United States ought to do or can do. If the causes of right and 
 justice are to prevail in this great war, the United States of 
 America must produce more than enough food for one hundred 
 aud twenty million people — very much more. We must meet this 
 situation. I believe the United States could feed more than that, 
 a good many more than that, a good many more than one hundred 
 and fifty million. It must feed more than one hundred and fifty 
 million. I believe this land of ours has to do it if what we hope 
 and pray for is to be consummated. A tremendous responsibility 
 rests upon the farmer, and upon all of us as well, to see that we 
 do it. 
 
 Now, of course, I am not qualified, and I would not have it 
 asserted that I am, by experience or knowledge of the agricultural 
 situation, to know just what should be done. But you are men 
 who are entirely capable and entirely fitted by experience to handle 
 and discuss fully and intelligently these agricultural matters. I 
 see there are some of the members of the Legislature here to-day, 
 and I am glad to see them ; I speak for them when I say that all 
 branches of the State government, legislative, administrative, and 
 executive — are glad to be here and to be represented here. But 
 they cannot be fully equipped in all these things that go to make 
 up the ti'emendous and daily activities of the government of the 
 greatest State in the world. We have to depend upon the citizens 
 of this State, and, so far as agriculture is concerned, we have to 
 be dependent upon those who do know, who have first-hand knowl- 
 edge, upon those who have devoted their lives to it. Tremendously 
 -important as they are, we have to depend on them, realizing as we 
 must that they are the ones who understand and know about these 
 things and the question of the food supply. 
 
 The government of the State is glad to receive suggestions which 
 will help to solve the critical problem facing this State in this hour 
 of emergency, from you. I want you to meet us in the spirit in 
 which we meet you. There is nothing personal, there is nothing 
 political — as that term has come to be used — certainly nothing 
 
36 
 
 personal or selfish in the efforts of those responsible for the govern- 
 ment of the State of ISTew York to help you producers in discharg- 
 ing the grave duties imposed upon you by this present situation, 
 this grave crisis. But what is being done, and what is to be done, 
 must be for the good of all the people of the State and the Nation. 
 I believe I am telling the truth when I say I km working for you 
 in the Legislature ; and I refer to every man there for this, when 
 I say ^;hat in the various activities and departments of the State, — 
 if I know these men — it is our effort and our intention to con- 
 duct ourselves and direct the efforts of the State in such a manner 
 that the farmer shall receive all the benefits to which he is entitled, 
 and all the profits to which he is entitled, that he may bring up 
 his family as he ought, that he may provide for himself and his 
 family as he ought, and that he may provide, as is his duty, for 
 his retiring years. So a great responsibility rests upon the 
 farmers — and upon the government too, to see that the fanner 
 gets his just returns and fair treatment. 
 
 But it is not the farmer alone who is concerned. There are ten 
 millions of people in this State, and it is just as necessary that the 
 people in the cities be clothed and fed. The farmer is tremendously 
 important, and his life should be made comfortable and happy for 
 him. But it is just as important, and I mean no reflection upon 
 anybody, that the lives of the men and women in the cities, the 
 men and women in the mills, in the factories, in every other call- 
 ing in life should be equally protected. It is the duty of the 
 government — and your duty just as much as mine, just as much 
 as it is the duty of the senators and assemblymen — to see that 
 those people are properly protected, properly fed, have a chance 
 to live properly, that their children have all the advantages, that 
 all the people have them. And we want you to help us in the 
 matter of legislation to accomplish this. We want you to help us 
 in the enactment of legislation that will result in the equalization 
 of these factors. We want your help and your support in the 
 efforts to devise the kinds of legislation that will do this. We 
 must give abundant protection so far as the law can give it to 
 all the citizens. We ought to protect the producer and the con- 
 sumer too. We should see to it that 'the producer is not cheated, 
 that the producer is properly taken care of, that he is not fooled, 
 
37 
 
 cheated, and deprived of his legitimate return, and also that the 
 consumer is not cheated, that the consumer gets full value for his 
 iiioney, just so far as legislation can do it. I knov? that laws 
 cannot make a people good. I knov?- that legislation alone is 
 not enough. But we can help matters, we can help conditions a 
 little by proper legislation. I believe that we can by proper 
 handling of this subject, with the aid of all, the conscientious sup- 
 port and conscientious and patriotic devotion of all, improve this 
 difficult matter; that we can work out a plan by which we may 
 obtain legislation that will benefit the whole State; that this 
 serious situation may be met. The situation is certain to become 
 more serious. 
 
 Some of you are familiar with the conditions in the city of 
 JSTew York. I deplore the fact that any man or group of men 
 attempt to devise legislation for one section as against another, 
 to legislate or ask for legislation for the benefit of one section as 
 against another. Occasionally we do see an effort made to preju- 
 dice one section as against another — the farmer as against the 
 man in the city, or the consumer as against the producer in the 
 country, or vice versa. I do not believe that is the situation gener- 
 ally, but we do meet with it, and we want your help in this mat- 
 ter. The situation is one that calls for the conscientious effort 
 of all throughout all our land — one that calls for the best effort 
 of every conscientious patriot. All must work together. It is 
 not only the duty of the United States to take care of its own — 
 we are together with England, together with France, with Kus- 
 sia — and if this cause is going to be won we have to send some- 
 thing besides money. We have to send something besides men. 
 We have to send men, but we have to send more than men. We 
 have to send money, but we have to send more than money. We 
 have to send munitions, but we have to send more than munitions. 
 We have to send food above everything else in the world. We 
 have to produce enough to take care of our own and then enough 
 to feed them all. We have to see to it that in the production of 
 that food there is not the fraud and scheming and cheating that 
 is sometimes charged — but that I am not willing to admit exists. 
 And the members of the senate and assembly who are here, I want 
 them as well as myself to gain whatever they can gain in the way 
 
of help find advice from these men, in whom we are so interested 
 and who, of course, are interested in us. I want you people here 
 to make all the suggestions you will. I have not noticed any 
 special backwardness in suggestions to the legislature in the year 
 last past; biit we do indeed welcome it. I want you to realize 
 that. This is a matter that concerns all, not any man or group of 
 men, or any number of men, and we must work for the best good 
 of all our people. 
 
 I want to thank you, gentlemen, and those whom you represent, 
 for this meeting and for your effort to preserve the interests of the 
 State. I am glad to know that agricultural gatherings have been 
 held throughout the State, and I think the wonderful results of 
 those gatherings may be shoAvn. in the magnificent response to the 
 Federal Census and in the State Military Census. I appreciate 
 more than I can tell you what was done, and it was clearly dem- 
 onstrated to me that the patriotism of the farmer was as strong 
 as any. 
 
 I was interested in those figures of Professor Warren. I was 
 impressed, however, with what he said about his figures being 
 more or less uncertain, because of an experience I recently had. 
 Just before the Federal Census, I was asked to make an estimate 
 as to what it would show. Five states had been selected for the 
 purpose of mating up an estimate of what the census would prob- 
 ably show. They wanted to know beforehand, approximately, 
 what the military strength of the itfation would be likely to be. 
 Just what purpose that was for I do not know. I was asked to 
 send an estimate. I made one. I am not a mathematician. I 
 Avas able to secure the aid of representatives of two or three of 
 the greatest among the corporations of the State. I asked them 
 if they could tell me, estimating the population of the State of 
 'New York as ten millions, estimating that. half of those are male, 
 what would be likely to be the number of males 21 to 30 years 
 of age, and incidentally I asked them for figures in regard to 
 other ages, over 30, to 40, to 50, and so forth. On the following 
 day I received the replies. One said that estimating five millions 
 of men, between the ages of one day and 20 years there would 
 be two million males in the State of New York. I asked for from 
 21 to 30. I received to 20. Another reply was that estimating 
 
nobody in the State as over 80, between 70 and 80 there would be 
 200,000; age 15 to GO, there would be 600,000; and ages oO 1o 
 40, 600,000 ; that between the ages of 20 and 30, the total wonhl 
 be 2,400,000. Between the ages of 21 and 30 there were enrolled 
 1,036,000. They were only a quarter of a million out of the way. 
 
 That enrollment, it seems to me, demonstrates the willingness 
 with which the men enrolled, the eagerness which was manifested 
 all over the State — even np in the woods where they had to go 
 miles — demonstrates to me the sincerity, the devotion, and the 
 very keen and lively interest in it. 
 
 I hope, and I am sure, that the spirit which was manifested 
 during the last week in all matters pertaining to national defense 
 and for the protection of national interests, is going to be man- 
 ifested by our people in working out these problems, because they 
 have got to be worked out. They concern you and me and every 
 man and woman in the great State of New York and demand the 
 devotion of every citizen of the State. 
 
NO. 5 AUGUST 15, 1917 
 
 Bulletin of the New York 
 State Food Supply Commission 
 
 PUBLISHED SEMI-MONTHLY BY THE DEPARTMENT 
 OF AGRICULTURE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK 
 
 Drying of Food Products 
 
 OR- 
 
 The Dehydration System 
 
 Compiled by B. C. Goons, under direction of J. J. Dillon, 
 
 Commissioner in Charge of Distribution, Storage 
 
 and Marketing 
 
 ' // 13 clearly recognized that the man who tills the soil and pro- 
 duces the food for the soldier in the field and his family at 
 home is rendering a patriotic service, as truly as is the man 
 who bears the brunt of battle. 
 
 —CHARLES S. WHITMAN 
 
 Entered as second-class matter July 11, 1917. at the Post-Office at Albany, New York, 
 under the Act of June 5, 1900 
 
NEW YORK STATE FOOD SUPPLY COMMISSION 
 
 (Address all communications to the Commission at Albany) 
 
 Charles S. Wilson, Albany, Chairman, 
 
 In charge of Division of Administration. 
 
 A. R. Mann, Ithaca, Secretary, 
 
 In charge of Division of Food Conservation. 
 
 M. C. Burritt, Ithaca, 
 
 In charge of Division of County Organization. 
 
 J. H. Finley, Albany, 
 
 In charge of Division of Schools and Colleges. 
 
 J. J. Dillon, Xew York City, 
 
 In charge of Division of Distribution, Storage and 
 Marketing. 
 
 S. J. Lowell, Fredonia, 
 
 In charge of Division of Loans and Farm Lands. 
 
 F. W. Sessions, Utica, 
 
 In charge of Division of Farm Labor. 
 
 R. D. Cooper, Little Falls, 
 
 In charge of Division of Seeds, Fertilizers and Live Stock. 
 S. J. T. Bush, Morton, 
 
 In charge of Division of Transportation and Machinery. 
 
 Dvyight Sanderson, Albany, Assistant Secretary. 
 Charles Scott, Albany, Accovmtant. 
 
THE FOREWORD 
 
 Confronted this year with the prospect of a large waste of 
 fruits and vegetables on the farms of the State, we naturally 
 turned to facilities for curing and preserving them in times of 
 surplus for use in times of scarcity. For our purpose it was 
 necessary to find means of caring for the products of a commu- 
 nity. The canning plants have been used to good effect ; but this 
 year we have been confronted with a shortage in cans on account 
 of the scarcity of tin and glass, and at present there is also a 
 scarcity of boxes to case the cans. 
 
 In this emergency we turned to facilities to dry or dehydrate 
 fruits and vegetables; but no really definite information was 
 available. Wherever we applied for information, we found men, 
 like ourselves, looking for it and for the most part uncertain 
 about the results already attained. 
 
 In this situation the only thing to do was to find the plants 
 •where food had been dried successfully or otherwise, and inter- 
 view the men who had actually done the work, so that we might 
 furnish at least practically all that has yet developed in this 
 process of food conservation. Mr. B. C. Coons, who had already 
 studied the subject, undertook the task of gathering the available 
 information under our direction. The following pages give the 
 result of his study. 
 
 We want merely to present the systems now in use; the kinds 
 and variety of machines needed; and as concrete, detailed infor- 
 mation as possible in reference to the process or treatment of each 
 article to be treated. We have tried to give the beginner infor- 
 mation that would help him start right and possibly offer some 
 suggestions of value to those who have already had some experi- 
 ence. The information is not our, own, but a compilation of the 
 best we could gather from practical men in the work. Xo doubt, 
 someone will follow with better material. I^or the present this 
 is the concensus of the best practice. 
 
 John J. Dillon 
 
EVAPORATING SYSTEMS FOR DRYING FOOD 
 PRODUCTS 
 
 In the trade there appears to be a tendency to make a distinc- 
 tion between evaporated products and steam-dried products and 
 dehydrated products. There is, however, but little difference 
 between the products although the systems differ greatly. Yet in 
 each of the systems the object is to drive out the moisture as 
 quickly as possible. 
 
 According to the kiln evaporator system, the material is laid 
 upon a kiln floor in a layer about six inches deep, and subjected 
 to a temperature of about 125 degrees Fahr. Owing to the thick- 
 ness of the layer there is what might be called a stewing action 
 that requires considerably more time in driving off the moisture. 
 
 According to the steam-drying system, the material is placed 
 upon trays in thin layers, with steam pipes on opposite sides 
 thereof for the purpose of driving out the moisture. As the 
 material is in thin layers, necessarily the moisture is driven out 
 quicker than with the kiln evaporator process where the material 
 is thick or heavy. 
 
 According to the dehydration system, the material is placed on 
 trays in thin layers, and the trays arranged one above another 
 with spaces between them. Hot air at about 125 degrees Fahr. is 
 blown horizontally from one side of a heated chamber through the 
 spaces between the trays, and is automatically discharged from 
 the opposite side of the chamber. According to this system the 
 moisture from one tray is not driven through the trays above it, 
 and probably there is a qiiicker driving out of the moisture due to 
 the fact that there is no absorption of moisture in the compart- 
 ment. 
 
 Still another system, which has been in use for many years, is 
 known as the tower system. According to this system, a tower is 
 employed, and the trays containing the products in thin layers are 
 placed one on top of another, with small air spaces between them, 
 within the tower, which is heated by a furnace at the bottom, the 
 moisture being exhausted from the top. The temperature within 
 
 5 
 
this tower is about 300 degrees Fahr., which drives off the mois- 
 ture much quicker than any of the other systems above mentioned. 
 
 From the foregoing it will be seen that each of the systems is 
 seeking to drive off the moisture without destroying the food 
 value of the product. It would seem that the best system is the 
 one which will drive off the moisture quickest, without burning or 
 scorching the product. This result is best secured by placing the 
 products in thin layers, and subjecting the material to the highest 
 degree of heat without scorching. With the exception of onions 
 and potatoes, we see no reason why the old evaporators could not 
 be employed for producing as good a product as in any of the 
 other systems, provided the product is placed upon the kiln floor 
 in thin layers about one and one-half or two inches thick, and not 
 six inches as is most generally done. 
 
 Of course, the kiln evaporator system, unless precaution is 
 taken, is uncleanly for the reason that the operatives in the plant 
 generally walk upon the floor of the kiln upon which the product 
 is dried. This is easily remedied if a change of shoes is made 
 before entering the kiln. In this respect the system which 
 employs separate trays is superior, as the trays may be readily 
 cleaned, and are not walked upon. 
 
 Under the kiln evaporator system, the dehydrating system, and 
 the steam system (unless superheated steam is used), it is impos- 
 sible to obtain a very high degree of heat, and for this reason the 
 old tower system with some improvements would seerh to be the 
 best for it secures the highest degree of heat and employs the tray 
 system. 
 
 It is believed that the best arrangement for handling all prod- 
 ucts is a plant having one or more kiln evaporators adapted to 
 take care of the waste that occurs in the drying of apples, as, 
 for example, the chops, cores, and peelings. The kiln is also the 
 best for berries. This plant should also be provided with towers, 
 built under the tower system, for handling other products that are 
 more easily dried by the tray system. Of the several tray sys- 
 tems, the tower system is preferred, becavise of the great amoimt 
 of heat, which does away with the steaming or bleaching in the 
 case of potatoes. If a low heat is employed with potatoes, as in 
 the kiln system, it is necessary to steam the potatoes for fifteen 
 
Fig. 1. — A First-floor Plan, Showing the Apple-paring Table, Trimmek's 
 Table, \A'aste Conveyor, and Motor. 
 
 If the tray system is used for drying, the trays may be placed where the 
 kilns are now shown. 
 
 l.-jfi. 2. A Front Elevatiok of Evaporator, SiiowiNCi End View of 
 
 Bmacheb and Paring Table, a.\d Side View of Slicer, Grader, Apple 
 Bin, and Conveyor. 
 
8 
 
 minutes to set the starch prior to the drying process. With the 
 tower system this steaming is unnecessary owing to the greater 
 amount of heat. As an example of the kiln-tower system, one 
 kiln would handle the waste of 300 bushels of apples daily, while 
 three units or towers would handle the other portion of the apples. 
 An additional kiln should be built to be used as a curing room, in 
 which the products from the towers are emptied. A kiln 20 feet 
 square will cure the product of six towers or about 600 bushels 
 daily. 
 
 The several systems hereinbefore mentioned are described in 
 detail on pages 10 to 16. 
 
 In view of the foregoing we have adopted as a title for this 
 bulletin, " The Drying of Food Products," as we believe the word 
 drying covers all of the terms used for describing the different 
 systems, each system having for its purpose the driving out of the 
 moisture from the product. 
 
 Generally stated, the process of drying food products is the 
 same for every product, the purpose being merely to drive out the 
 moisture. Specifically each article requires different treatments, 
 and for this reason we shall append a short method relating to 
 each of a number of different products. 
 
 In many cases it is impossible in cities for the homemaker to 
 buy a supply of fresh fruits and vegetables for the lack of room, 
 while if evaporated fruits or vegetables were used, they can be 
 supplied in small quantities in bulk or in packages, taking up but 
 small space. Evaporated fruits and vegetables do away with the 
 preparing of the fresh fruits or vegetables, and are ready for use 
 almost immediately. 
 
 The chief difficulty of the homemaker in making use of these 
 evaporated apples and vegetables is that she knows hardly any- 
 thing of the economy or virtues of such products. Few people 
 realize that they can make four pies from one pound of evaporated 
 apples at a cost of 15 to 20 cents a pound at the retail store, 
 and sometimes less. When one considers this fact, it will be 
 realized that it is about as cheap a product for pie fillings as can 
 be obtained, and, at the same time, makes one of the most popular 
 pies that can be had. 
 
Fig. 3. 
 
 Fig. 4. 
 
 Figs. 3 and 4. — Side Views of Kilns, the Daek Lines Indicating Hopper, 
 ALSO THE Bleacher, Apple Conveyor, Slices, Kiln Floor, and 
 Grader. 
 
 These machines are all on the second floor, and the workroom can be used 
 for the drying of vegetables and fruit, or canning of either. 
 
10 
 
 Where obtainable, evaporated vegetables show in just as favor- 
 able a light as evaporated fruits. They are used mostly for soup 
 stock, and in this form it is possible to buy a mixture of celery, 
 carrots, onions, cabbage, and turnips in a small package, ready 
 for immediate use at low cost, eliminating the necessity of going 
 to the corner grocer for one, two, or three products in the raw 
 state to be prepared and cleaned, making a still higher cost. The 
 homemaker should realize that in the preparation of fresh fruits 
 and vegetables the waste is about 20 per cent, which is a serious 
 cost in itself; but it will be readily seen that this cost can be 
 offset by the advantages of having an article alreadj^ prepared 
 for use. 
 
 THE KILN EVAPORATOR 
 The kiln evaporator and furnace room is usually built from 
 cement and is generally 20 feet hquare, and about 14 feet from 
 the furnace floor to the top of the furnace room or kiln floor. 
 The top of the furnace room is formed by spaced slats which 
 are usually seven-eighths inch wide at the top and five-eighths inch 
 wide at the bottom so that the slots between them are wider at the 
 bottom than at the top, the separation at the top being usually 
 about one-eighth of an inch. These slats are nailed on two- by six- 
 inch joists. If the evaporator is to be used for vegetables only, 
 the slats are preferably one and one-fourth inch wide at the top 
 and seven-eighths inch at the bottom, as this form of slat does 
 not warp so quickly and does not require the use of burlap. With- 
 in the furnace room a large furnace is placed in the center. 
 Preferably the furnace should be surrounded by a cement hop- 
 per as shown in the front elevation of the evaporator plant, 
 Fig. 2. This hopper starts from the underside of the kiln 
 floor and runs down about three and one-half or four feet from 
 the furnace floor to a square upright wall forming a compartment 
 which surrounds the furnace, each side of this square compart- 
 ment being about nine feet, and being provided with openings in 
 its four sides through which air passes to the furnace. Three 
 of these openings are two feet high and three feet long, while 
 the fourth is three feet high and three feet wide, and is positioned 
 opposite the furnace door in order that the furnace may be fed. 
 
11 
 
 At the junction of the lower part of the hopper and the upright 
 walls, openings are provided and a trough is formed on the upper 
 side near the openings so that any of the products falling through 
 the kiln floor on the inclined hopper walls will ride down such 
 walls and will be deflected by the trough into the openings in the 
 hopper walls. It is desirable to place something below the open- 
 ings in the hopper walls to catch these small pieces as it has been 
 found that an evaporator for drying vegetables is not a success 
 unless all these small pieces are saved, since the waste will more 
 than overcome any saving due to the drying of the vegetables. 
 
 The kiln, of course, is provided with a chimney, and a flue or 
 pipe from the furnace connects with this chimney. This pipe 
 is usually 10 inches in diameter and of galvanized iron. The 
 greatest amount of heat is secured by running the pipe back and 
 forth about two feet below the kiln floor. In the top wall of the 
 kiln room — that is, the room above the kiln floor — an opening is 
 provided about three feet wide and extending the full leng-th of 
 the kiln. This opening should have a cover to keep out rain, as 
 shown in the front and side elevation in the plans of the kiln 
 evaporator. 
 
 The walls of the kiln are preferably formed of cement blocks 
 while the hopper and the upright walls in the furnace room are 
 made of pressed steel, having slots five-sixteenths inch wide and 
 one inch long, the steel being covered with cement about five- 
 eighths inch thick. 
 
 The cost of installing one kiln made out of cement blocks is 
 about $1,000, which includes the furnace, pipe, and kiln floor. A 
 processing room for an apple evaporator to enclose the paring 
 machines, choppers, bleachers or any other fruit or vegetable 
 machinery can be built in one with the kiln out of cement blocks 
 and will cost about $700, but this would not include the machin- 
 ery. A ten-kiln plant with a work or processing room to corre- 
 spond therewith would cost about $11,000, not including ma- 
 chinery. The machinery that would be installed in a work or 
 processing room to handle vegetables will cost about $500, and 
 the machinery necessaiT for a six-kiln plant handling about 500 
 bushels of apples daily will cost about $1,100, equipped ready to 
 run. A six-kiln plant complete will cost about $7,000. The 
 
12 
 
 plans for an apple evaporator are shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4 
 and the machinery thereof is described on pages 17 to 22. 
 
 STEAM DRYER SYSTEM 
 According to the steam dryer system a room or casing is formed 
 from cement, wood, or other material with an outlet at the top 
 for the moisture. This casing is usually 20 feet long, 16 feet 
 high, and 10 feet deep. Within the casing are arranged a number 
 of horizontal rows or coils of steam pipe running in the direction 
 of the length of the casing, the coils being about six inches apart 
 and spaced from the front, back, and end walls of the casing 
 about 10 inches in order to provide space for the passage of mois- 
 ture. The trays usually have sides formed of wood one inch thick 
 and two inches wide, the bottom being formed of wire screen 
 nailed to the sides. The doors are small and about eight inches 
 wide and 4 feet 3 inches long, and are provided in the front of 
 the room or casing between the pipe rows or coils. It will be 
 noted that the trays are of such size that two may be passed 
 through each door to rest upon the pipes adjacent to such door, the 
 first tray being pushed to the rear by the tray being last inserted. 
 A boiler room should be provided with a steam boiler having a 
 capacity of 50 to 100 pounds of steam. There is also required 
 sufficient steam pipe, one and one-half inch, to form the coils and 
 to connect the boiler with the coils. This requires a very large 
 amount of pipe. A steam dryer system which will have a capacity 
 the snme as a six-kiln evaporator will cost about $10,000. 
 
 THE DEHYDRATOR SYSTEM 
 The dehydrator system is illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 by two 
 views. This system employs a plurality of trays in which the 
 product is placed in thin layers. These trays are supported on 
 a vertical rack so that one tray is positioned above the other with 
 slight spaces between them. The rack in turn is supported on a 
 tnick that permits the racks and trays to be moved into and out 
 of the dehydrator. The dehydrator system has a sheet iron cas- 
 ing provided with a number of compartments into which the 
 trucks with the trays thereon are rolled. After a truck and trays 
 hnvo been placed in a compartment the latter is closed by means 
 of doors. Eetween the compartments are hollow walls provided 
 
13 
 
 with doors, which are so controlled that the air passes through 
 one vertical wall horizontally between the trays and out through 
 the opposite wall. The construction illustrated is said to work 
 upon the theory of bringing expanded air at proper temperatures 
 into contact with the product to be dried, thus removing the mois- 
 ture quickly without breaking down the cell structure and with- 
 
 FiG. 5 — Dehydbatok System, Showing Cojipahtments Into Which the 
 Trucks Bearing the Trays Are Rolled. 
 
 out destroying the food value, aroma, or taste. The manu- 
 facturers of this machine will furnish full details for the 
 operation of the system. The cost of this syst^n is about the same 
 as a steam drier of the same cajDacity. Several manufacturers 
 now produce dehydrating machines. 
 
 THE TOWER SYSTEM 
 The t«wer system has been in use a great many years. Within 
 recent years not so many of these plants have been installed. 
 This has been due to the fact that about twenty years ago the 
 
14 
 
 Fio. 6.- 
 
 - Racks Containing Trays, and Truck for Moving In and Out 
 OP Dehydbator. 
 
15 
 
 System. 
 
10 
 
 German government passed a law prohibiting the drying of foods 
 upon metallic trays. As a consequence, this system was discon- 
 tinued and the kiln, or evaporator, system installed most gener- 
 ally because it used a wooden floor due to the demand on the part 
 of the German government that products be dried on wood. 
 Within the last ten years, this law of the German government 
 has been repealed. 
 
 According to the tower system, as illustrated in Fig. 7, a large 
 brick tower is built in a two-story building with a basement. In 
 the basement at the bottom of the tower is arranged a furnace. 
 On the first floor, the tower is provided with an intake for the 
 trays and on the second floor the tower is provided with an outlet 
 for the trays. Within the tower is an elevating mechanism that 
 feeds the trays step by step from the intake upwardly to the out- 
 let. It requires about three hours for each tray to travel from 
 the intake to the outlet, and during this time, owing to the in- 
 tense heat of the furnace, which is about 275 to 300 degrees Fahr., 
 the product is substantially dried. When it is taken from the 
 tower, it is conducted to a curing room, which is maintained by 
 a cheap furnace at a temperature of 90 degrees Fahr. It is held 
 in this curing room for three or four hours and this completes 
 the drying process. This curing room can be made large enough 
 to handle the products from any number of towers or units. One 
 of the advantages of the tower system is that they can be built 
 within the smallest space, in fact four to six towers may be built 
 within the space required for an ordinary kiln evaporator 20 feet 
 square. The tower system is continuous and does not require 
 any turning of the product. One unit has the same capacity of 
 an ordinary kiln 20 feet square, and can be installed complete 
 for $800 by any building contractor. This is several hundred 
 dollars less than the cost of a kiln evaporator. 
 
METHODS OF DRYING FOR DIFFERENT PRODUCTS 
 
 APPLES 
 
 Apples are bought from the grower at 30 to 40 cents per hun- 
 dred pounds, or two bushels, there being 50 pounds to a bushel in 
 jSTew York State. The apples are first sorted in three grades by 
 a grader, such as is shown in Fig 8. According to .one system 
 the apples are delivered from the grader into crates, which are 
 carried on trucks, either to the cider mill, to a chopper, or to a 
 paring room, the first grade or culls going to the chopping room 
 or cider mill, and the second and third grades going to the paring 
 room. 
 
 Fig. 8. A Geading Machine for Gkading or Sorting Apples, Peaches, 
 
 Pears, Tomatoes, Oranges, or Beets — in Fact, any Product 
 Requiring Grading. 
 It operates without injury to the most delicate fruit or product, weighs 
 
 about 140 pounds, and is 19 inches in 'length, 40 inches high, and 6 feet long. 
 
 The cost of this machine is about $75. 
 
 According to another system, as illustrated in the plans for 
 an evaporator, the grader is ai'ranged on the floor above the par- 
 ing room and the apples are discharged from the grader, the first 
 "•rade, or chops, going to the cull bin, and the second and third 
 
 17 
 
18 
 
 grades being dropped by spouts to the paring room in front of 
 the operator. The first grade or culls, or those apples below one 
 and one-half inch, are made into cider or into dried chops. When 
 made into dried chops, the apples are conducted to a chopper 
 which cuts them into slices about one-fourth inch thick, and from 
 the chopper they are carried to the kiln floor, and are dried like 
 the better class stock as will be described. These chops bring any- 
 where from two to four cents a pound, and eleven pounds will be 
 obtained from one bushel of apples of fifty pounds. 
 
 The second grade of apples comprises those from one and one- 
 half to two and one-half inches. These are taken from the spout 
 
 Fig. 9. — A Power Apple Pareb that Will Pare and Core 65 Bushels 
 
 OF Apples Daily. 
 
 Its weight boxed is 115 pounds, and the drive pulley has a 2-inch face 
 and 9-ineh diameter to be driven by a 2-inch belt. The power shaft runs 
 170 revolutions a minute, and the machine requires % horse power. The 
 cost of this paring machine is $30. 
 
 by the operator and placed upon the fork of the paring machine, 
 which is arranged on a rotary reel as illustrated in Fig. 9. The 
 reel carries the apple to the paring and coring mechanism, which 
 operates thereon, and the apple is then discharged from the fork. 
 This work is usually done by girls or boys. The third grade of 
 apples comprises those above two and one-half inches. These are 
 treated in the same manner as the second grade but are pared on 
 different machines adjusted for that size of apple. 
 
19 
 
 The paring machine drops the apple into a spout, which de- 
 livers it to one of two conveyors as shown on the first floor plan 
 of the evaporator system. This spout which transfers the apple 
 into one of these conveyors is movable. If the operator desires 
 to send the apple to the trinmier's table, she presses her foot on a 
 small lever that moves the spout to the trimmer's table conveyor. 
 If the apple does not require trimming, she does not press the 
 lever, and this allows the apple to fall into the conveyor that de- 
 livers it directly to the bleacher. Ordinarily 75 per cent or more of 
 the apples are entirely peeled bo that only a very few are required 
 to be removed to the trimmer's table. After trimming the apples, 
 the trimmers again drop them on a conveyor underneath the table, 
 which discharges the apples on an elevator that conducts them 
 to the floor above and deposits them in the bleacher. This ar- 
 rangement permits the apples to travel from the parer to the 
 bleacher within thirty seconds. Such a short period of exposure 
 to air is very necessary, for otherwise the apples darken and the 
 evaporated apples will show a dark or tan color. To obtain white 
 stock, the apples must not be exposed to the air over one minute 
 from the time they are pared until they reach the bleacher. In 
 fact, the less time consumed in conducting the apples to the 
 bleacher after paring the better will be the stock as to color. The 
 bleaching of an apple merely holds the color that the apple has 
 at the time it enters the bleacher, and even though the apple will 
 appear lighter when it comes from the bleacher than it did when 
 it entered, the original ■ color will return immediately that the 
 apple is subjected to heat. 
 
 The bleacher is a box, the length of which depends on the 
 capacity of the plant. For example, an evaporator of 500 bushels 
 daily capacity would require a bleacher 40 feet long. , Within this 
 box is a conveyor the width of which is twenty-seven inches. This 
 conveyor extends between the side walls of the box with one- 
 quarter-ineh play at the sides. The apples drop to the bleacher 
 conveyor through a spout at one end of the bleacher box and 
 are discharged from the bleacher into a spout at the opposite end 
 of the bleacher box. Sulphur is burned in a small sheet-iron stove 
 fourteen inches high and one foot in diameter, and the fumes 
 from this sulphur enter the side of the bleacher near the intake 
 
20 
 
 through a pipe opening into the bleacher between the laps of the 
 conveyor. The conveyor .belt is made of two chains passing 
 around sprocket wheels and connected by parallel slats spaced 
 about one-fourth inch apart, the slats being bolted to the chains. 
 Between the laps of the conveyor is a small curtain of burlap. 
 Another curtain hangs from the top wall of the bleacher at the 
 ! intake, and still another curtain hangs from the top wall of the 
 bleacher on that side of the discharge outlet near the intake. 
 From the top of the bleacher, at a point close to the last-mentioned 
 curtain, a flue leads to the outside of the building. By this ar- 
 rangement the fumes pass from the stove to the bleacher and travel 
 over the apples on the top lap, then making an exit by way of 
 the flue or pipe hole near the outlet in the top of the bleacher. 
 The two curtains which hang from the top wall are to prevent 
 the entrance of air through the intake or outlet. The bleacher 
 conveyor must move at such a speed that the apples will take 
 40 minutes to go through a 40-foot bleacher. 
 
 From the bleacher the apples drop into a hopper of a slicer 
 (Fig. 10). At this point we might state that the practice of slic- 
 ing apples before bleaching them is unwise as the apples will not 
 bleach if the pores are cut and one slice lies on another. The 
 apples in the hopper of the slicer are carried by a conveyor — 
 one by one — to the pockets of a horizontally rotating wheel, which 
 pushes the apples over a flat surface causing them to assume 
 a position with their core holes upright. After passing over this 
 surface, the wheel pushes the apples through the knives, which cut 
 them into slices or rings, about five-sixteenths of an inch thick. 
 These rings fall into barrels and are carried to the kiln floor if 
 they are to be dried in an evaporator, but if they are to be dried 
 by any one of the other systems employing trays, the slicer dis- 
 charges the rings into the trays, which are then carried to their 
 respective systems. 
 
■21 
 
 Fig. 10. — An Apple Slicer for Cutting Apples after they have been 
 Peeled, " Cored, and Bleached. 
 
 The capacity of this machine is 400 bushels, and its weiglit is 550 pounds. 
 Its cost is $110. There are smaller apple slicers sold, which will slice 200 
 bushels daily, and which will cost about $50 each. 
 
•-!•;! 
 
 According to the evaporator system, the rings are placed on 
 the kiln floor about 5 or 6 inches deep, although it is believed that 
 better results will be secured if they are not over three inches 
 deep, or even less than this, as the thick layer tends to produce a 
 stewing action that retards the drying. After the kiln floor is 
 about half covered or entirely covered, a very hot fire is started. 
 When the lower part of the layer, or those rings that are nearest 
 to the kiln floor, begin to have a crust form on them, or become 
 springy or leatherlike, the layer is turned by a steel shovel. Every 
 two or three hours thereafter the layer is turned or mixed until the 
 entire mass becomes springy or leatherlike, and has a moisture 
 not to exceed 25 per cent. When this condition is reached the 
 product is placed in barrels and removed to a store room or cur- 
 ing room. If the product is placed in piles five or six feet deep, 
 it is necessary to turn it evei-^- three or four days so that it will 
 not mold or heat. This is continued until the product is cured, 
 after which it is not necessary to turn it so often. 
 
 The apples are usually sold to packers, who place them in pa- 
 per cartons or fancy wooden boxes, and who pay the evaporator 
 ovsmer 6 to 12 cents a pound for them. 
 
 In the dehydrator, the steam system or the tower system, the 
 fruit is i^laced on the trays about three-fourths of an inch deep, 
 and no turning is required, the fruit being dried until the mois- 
 ture is dried to a point not to exceed 25 per cent. 
 
 THE MOISTUHE IN EVAPOEATED APPLES 
 
 This point brings up one of the most important questions in 
 the evaporating of apples. Our .State and Federal laws allow a 
 moisture content of 27 per cent, based on a four-hour boiling 
 point, and it is asserted by a number that evaporated apples will 
 keep at this basis, but experience has shown that they will not. 
 When apples of about this content have been distributed to the 
 wholesale and retail grocers for distribution to the consumer, it 
 has often been found that they will show signs of mould and fer- 
 ment, if kept on any ordinary shelf for a short time. 
 
 The Canadian government have made exhaustive studies of this 
 point, and they have adopted a basis of 25 per cent moisture con- 
 tent, based on a boiling point as long as any moisture is shown, 
 
and this is found to be a success. The Canadian moisture test 
 of 25 per cent is about equal to 23 per cent in comparison with 
 American methods. 
 
 Many iS'ew York State evaporator owners have been endeavor- 
 ing to have the American law changed to a basis of from 23 to 
 25 per cent moisture. Tn fact it would appear to be to the benefit 
 of the trade on these goods that the moisture should be even lower 
 than the figures given above, as in that case thev could be shipped 
 to any part of the country, and kept almost indefinitely in any 
 climate. A strong effort should be made in this direction, as it 
 will be a benefit to the maker, grocer, and consumer. 
 
 BERRIES 
 
 Under the title berries we shall include: strawberries, red 
 raspberries, black caps, and rasjiberries. 
 
 Berries are usually bought l)y the crate or quart, each quart 
 averaging 20 ounces, the market price for each quart being from 
 5 to 10 cents. 
 
 It has been ascertained by parties making a test that the best 
 results in drying berries are secured by the kiln evaporator system. 
 The berries without washing or sorting are placed upon the kiln 
 floor about four inches deep, the size of the kiln being immaterial. 
 
 Before the berries are spread on the floor of the kiln the floor 
 is covered with. a sheet of 8 or 10 ounce burlap, stretched tightly 
 and tacked in the same manner as a carpet. This burlap is used 
 in order to prevent the falling of the berries through the slats. 
 
 If batted berries are to be dried, and by this we mean berries 
 that have been knocked off the bush instead of being picked, they 
 will, on account of being bruised, be softer and moister than 
 picked berries. A hotter fire is required, therefore, in the fur- 
 nace of the kiln and also a longer period of time for the drying. 
 
 According to successful driers of berries it is well to start the 
 fire in the furnace about 5 or (1 p. m. and this fire is maintained 
 until 10 p. M. The berries are placed on the kiln floor after the 
 kiln has attained the most intense heat, preferably 125 degrees 
 Fahr., or above. About 10 p. j\r. the fire is banked and remains so 
 until 6 A. :\i. of the next morning, when the furnace is again 
 opened and is maintained for one hour at an intense heat, after 
 
24- 
 
 which the fire is reduced so that a moderate heat is obtained 
 for about two hours. 
 
 In order to determine whether the drying process is complete, 
 a handful of the berries is squeezed; if the. berries spring apart 
 when the hand is opened without sticking together, the product is 
 sufficiently dried. It is also customary to strike the berries with 
 the thumb or finger to determine whether they will scatter with- 
 out adhering one to another. The berries are usually dried until 
 they have about 18 to 20 per cent moisture. If scorched, they are 
 of no value as food. Black caps, if scorched, will turn red. 
 
 The Ohio blackberry is small and when brought to the evapo- 
 rator, does not contain so much moisture as does the larger 
 black raspberry. Consequently it does not require so much heat, 
 nor is it subjected to the heat for the same length of time as is 
 the larger black raspberry. It is customary to dry the Ohio 
 blackberry for 5 or 6 hours with a hot fire at the start and a 
 medium heat at the finish. 
 
 As to the turning of the berries, it has been found to be desir- 
 able to watch them carefully so that they do not scorch and to 
 turn them when those next to the burlap begin to turn dry and 
 springy. When the kiln is started about 5 or 6 in the afternoon, 
 the berries should be turned at least once before the banking of the 
 furnace at night and as many times the next day as necessary. A 
 steel or wood shovel may be used for the turning. The Ohio 
 berries should be turned two or three times during the drying. 
 
 Two types of berries may be dried at one time on the same kiln 
 floor, as, for example, the small Ohio blackberry and a large soft 
 beri-y, or a batted blackberry. To do this, the two types of berries 
 must be spread over separate portions of the floor and a partition, 
 such as a board one foot high, placed between them. The drier 
 berries should be arranged in a layer deeper than that of the 
 moist berries. For example, if the Ohio berry would be in a 
 layer four inches thick, the moist or batted blackberry would be 
 in a layer two inches thick. If the Ohio berries were equal in 
 amount to the soft or batted blackberries, it follows that a greater 
 space will be required for the soft berries. 
 
25 
 
 After the berries have been removed from the kiln they may 
 be pla<!ed in piles, but these piles must be turned every fev? days 
 until such time as they will not mold or heat. If the berries 
 are properly dried and cured, they -will last a season put up in a 
 bag or any other container that will keep ordinary bugs away. 
 If put up in tins or wax paper cartons, they will last for several 
 years. 
 
 We have been unable to obtain any data as to currants, goose- 
 berries, and cherries. While it is possible that this process may 
 apply to them, we cannot at this time recommend its use. 
 
 CABBAGE 
 
 Cabbage is usually bought by the ton from the grower, the 
 price varying from $10 to $20. 
 
 According to the evaporator system, the cabbage is received 
 at the evaporator and trimmed by removing the outer leaves and 
 the core, the latter being removed by a coring machine or by hand. 
 The heads are then placed in a slicing machine or cabbage cutter, 
 such as illustrated in Fig. 12. This machine will slice four to 
 five hundred heads of cabbage an hour and varies with reference 
 to other products according to the product. This cabbage cutter 
 discharges into boxes or barrels, which are employed for carry- 
 ing the sliced cabbage to the kiln floor. Owing to the fact that 
 the ordinary kiln floor has openings therein, it is impossible to 
 dry the cabbage without covering the kiln floor with cheap burlap. 
 Usually a burlap of 8 or 10 ounces is used, this being bought in 
 strips of 1 or 2 yards wide, and the strips sewed together like 
 carpet, then stretched tightly over the floor and tacked thereto 
 as one would lay a carpet. The burlap is thought to be superior 
 to wire screen as it will withstand the heat and at the same time 
 will prevent the smaller pieces from passing through the kiln 
 floor, thus eliminating a great deal of waste. The burlap will 
 last for two seasons if kept in a dry place. 
 
 The cabbage must be watched carefully during the drying and 
 turned as often as necessary to prevent scorching. Whenever it 
 is bone dry or has about 15 per cent moisture, the drying process 
 is complete. 
 
 Dried cabbage is placed in bags and sold to packers who pack 
 it in tins containing from 5 to 15 pounds. 
 
26 
 
 CARROTS, TURNIPS, BKETS 
 
 These three vegetables may be dried by the same process, on 
 the ordinary kiln floor. They are bought by the ton. Upon their 
 receipt at the evaporator, they are peeled and washed in a potato 
 peeler after which they are delivered to the trimmer's table, and 
 specks or bad spots are removed. 
 
 Carrots must be cut off square on the top or green end, as in 
 growing they sometimes protrude from the ground and become 
 green. This green portion must be cut off (in fact, all green or 
 unripe parts of any vegetable must be removed before drying). 
 Carrots are dropped by the trimmer on a conveyor and delivered 
 to a shredding machine, while turnips and beets are conducted by 
 a conveyor to a slicing machine, such as is shown in Fig. 12. From 
 these machines the products are dropped into boxes or barrels and 
 carried to the kiln floor, being spread over the floor to a depth 
 of 5 to 6 inches. Fifteen hours are required for the drying of 
 these products. The furnace must be started and the kiln 
 intensely heated before the vegetables are placed within it. They 
 must be turned when those portions in contact with the kiln floor 
 begin to dry or crust and must be turned every hour or so until 
 they are bone dry and will break when handled or bent. 
 
 About one pound of coal to every pound of dried vegetable is 
 required by the furnace. The product is usually sold in bags to 
 a packer who places them in five pound tins or wax paper cartons. 
 
 CELERY 
 
 Celery is usually bought by the crate, and before drying it is 
 trimmed and washed in a big vat or tank, and, as it is removed 
 from the tank it is inspected to determine whether or not it is 
 clean. It is then deposited on a conveyor and conducted to an 
 ensilage cutter, which reduces it to small pieces about one inch 
 long. These pieces are spread on trays, if the tray system is 
 used, or on the kiln floor if the kiln is used. On the kiln it 
 should be placed in a layer about one inch deep. It is dried when' 
 it is bone dry or has about 15 per cent moisture. It has been 
 ascertained that any system employing trays is better than the 
 evaporator system for the drying of celery. 
 
SPINACH 
 Spinach is dried in substantially the same manner as celery, 
 but is not cut up in small pieces. It is, however, washed and 
 inspected, and is then deposited on the trays or kiln floor. 
 
 POTATOES 
 
 In New York State a bushel of potatoes contains 60 pounds, 
 and when dried this bushel will weigh about 10 pounds. Pota- 
 
 FiG. 11. — A Potato Peeler is JIade ix Four Sizes. The Size Illustsated 
 ^^'iLL Peel Two Peoks of Potatoes ix Three-fourths of a 
 Minute, ob about Thirty Bushels an Hour. 
 
 The driving shaft of the machine for producing such vohune should be 
 run 500 revolutions a minute. It is important that the speed of the machine 
 should be at this rate, and not under any circumstances should tlie machine 
 be over-loaded. With a plain drive pulley the machine costs $120, and with 
 a motor stand and guards $150. A Power model witli a small capacity 
 costs $45. 
 
28 
 
 toes are one of the most difficult vegetables to dry, especially on 
 an ordinary kiln floor, as it has- been found they will turn black 
 unless the starch is set qiiickly, and for this reason an ordinary 
 evaporator is not commonly used. If an evaporator is used, the 
 slices should be steamed for 15 minutes before being placed on 
 the kiln floor. 
 
 The system most generally employed for drying potatoes is 
 the steam dryer. The potatoes are first peeled and washed in a 
 potato peeler. The machine is in the form of a receptacle and 
 the potatoes to be pared are dropped into this receptacle whiln 
 the machine is in motion. At the same time water is discharged 
 into the machine by means of a hose to clean the vegetables and 
 to remove the peelings from the machine. This water is then dis- 
 charged from the rear of the machine, being carried out by a 
 sewer or any other desirable outlet. When the paring is com- 
 pleted, the door at the front of the machine is opened and the 
 potatoes are discharged through the door into the trough under 
 which any suitable box or receptacle may be placed. They are 
 then transferred to a trimmer's table where the eyes are removed. 
 
 From the trimmer's table they are dropped to a conveyor and 
 delivered to a slicing machine, which makes slices about one- 
 eighth inch thick. These slices are then placed on trays in a layer 
 one inch thick and conducted to the steam dryer. In the steam 
 dryer they are subjected to a heat of about 125 degrees or more. 
 The dehydrator system may be substituted for the steam drying 
 system and has been found very successful. The drying should 
 be continued until the product is bone dry or will break if bent, 
 and contains about 15 per cent moisture. 
 
 The product is usually packed in tins of 5 and 15 pounds or 
 is sold loose in bags to packers. 
 
 ONIONS 
 
 Onions arc bought by the ton or bushel, the latter weighing 
 57 pounds in Xew York State. The market price paid for fresh 
 onions varies considerably, averaging between $15 and $30 a ton. 
 The first step in the treatment of onions is the peeling and wash- 
 ing : this is generally done in the potato peeler shown on page — , 
 or, if the onions are good size, the better policy is to have them 
 delivered to the trimmer's table and the peeling removed by hand. 
 
'2d 
 
 The onion is considerably harder to peel than any other vegetable 
 and if the peeling machine is used, it is necessary to have women 
 inspect every onion and remove the peelings that the machine 
 did not take off, and also trim off any bad spots together with 
 both ends of the onion, so that the onion is entirely hard and 
 clean. jSTot only must the first dry husk be removed, but also 
 all of the withered part of the layer next to the husk. If the second 
 layer is hard, however, it is not necessary to remove it. The 
 help employed for handling the onions in some instances have 
 trouble with their eyes. This may be prevented by advising 
 them to keep their hands away from their eyes for fifteen or 
 twenty minutes after whicli the eyes become accustomed to the 
 onions. 
 
 Fig. 12. — A Slicing Machine foe Slicing Potatoes, Cabbage, Beets, 
 Onions, Carrots, and Turnips. 
 
 The machine is built in five sizes. One size has a disc 20 inches in 
 diameter with five knives thereon. The weight of the machine is 150 pounds, 
 its drive pulley being 'lO inches in diameter, and with a 2-inch face. The 
 drive shaft rotates at 100 revolutions a minute. The price of this machine 
 with corer for removing cores from cabbage is $75, and without the corer $65. 
 
 The women trimming the onions drop them into bushel crates 
 by which they are carried to the chopper. The onions must not 
 be chopped until they are ready to be placed on the kiln floor, and 
 at most, must be placed on the kiln floor in one-half hour from the 
 time they are chopped or cut up. The slicer or chopper illustrated 
 in Fig 12 cuts an onion into pieces one-sixteenth of an inch thick. 
 
From this slicer they fall into boxes. These boxes are usually 
 two feet long, one foot wide, and eight inches deep, and are 
 placed on trucks and carried to the. kiln floor. If, however, the 
 onions are to be dried on trays, they are discharged from the 
 slicer to the trays. Barrels or deep boxes must not be used for 
 this purpose. 
 
 The kiln may be of the type disclosed in the plans of an evapo- 
 rator shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, in which case the kiln floor is 
 covered with burlap or wire screen — 12 mesh — the latter being 
 used more generally than the burlap. The cut product is emptied 
 on the kiln floor about four inches deep. It requires between 
 16 and 20 hours to dry 60 bushels on a kiln 20 feet square, and, 
 unless one is familiar with the drying of this vegetable, it will be 
 better to place them on the floor not over two inches deep. The 
 turning of the vegetable in the kiln should begin at the time the 
 lower part of the layer begins to crust or shows about one quarter 
 dryness on the bottom. Thereafter the onions should be turned 
 about once every hour for three hours and then every two hours 
 until they have dried down to 15 per cent moisture or are bone 
 dry, and break into small pieces when squeezed in the hand. The 
 product may be shoveled with a steel or wood shovel. During 
 drying, the product should be watched carefully as it is very easy 
 to scorch. From the kiln the onions are delivered into a store 
 room, and it is a good plan not to store them near other food 
 products, as such products will absorb odors from the onions. 
 If properly dried, the onions will last for a good many years, 
 especially if placed in tin cans. Usually they are sealed in such 
 cans in five and ten-pound lots. If not packed in sealed tins, they 
 should be placed in cold storage in order to hold them from year 
 to year. They will also keep for a long time if packed in wax 
 paper cartons. We would extend a warning that the furnace of 
 the kiln in which onions are to be dried must be intensely hot 
 when the onions are placed on the kiln floor, and that the kiln 
 should be covered within one half hour; otherwise the product 
 will sour, this being indicated by the onion's turning dark. This 
 danger of souring is the reason that the onions should be taken 
 as quickly as possible from the slicer to the kiln, and subjected 
 to as great a heat as possible. The onion is also injured 
 if packed in a barrel or deep box after being chopped, as the 
 
31 
 
 weight of the slices abov^ will cause the juice of the onions in 
 the lower part of the barrel or box to be pressed out. Further- 
 more, onions lose their strength after being cut up, and the 
 quicker they are dried the better the product. 
 
 PRUNES 
 
 Considering the evaporated prune business first, wo shall begin 
 with the prunes in the orchard. Picking of prunes usually begins 
 about the first to the fifteenth of September. The prunes are 
 allowed to ripen on the trees and fall off on the ground. In some 
 seasons, when the weather is cool and moist, the prunes do not 
 have a tendency to fall easily, and it is necessary to assist nature 
 by shaking the trees. The ])runes are then picked from the 
 ground by pickers and put into boxes. Most growers use a box 
 holding a half bushel and one that is built with slatted sides to 
 allow for ventilation. The fruit is then hauled to the evaporator. 
 It is next put through an operation known as d.ppi.i •, 
 the fresh prunes are cleansed of the dirt that they have accu- 
 mulated while on the ground. They are then placed on trays and 
 then into the drier. The prunes remain in these driers about 24 
 hours. As fast as they are sufficiently dried, they are taken 
 out of the evaporator and more are put in. The dried ones 
 are immediately sacked in 100 pound manilla sacks and as soon 
 as possible taken to the packing house. Here the grower is given 
 a receipt or check for the net weight of his prunes, and they are 
 run over a grader, which sorts out the prunes according to size, 
 and as the large prunes are worth more than the small ones, each 
 grower is given credit for his fruit as it actually grades. From 
 the grader the prunes are then put in bins for each size, where 
 they remain until they are packed. The prunes are next put 
 through an operation, known as " processing," before being 
 packed, and they go into the boxes hot. If prunes are sold 
 unfaced, they are practically never touched by human hands after 
 being put into the processor, until they are opened by the retailer. 
 If the prunes are sold faced, it is necessary for two layers of 
 prunes to be put into the bottom of the boxes, flattened, and 
 placed in regular rows, after which more prunes are packed on 
 top of this facing. After the bottoms are nailed on, the box is 
 
32 
 
 turned over, and when opened, it is opened on the faced side, 
 making a beautifully arranged display of faced prunes. About 
 half to two-thirds prunes this year were sold faced. 
 
 The processing operation is done by putting the prunes through 
 a long box or barrel-shaped machine and turning live dry steam 
 on them. In this machine there are boiling water sprays, which 
 clean the prunes so well that it is impossible to soil one's hands 
 in handling them when they come out of the processor. This 
 operation requires much care in order not to get too much mois- 
 ture in the prunes; otherwise they will not keep. The main idea 
 is to heat the prunes enough to sterilize them thoroughly, and 
 just as little moisture in the fruit as possible. For the past two 
 years the gain in weight due to processing, has been only about 
 one and three-quarters to two per cent. Prunes are packed into 
 tins, 25 and 50-pound wooden boxes, lined with nice, clean white 
 waterproof paper, and sold usually by the pound to consumer at 
 from 10 to 20 cents a pound. 
 
 PEACHES • 
 
 Peaches are bought by the basket, the market price being paid. 
 On delivery they are conveyed to a washer and from there to a 
 cutting and pitting machine. This cutter cuts the peach into 
 halves, which are inspected and placed on trays in a single layer. 
 The peel is not removed since, if this were done, a considerable 
 loss of juice would result at the beginning of the drying process. 
 
 CORN 
 
 Corn must be of good quality. The husk is first removed by 
 machine or by hand. The corn is then parboiled or steamed for 
 eight minutes until the milk becomes set or hard. The corn is 
 then removed by a hand or power machine, after which it is placed 
 on trays about one-half inch deep and dryed until it has about 
 15 per cent moisture. 
 

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