m- ■mj t 4k fiSSP- ^i^^x Cornell University Library S 452.U58 1919 Report of agricultural commission to Eur 3 1924 000 220 792 Ji: REPORT OF AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION TO EUROPE <: <-. • // 4. usr Cornell University Library The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924000220792 Report of AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION to Europe Observations Made by American Agriculturists in Great Britain, France, and Italy for the United States Department of Agriculture LIBRARY JUN 21 1947 DEPT,Or AGRtC. ECOf*, \3' \' c ^^anf^^ WASHINGTON. D. C, JANUARY 17, 1919 CONTENTS. PAGE Outstanding Facts 3 Report of W. 0. Thompson, Chairman 7 Individual Reports: R. A. Pearson 16 Wm. A. Taylor 35 George M. Rommel 48 Thomas F. Hunt 64 David R. Coker 80 George R. Argo , 83 Suggestions and Recommendations 87 REPORT OF AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION TO EUROPE. OUTSTANDING FACTS. TT IS DIFFICULT to summarize the reports of the Agricultural •'■ Commission to Europe because they contain so many facts that in order to comprehend the whole situation one must read the reports in detail. Moreover, the observations were made prior to the armistice, which was signed on November 11, and the purpose of the visit was to ascertain conditions of European agriculture as they related to the agriculture of the United States under a continuance of the war. The Commission arrived in Liverpool on September 5, and, returning, sailed from Liverpool on October 29. In some respects, therefore, the reports lose interest except for their historical value, but for the ■ most part the data, the suggestions, and the recommendations possess large economic value in appraising agricultural responsibilities in the United States for the year 1919 and for the years immediately follow- ing, and they exhibit some new angles of mutual responsibility and interest. Some of the outstanding facts are : Great Britain's war agriculture in. 1918 increased her home-grown bread supplies fourfold. The reports for the harvest of 1918 indicate that in, the matter of hreadstuffs England could supply herself forty weeks of the year as against ten weeks in 1916. — Thompson. France's production of foods decreased sharply, especially in sugar beets, which were grown principally in the northern area, where the ravages of war were greatest. Prior to the tvar France was prodMcing about 800,000 tons of sugar and consuming about 600,000 tons. * * * The present production of France amdumts to about 250,000 tons, or possibly with favored .crop it ma,y run to 300,000 tons. — Thom/pson. France's production of breadstuflfs also declined, though the pro- duction of 1918 was somewhat better than the production of 1914. In Italy there has been some reduction of the cultivated area, but except for wheat the reduction in the volume of breadstuffs has not been very serious. The yield per acre also has decreased, the two chief direct coMses idng shortage of fertilizer and uncontrolled growth of weeds. — Pearson. 3 4- REPORT OF AGRICULTU'EAL COMMISSION TO EUROPE. Italy's wheat production in 1918 was estimated at 43,000,000 quin- tals (220 pounds) compared with 46,153,600 quintals in 1914. LIVE STOCK. Great Britain has maintained her herds of cattle and has increased her sheep and made small losses in hogs. All cattle in 1914 numbered 12,184,505, and in 1917, 12,382,23(5 ; hogs declined something more than 900,000. Horses in 1914 were 2,237,783 and in 1917 2,190,318. Com- plete figures for 1918 were not available, but so far as ascertained they did not indicate material variation from the figures of 1917. Sheep were decUnmg in Great Britain before the war for the same reasons as existed in the United States. They have increased in numbers since the beginning of the war on account of the in- crease in the prices of wool and meat. — Rommel. In France all live stock has declined. The comparative figures on December 31, 1918, and on June 30, 1917, are as follows: 1913. 1917. Cattle 14,787,710 12,443,304 Sheep 16,131,390 10,586,594 Hogs 7,035,850 4,200,280 Horses 3,231,000 2,283,000 However, France has maintained her young cattle. Her "breeders" over one year in 1913 numbered 2,853,650, and under one year 2,112,440. The same classes in 1917 were 2,677,870 and 2,016,860. The decline in sheep is most serious, while there is a sharp decline in hogs. Sufficient supplies of breeding stock will probably remain in any event to permit fairly rapid replacement afer the war. — Rommel. Italy's cattle have declined from 7,100,000 in 1914 to 6,155,419 in 1918, but her calves have increased from 1,600,000 in 1914 to 1,801,808 in 1918. Many orders have been in effect for the purpose of conserving live stock. For exanvple, in some sections calves weighing less than 440 pounds could not be slaughtered. In other sections the mini- rmim limit was 120 pounds. — Pearson. Similar restrictions were applied to the slaughtering of sheep and hogs. Italy's present estimated needs are 1,000,000 cows and 500,000 oxen. Sheep have slightly increased since 1908 and are now about 11,000,000, substantially the same as in 1914. Hogs have been greatly decreased. Generally speaking. Great Britain, France, and Italy will need to import for some time to come large supplies of meats, fats, dairy prod- OUTSTANDING FACTS. ucts, and concentrates for animals. Some importations of live stock for breeding purposes may be made, but for the most part importations will consist of live-stock products. In France and Italy the preserva- tion of young animals gives promise of comparatively early restoration of both dairy and beef herds, and the general thought of producers there is that their present basis stock is the best adapted for their purposes. SEEDS. At the time of the Commission's observations the seed situation for 1919 appeared to be very acute, both as to supply and effective distribu- tion. This situation perhaps will be intensified as to supply by the demands of 'the devastated regions which are" now released for normal activities, but distribution will perhaps be consideraljly improved. Unless through prompt international action the approximmte stocks and requirements of the vitally important seeds for each country can 6e determined as a 'basis for the administration of the ewistmg eaxport restricting regulations in force in the several countries with respect to seeds, the prospect for prompt restora- tion of normal production in several of he countries icill be seri- ously impaired. The existing conditions tend to favor the forcing of seed prices to destructive high points and thus to endanger the welfare of our own farmers as well a* thousands of the allied countries. — Taylor. One of the distinctive agricultural advances made by Great Britain was the ''Testing of Seeds" order, under which sellers of agricultural seeds are required to declare the purity and germination of seeds offered for sale. The law is applicable to farmers who sell .seed except that farmers may sell seeds as "grown" to mierchants without having a test made, in such case merely stating the name of the variety. — Taylor. The act met with the hearty cooperation of the British seed trade. NEEDS. In addition to the live-stock products already mentioned. Great Britain, France, Italy, and Belgium will need to import for some time to come large supplies of wheat, fertilizers, fibers (wool and cotton), and farm machinery. All countries under review have made marked progress in the utilization of farm machinery, especially in the use of tractors. 6 EBPORT OF AGEICULTUEAL COMMISSION TO EUROPE. War practices in agriculture have interfered to a considerable degree with established methods of crop rotation and soil building. While these observations were made during active war and look for- ward to a continuation of war through 1919, they apply in large part to the farming operations of the spring and summer of 1919, for the reason that demobilization, the restoration of transportation, and the return to normal, conditions can not be immediately effected. RBPOET OF W. 0. THOMPSON^ CHAIRMAN. REPORT OF W. 0. THOMPSON, CHAIRMAN. My Dear Mr. Secretary : In August, 1918, it was your pleasure to appoint a commission to yisit Europe for the purpose primarily of studying the agricultural conditions in England, Prance, and Italy. The commission was con- stituted as follows: Mr. Carl E. Vrooman, Assistant Secretary of Agriculture, Washington; Mr. K. A. Pearson, President, The Iowa State College of Agriculture, Ames, Iowa ; Mr. W. A. Taylor, Chief of the Bureau of Plant Industry, Washington ; Mr. George M. Eommel, Chief of the Division of Animal Husbandry, Washington ; Mr. Thomas P. Hunt, Dean of the College of Agriculture, University of California, Berkeley; Mr. David R. Coker, Cotton Grower, Hartsville, S. C. ; Mr. George R. Argo, of the Bureau of Markets, Washington ; and Mr. W. O. Thompson, President, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio. Mr. John P. Wilmeth, of the Bureau of Markets, was assigned to serve as secre- tary, clerk, and business manager of the commission. It is a pleasure to report that the services of Mr. Wilmeth were painstaking, accurate, and acceptable. It would be difficult for any person to satisfy the demands of such a position more exactly or^acceptably than did he. TERM OF SERVICE. The Commission went on board ship on August 23, sailed August 24, arrived in Liverpool September 5, and proceeded that same evening to London. The time of the Commission was divided between England and Prance, although Mr. Pearson made a journey to Italy and Mr. Rommel made a journey into Scotland. The Commission went on board ship at Liverpool, Tuesday, October 29, left the harbor in the morning, Wednesday, October 30, arrived in New York harbor the evening of Monday, November 4, and landed Tuesday morning, Novem- ber 5, returning to Washington that afternoon. RECEPTION OF THE COMMISSION. Upon arrival in London the Commission reported to the United States Embassy and was accorded the usual courtesies and attention. Later the Commission reported to the Honorable R. E. Prothero, Min- ister of Agriculture, who received us most cordially and made pro- vision for our study of agriculture by putting at our disposal the ser- vices of his office. Through the kindness of Sir Daniel Hall, Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture, and Mr. W. E. Walters, Secretary to Sir Daniel Hkll, an itinerary was prepared and, at the request of the O REPORT OF AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION TO EUROPE. Board of Agriculture, the War Office provided the Commission with automobiles and drivers free of expense, so that the Commission spent approximately two weeks in visiting the rural districts of East and West England, and studied the conditions of agriculture at first hand and by interviews with farmers, land owners, stock growers, and others interested in the practices of agriculture. In France, after calling upon the United States Embassy and M. Victor Boret, the Minister of Agriculture, we were assigned to Mr. Henry Girard, Inspector General of Agriculture, and Count Le Marois, a military ofllcer, who served as hosts for the Commission. These gentlemen arranged at the expense of the French government for military officers, automobiles, hotel accommodations, and every pos- sible convenience so that the Commission was able to spend practically two weeks in visiting the representative rural portions of France within reasonable distance from Paris. In addition to this, the British, French, and American military ofBcials arranged for auto- mobile service and guides by which the Commission was able to visit the three battle fronts and to see a large portion of the devastated areas of the invaded territories. In addition to these ofl&cial courtesies the Commission was most cordially received and welcomed by the officials of Oxford and Cam- bridge, England ; by Director E. J. Russell of the Rothamstead Experi- ment Station, Harpenden, who gave the Commission a most profitable and instructive day ; by the Institute of Agronomy, Paris ; by the Agri- cultural School at Grignon; by the Academy of Agriculture, Paris, which presented the members of the Commission with a specially prepared medal for the occasion ; and by the National Farmers Society of France and by numerous other officials not representing secieties but engaged in agricultural service. Individual citizens of both Eng- land and France were extremely cordial in greeting the Commission and putting at its disposal any information in their possession. The Commission takes pleasure in recording its high appreciation of all these services and courtesies. METHODS OF WORK. , After some discussion the Commission decided that as a method of procedure it would as a whole make certain tours and visits for pur- poses of observation, and that each individual under these circum- stances would be entirely free to prepare his own comments upon the observations. It was further decided that in individual instances men should make personal investigation of topics in which they were more or less experienced. This enabled the Commission to specialize its inquiries with certain members of the Commission and to compare KEPORT OF W. 0. THOMPSON^ CHAIRMAN. 9 observations so as to bring the net result of substantial agreement upon all the more important observations and concIusions.^Accordingly, a journey was made in automobiles by a portion of the Commission up the western counties of England and another portion on a journey up tlirough the eastern counties. Certain shorter journeys were made within reasonable distances in automobiles from the city of London. In Prance the same method of procedure followed. \ It was the privilege of the Commission to visit the Percheron district; the Bor- deaux district, where the grape gi^owing industry is at its maximum efficiency ; the Normandy district, where we had the opportunity to see and learn of the cattle industry; and the Lannes district, where the French government has about 2,000,000 acres of land devoted to for- estry. This movement was projected as early as 1785, although active development of the forests did not occur until about 1860. The chief purpose in this area was the protection of the inlands from the en- croachments of the ocean. The sand dunes are in some places several hundred feet high. The French government has in this great asset ordinarily a source of resin for commercisfl purposes, and later a source of lumber. The government has realized, therefore, not only protection for the farm land within, but has made this strip along the ocean a source of profitable revenue for an indefinite period. At present the timber is being used as war material, with the French, Canadian, and American governments all engaged in cutting timber for such needs as the war program develops. The visit to the three battle fronts enabled the Commission to see with some vividness the wanton destruction of this war upon the agri- cultural areas of Northern France. This destruction has affected the crop production ; destroyed a large amount of agricultural machinery ; depopulated villages and cities; taken away a large amount of indus- trial machinery; utterly demolished buildings; scattered the terri- tory over with barbed-wire defenses and other obstructions that make the land and the entire area an object of great expense in order to restore it to normal uses. Prior to the war France was producing about 800,000 tons of sugar and consuming about 600,000 tons. She was able, therefore, to export practically one-fourth of her sugar produc- tion. Three-fourths of all the sugar beets in France were grown in the invaded territory. Since the war sugar beet production in the in- vaded areas has been reduced to practically nothing. The present production in France amounts to about 250,000 tons or possibly, with favored crop, it may run to 300,000 tons. In addition to this about eighty per cent of all the sugar factories have been utterly destroyed by the military invasion. The restoration and reconstruction, there- fore, of this area presents a most serious agricultural problem. 10 REPORT OF AGRICUI/TURAL COMMISSION TO EUROPE. BRITISH CONDITIONS. War ^s an upsetting experience, but when the unrestricted "U-boat campaign" was announced England was more than upset. She was alarmed and at her wits' ends. No one could foresee what the result might be. The surrender of the British was expected by the enemy but could not be contemplated by the British themselves. Ac- cordingly, a determined effort was made to increase the home pro- duction of food stuffs as a measure of safety and self-preservation. War necessity was the only consideration. The methods pursued should not be regarded therefore as necessarily based on sound eco- nomic principles. If the practices of a war emergency proved to be economically sound it was a mere accident, not the result of a deliberate choice. Necessity was the chief stimulus. A Food Production Department with a Director General was or- ganized. This carried into every county an Executive Committee with a complete and comprehensive organization clothed with authority to make the work effective. The chief divisions were: (1) Local organiza- tion; (2) Labor; (3) Cultivation; (4) Supplies; (5) Technical; (6) Horticulture. Within this organization the producing forces of England were mobilized in as effective a method as war conditions would permit. The reports for the harvest of 1918 indicate that in the matter of bread- stuffs England could supply herself forty weeks of the year as against ten weeks in 1916. Under the stimulus thu's organized the acreage of tillable land for wheat, barley, oats, rye, and other cereals was con- siderably increased, almost 2,000,000 acres. In all, the acreage was increased over 1916 by 2,142,000 acres. Of this area 217,000 acres represented the increased area planted to potatoes. The increase in wheat area was the greatest since 1882. The increased acreage for oats was the highest on record. In England and Wales there was broken up not far from 2,500,000 acres of "permanent" grass land as a war measure. Including Ireland and Scotland the total area thus plowed up was approximately four million acres. The effect of this was twofold: (1) to increase food for home con- sumption; and (2) to decrease the demand for tonnage. Both of these effects were important factors in a war program. The labor problem for this increased acreage was not easy of solu- tion. Several factors entered into this. First, was an increase of the number of women who usually perform some of the agricultural labor and an increase of the amount of time these women gave to such labor. A second factor was the organization of the Women's Land Army. The estimates are that 260,000 women were employed in war agri- culture as against 90,000 prior to the war. The Women's Land Army REPORT OF W. 0. THOMPSON^ CHAIRMAN. 11 through the County Agricultural Committees provided for enrollment £ be normal. The Government incurs a heavj'^ loss in the sale of wheat in order to hold down the price of bread. It is sold to local committees for bakers for 46 lire per quintal. ' The maximum prices of cereals as announced by the Government represent what the farmer receives. The Government pays for cartage from the farm. The maximum prices announced in Ministry decrees for the crops of 1917, 1918, and 1919 are as follows, in lire per quintal : Maximum Prices Announced in Ministry Decrees. Cereal. 1917 For Italy. Additional for southern Italy and certain iElanda, 1919 For Italy. Additional for southern Italy and certain islands. Soft and semi-hard wheats Hard wheats Corn Oats Barley Bye 46 BO 33 33 40 40 60 70 45 46 60 60 7.60 9.00 6.60 5.60 6.00 6.00 76 86 6B 56 62 62 11.25 12.76 8.40 8.40 9.80 9.30 EEPOET OP E. A. PEAESON. 23 The par value of one lire, according to the United States Director of the Mint, is 19.3 cents ; the exchange value of one lire on July 1, 1918, was 11.2 cents and on October 1, 1918, 15.75 cents. Through the Ministry of Supplies the Government buys all wheat, corn, barley, and rye. Through the Ministry of War it buys all of the oats and certain beans which are eaten by the people. "Thireugh the Ministry of Agriculture the Government buys seed potatoes^ The entire potato crop is not taken because of its perishable nature. An official effort was made to limit the price of potatoes, but this was not a success, because the farmers considered the price too low and they were unwilling to sell, and some of them even did not dig their crop. The interference with potato prices there was discontinued, except that the Government intervenes if prices become too high at any point. The changes of prices of the principal crops is shown in the following table : Average Annual Prices. ' Products. In lire (about 20 cents) per quintal (220 lbs.). 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 30.71 34.11 21.92 38.01 25.43 10.63 ■■"8.95 36.23 148.20 28.68 32.48 18.16 41.28 22.48 10.64 ■ ■ ■ ■ 8.46 30.08 146.90 28.75 33.60 18.10 36.66 21.67 21.10 21.92 24.53 31.17 10.21 96.04 9.48 23.12 161.61 40.43 44.67 29.47 39.60 33.63 26.84 30.07 29.24 41.54 13.84 127.25 9.38 35.56 167.60 38 49 Laard wheat .,^ Corn 42.69 28 80 Rice 42.63 Rye 36 31 Barley 28 55 Oats 30.35 Beans 30 97 53 03 14.96 Hemp 206.13 Uay 12 20 78.11 Active efforts are being made to encourage the production of malt- ing barley, and the Government is giving particular attention to the selection of varieties of rice as well as wheat and other crops which are best adapted to different sections of the country. • Thanks to the ability of the Italian farmers to cooperate, as has been shown through their successful cooperative agricultural organizations, excellent work is being done along the lines of seed improvement and with active Government help. In each province there is a special com- missioner of seeds. He has power to seize and distribute any seed needed. This power is given to assure the distribution of seeds into sections where they will give the best returns and at fair prices. The work is done as far as possible through private seed concerns. Their business is regulated, but it is not taken away from them as long as they are considered to be dealing fairly. It is said that private trade is respected and efforts are made to encourage it. If the Government 24. EEPOET OF AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION TO EUROPE. regulations are not complied with, the business is taken over by officials. Wheat seed may not be sold until it is declared fit by the commissioner. This is a war measure and is looked upon as highly important. Before seed can be sold it must be properly cleaned and graded. If seedsmen do not have necessary machines for this, the Government gives help to secure the machinery. The authorities have requisitioned some of the best seed-growing areas in their plans to assure sufdcient seed of good quality. Also, the Government arranges to take superior seed from farmers who might use it otherwise and gives them in exchange grain of smaller seed value but of equal value for other purposes. A bonus of a few lire per quintal, perhaps as high as 5 lire, also is allowed, and even a still larger bonus for seed of good quality or high value. The net result of all these efforts is said to be that the farmers are now getting better seed than they got before the war. LIVE STOCK. Information on this subject was furnished at the Ministry of Agri- culture, chiefly by Dr. Vittorino Vezzani, Director of the Zootechnic? Institute of Monte di Mezzo. There was no census of cattle in Italy before the war, but according to a close estimate the number of cattle and calves in 1908 was about 0,200,000. It is believed that this number had increased by at least 15 per cent in 1914. A census taken this year showed about 6,150,000 bovine animals, or about the same number as in 1908. These figures indicate comparatively little change since 1908, but the fact is there has been a large change as the normal relation between young stock and old stock has been altered. There is now a relatively large amount of yoijng stock, with a heavy decrease in numbers of cows and oxen. Thus : Cattte in Italy. 19H and 191S. Kind. 1914 (estimated). 1918 census. Calves 1,600.000 140.000 3,900,000 1,460,000 1,801,808 171.B44 3,053,194 Oxen 1,128,873 Total 7,100,000 6,155,419 Many orders have been in effect for the purpose of conserving live stock. For example, in some sections calves weighing Jess than 440 pounds could not be slaughtered. In other sections the minimum limit was 120 pounds ; and there were rules against the slaughter of heifers or pregnant cows. The number of sheep that could be slaughtered and their age were regulated. No lamb weighing less than 17.2 pounds REPORT OF R. A. PEARSON. 25 could be killed. Pigs weighing less than about 150 pounds could not be killed. It was unlawful to slaughter mares or asses that might be used for breeding purposes. Farmers protested against some of these rulings, and revisions were made in an effort to have them more acceptable. Italy now is said to need 1,000,000 cows and 500,000 oxen. Prac- tical difficulties in the way of supplying this stock even after the war include transportation, but more particularly the fact that just the kind of live stock wanted is not freely available. It is pointed out that with only a little m9re than 6,000,000 cattle, including young stock, to about 38,000,000 people, the reduction in number of animals is a serious matter for Italy. The^eduction in number of live stock is due to the loss of large num- bers of animals to the enemy in invaded sections and to the necessity of. slaughtering stock to furnish meat needed by the soldiers and civilian war workers. In the provinces lost temporarily in the war there were about 400,000 cattle, and these were taken by the enemy. f This was especially serious because it almost cleaned out an important strain of cattle in Italy. They were derived fi-om Swiss stock, appar- ently the Simmenthal, and were considered superior because they grow \ faster and have lighter skeletons and therefore less waste than the usual Italian cattle, which have been developed largely with the view to their working qualities. Fortunately, it has been the custom annually to send some thousand head of young stock from northern Italy to Tuscany to be fattened for the city markets. These were saved from the invasion and now are being held under direction of the Gov- ernment for breeding purposes. The Austrians also helped themselves to a very large quantity of preserved meat in tins, which had to be replaced by the slaughter of more animals. The rate of slaughter also was increased because of the greater requirements of meat for the Army. Soldiers needed more meat than the same men reqiiired when outside of the Army. The speeding up of industries also in- creased the demand for meat, and many Italian people who had pre- viously used but little meat came into the market for it. The diffi- culties were further increased by the shortage of shipping accommoda- tions and the impossibility of getting as much frozen beef as was wanted. Much of this came from Argentina. The importation of frozen meat by the Ministry of War amounted to 291,794 quintals in 1915. The amount increased to 909,894 quintals in 1916 and to 1,006,995 quintals in 1917. The total of these importations for three years was equivalent to more than 1,000,000 cattle of an average weight of about 900 pounds. The number of animals slaughtered in Italy during the three years of war was about 7,000,000 instead of slightly over 5,000,000, which would have been normal. 26 REPORT OF AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION TO EUROPE. With the war the supply of concentrated feeding stufiEs fell off. A larger per cent of wheat was m£|,de into flour, which reduced the quantity of bran. Little oil seed was available in Italy, and importa- tions of seed and cake were interrupted. The oil seed was so scarce that prices of oil became exceedingly high. There was such a serious shortage of hay in some districts, largely due to requisitioning the supply for the Army, that farmers had to gather leaves and branches to feed their cattle. It is said that some farmers had to depend upon the leaves of elms, mulberries, poplars, and vines ; also upon the residue from making wines. In Sicily the cactus was used. The meat supplies for the civil population had to be reduced about oO per cent in 1917, and recently the reduced supplies have been cut in two, so that now the meat supplies for civilians are about one- quarter normal. Kationing with meat tickets has not been resorted to because there is such a wide difference as to the use of meat. Some persons use none and tickets issued to them wo aid easily become objects of sale and the purpose of rationing would be defeated. The average amount of meat available per person in Rome is only about 200 grams per month. -A limited amount of meat is allowed to the butcher shops, and long lines of people await their turn whenever there is prospect of making purchase. The meat is allowed only on three days of each week — Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. i^'ormally, the price of animals on the hoof varies from 80 to 100 lire per quintal (220 pounds). The Government requisition price in October, 1918, was BOO lire for calves and 330 lire for grown animals. When animals are sold privately for working or milking purposes the prices may run up to 1,000 lire per quintal for grown animals and the prices of calves up to 700 lire per quintal. The normal butcher-shop prices for meat with 25 per cent bone is 3 to 8% lire per kilogram (2.2 pounds). The price in October was 8 lire. The meat business is controlled by the Government. A three-year program has been worked out in connection with the meat situation. It is proposed to continue the present curtailment in the use of meat for three years after the war. It is desired, also, to increase the importation of frozen meats from 20,000 tons each month, which they do not now always succeed in getting, to 28,000 tons for the Army. It is hoped that importations can be continued in such quantity and for such length of time as may be necessary after the war to save desirable young stock for breeding. Among special measures taken to prevent speculation, prefects of provinces were authorized to forbid the movement of work animals from their provinces. The enforcement of such a regulation naturally would be difficult, and it is not known how efficient attention was giveji to this work. REPOET OF E. A. PEAESON. 27 The Italian Obvernment takes great interest in stock breeding. The Ministry of War cooperates in and encourages the breeding of horses and mules. There are stud farms. The Ministry of Agriculture gives similar attention to other breeds of animals. The Ministry of the Interior has charge of veterinary work. Poultry is very expensive. It is scarce because grains can not be used as feed. In many, cities it used to be forbidden to keep poultry, but now the people are encouraged to utilize their kitchen waste in this way. Eabbits constitute an important food item. They have been greatly decreased on account of the reduction of clover and alfalfa, which have been turned over to the Army, but near the cities there has been some increase of rabbits with the use of food discarded from the markets. DAIRYING. Much of the best dairy work in Italy was carried on in the northern ^districts, which were invaded. Besides the loss of dairy herds, a large number of well-equipped dairy factories were wrecked. There is, of course, a shortage of market milk, acute at times. Milk prices have jbeen changed frequently, the effort being made to keep them high enough to serve as a suitable stimulus to production. Before the war in Northern Italy farmers received 15 centimes per liter for milk, and in cities it was sold for 30 centimes. In Southern Italy the prices were about 25 and 35 centimes, respectively. In October, 1918, in Northern and Central Italy consumers were buying milk for 80 centimes per liter, in Rome at 90 centimes, and in Northern Italy at 1 lire per liter. The sale of milk is ustially organized and conducted by communes, although considerable quantities are handled by private dealers. Only a little butter is being produced. Considerable cheese is made, but it is all requisitioned for the Army. In some districts the cheese output is as high as 70 per cent of the normal. It is thought that some arrangement will be made for the Govern- ment to assist farmers in Northern Italy to buy dairy cows and thus restore their herds as promptly as possible after they can return to their land. If the use of tractors continues after the war, there will be less demand for work cattle and more demand for animals that will economically produce meat and milk. As to whether strictly dairy breeds would be wanted in Italy, there is considerable doubt. A few years ago representatives of one of the best dairy breeds were tried, but they were not popular. It was said they were hard to acclimatize and they would not fatten up well. Besides this, of course, they had the objection of not being good work animals for those who clung to the old ideas. It was pointed out that probably the United States 28 REPORT OF AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION TO EUROPE. could not help Italy much by sending dairy cattle, but they could give great help by furnishing frozen meat, which would assist Italy to mature her own young stock. Canned meat has not been popular, but might be substituted to a certain extent, SHEEP. Sheep have increased in number slightly since 1908. There are now about 11,000,000 head, or the same as in 1914. One explanation for this is the reduction of land devoted to grain, thus furnishing more uncultivated area where sheep may be pastured. Also, there is a heavy demand for wool, and but little is imported. Besides this, cheese made from sheep's milk is an important food. HOGS. The number of hogs has greatly decreased. They have been fed according to three different systems : First, on small farms, where they were given the refuse and but little grain ; such feeding continues, but . there are few animals. Second, some swine have been fed on corn ; this has had to be stopped because all of the corn was needed for human food. Third, considerable numbers of hogs were fed on whey ; * there are less of these now, because less cheese is being made. HORSES. There is a reduction in the number of horses, due to the heavy Army demands. Many have been imported from America. The shortage wUl be relieved very quickly and in large measure as soon as demobilization begins. MEASURES TO INCREASE PRODUCTION. When it first became evident that measures would need to be taken to stimulate food production in Italy, an extensive campaign was started by the Government, and this has been actively continued to the present time. Also, plans have been made which will extend two or three years in the future. The Government efforts related chiefly to wheat, corn, potatoes, oats, barley, rye, beans, vegetables, and live stock ; in some regions also sugar beets. The work is carried on under the authority of the Minister of Agriculture, Senor Giambattista Miliani, and under the immediate direction of Professor Antonio Marozzi, Director of the Office of Rural Organization. The Depart- ment of Agriculture devotes itself to questions of production. A sepa^ rate Ministry of Poods gives special attention t?o distribution and prices. REPORT OF R. A. PEARSON. 29 The Department of Agriculture was made responsible for the main- tenance of production of food and was given power by law, if necessary, to compel farmers to increase their acreage of certain crops. As a rule, the farmers gave fine cooperation. Each province and subdivision of province was carefully studied as to its normal area and production, the rotations in operation and the , possibilities of increases. Orders lor increasing production applied to areas or zones having fairly uni- form agricultural conditions. These orders gave the percentage of the area of each farm that must be devoted to certain specific crops. For exaiaple, in one of the lower Venetian provinces the division of land might have been required as follows : In wheat, 55 per cent ; in maize, potatoes, or beets, 15 per cent; in hemp or other "industrial products," 10 per cent ; in pasture, 20 per cent. In another section having much live stock, more land would be allowed for pasture, and perhaps only 40 per cent would be required to grow wheat. In computing the percentage of area to be devoted to different crops, certain areas were excluded, such as vegetable gar- de;is, orchards, vineyards, tracts of mulberry trees for silk worms, woods, stone-paved yards, court yards, and roads. The law provided a fine of about |50 per acre for any person who failed to apportion and cultivate his land as directed. Also, the Government could seize such land, including machinery, animals, and seeds, and turn this entire equipment over to others designated by the Government and who would follow instructions. Occasionally a farm was taken in this manner. This occurred in numerous cases in the vicinity of Kome, where the high prices of vi"0ol, cheese, and milk were a temptation to the farmers to keep the land in grass in spite of orders to the contrary. When the Government took a parcel of land it paid a minimum rental. In these matters the Government is assisted in each province by an agricultural committee or section having an agricultural officer known as a commissioner. These commissioners receive salary from the Government. In each of the smaller divisions of the province, known as communes, there are voluntry cooperating commissioners. The agricultural committee is made up of two or three farm operators, the same number of farm workmen, one military man, and an agricultural expert. Usually this last is the director of the traveling schools of agriculture in the province. The law requires the agricultural institutional representatives and their staffs and agricultural associations to cooperate. Each committee is in close touch with the situation in its district, and is assisted by some Gov- ernment traveling representatives and other traveling men, who report conditions as they are observed in different pl'Sices. It was emphasized that the agricultural commissioners are either expert agricultural advisers or successful farm operators, and never politicians. 30 REPORT OF AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION TO EUROPE. At the headquarters office in Rome the work is divided under four chief heads, as follows: (1) Technical, (2) Legal, (3) Labor, (4) Mechanical Plowing. The Labor Office gives special attention to the distribution of emergency farm labor. Italian soldiers are made available for short periods. Prisoners of war are utilized. The ofSce has power, also, to compel civilians to work on farms, but this power has not been exercised. The Mechanical Plowing section gives atten- tion chiefly to the introduction and use of tractors for plowing. The machines are owned by the Government and are operated by soldiers. There are about one thousand power machines now in use by the Gov- ernment, in addition to about one thousand which are owned privately. Two thousand more outfits are being built, and orders have been placed for two or three thousand in addition. Only a few of these machines are made in Italy. About three-fourths of them are American. It is preferred to import machines because of the limited supply of iron, coal, and labor in Italy. The Government operation of tractors is done at about one-half of cost, but there seems to be no other way to furnish the necessary power and to overcome the labor shortage. It is efxpected that after the war the machines will be taken by larger farmers and by cooperative organi- zations on a basis of 20 per cent reduction for the former and 40 per^ cent reduction for the latter. Some agricultural machinery is made in Italy, but they depend largely upon importations. About one-third of the supply used to come from Germany. The total of these imports has been severely reduced. Thus the need for machinery has been accumulating in recent years, and now is very great, as is indicated by the following table : Importations of Agricultural Machinery. Mowers and harvesterB. Other machines. Total. Year. Quantity in quintals. Value in llT*. Quantity in quintals. Value in lire. Quantity in quintals. Value in lire. 1910 64,126 63,183 . 64,686 62.461 56,912 89,212 37,674 6,495,000 7,681,960 7,756,820 6,296,320 6,109.440 4.706,440 6,462,730 116,104 123,366 126,671 101,468 87,662 41,670 6,342 15,093,620 16,419,376 16,833,875 12,174,960 10,510,240 5.000,400 919.690 170,229 186,638 191,237 153,919 138,564 80,882 44,416 21,688,520 1911 23,001,336 1912 23,583.707 1913 18.470,280 1914 16,627,680 1916 9,705,840 6.382.320 For the purpose of encouraging production the Government has established a moratorium on land rentals. Also, farmers may be per- mitted to remain on the land after their rent period expires if in the judgment of a special committee this is in the interest of food production. REPORT OF E. A. PEARSON, 31 > t Farmers are required to loan machinery to neighbors who are in need of this help to save their crops. This requirement, however, is not rigidly enforced. Rural credits are provided. The Government gives credit on crop security. If the crop fails, the security is placed on the next crop. Eventually the State assumes the risk if necessary. About seven million dollars have been advanced for this purpose through the Bank of Naples. This is only a small part of the funds thus advanced* The farmers pay legal interest, at first about 5 per cent, now 6 per cent, and this covers all expenses to the farmer. Rural credits have been known a long time in Italy, but the system has been strengthened and broad- ened on account of the war. The Government gives prizes for breaking up new ground. These amount to an addition of about 10 per cent to the price allowed on the product. These prizes are given also when it is shown that crops have been raised under exceptionally difScult conditions, and recently it has been recognized that the conditions are exceptionally difficult in most of Southern Italy and Sicily, besides smaller areas elsewhere. So that throughout these considerable parts of Italy all the farmers enjoy the prize allowances. FERTILIZERS. The fertilizer situation is causing much anxiety. Great dependence is placed upon imported fertilizers. The quantities of imports in recent years are shown in the following table. The increase of nitrates evidently is due to munition requirements, and do not result in material benefit in crop production. Annual Importations of Fertilizers. Quintals (220 pounds). Kinds. 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 I. Mineral Phosphates. . Perphosphatea 4.661,440 370,320 1,181,900 81,529 134,660 546,339 211,902 6,297,760 722,280 1,192,570 70,606 94,639 674,176 216,689 6,139,980 582,490 232,240 62,899 37,088 698,498 131,100 4.569.010 137,650 11,800 15,687 8,998 727,298 76,010 4,814,250 20,400 27,160 9.211 II. K CI K2SO4 m. Crude NaNOs '