The Nonpartisan Leader Newspaper, March 4, 1918, Page 15

: MERICAN tractors—1500 of A them—sent by the U. 8. food “powerful . obliterated. The fields are B ~clally wheat and potatoes, EDITOR’S NOTE: The idea of reinforcing the waning agricul- tural strength of France with American tractors originated with Henry Morgenthau, Jr., who' is the son of Henry Mor- genthau, former American am- bassador to Turkey. The food administration has designated Henry Morgenthau, Jr., to follow the machines to France and put them in operation. This article, written just before Mr. Morgen- thau left for Europe, will be fol- -lowed later in the season by an account of how the tractors were managed and‘ what they - accomplished.. BY HENRY MORGENTHAU, JR. administrdtion, will battle Hunger in France. When spring comes they will be in the field. French crop production in 1917 was more than one-third less than in the year .before the war. All able-bodied Frenchmen up to 50 years of age are . fighting, and though the women, chil- dren ‘and old men have made heroic efforts to maintain the agriculture of the country on a normal basis, the burden has exceeded their strength and endurance. One acre out of every four in France now lies idle from sheer lack of man and animal power to plow, seed and harvest crops upon it. So this expe- dition of 1500 farm .tractors and plows with experts to put them in operation, . not only will increase the French har- vest in 1918, but the presence of these farm machines preparing their land for crops will cheer French hearts. French High Commissioner M. Tar- dieu approved the idea on behalf of the French government and we are assured that the ordering of these tractors.at this time will not in the least impair the supply for our own farmers. Manufacturers have ample time to produce additional tractors for the American demand. . FIRST 100 HAVE BEEN SHIPPED TO FRANCE The first 100 tractors were sent to France on the deck of a naval trans- port and the entire number will reach there in plenty of time for spring _plowing. Purchase, shlpment and transporta- tion of 1,500 farm tractor outfits to France would in time of peace be a comparatively - * simple - matter, 'but - to- day it is made difficult by war - restrictions - and many unusual conditions. All these obstacles have - been - overcome : in the cage of these tractors. The tractors will oper- ate mainly in the battle- gcarred portion of north- ern. France which ‘has . been retaken from the" Germans. There property lines have been largely conseqiently large and the batteries of tractors .will be able to work most eflectively. Thus in a few months food crops, espe- . will be growing in French - soil plowed by - “American tmctora—-—a‘ il that a few » 2,000,000 Tons of Food months ago was “No Man’s Land” be- tween the great battle lines. FRENCH GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIZES PURCHASES The size and significance of this tractor enterprise is, however, more striking .than the mere presence of American tractors in France, as_the French have for several years been operating American-made tractors. ‘With' characteristic thoroughness, they have kept careful records of the work accomplished, fuel consumed, repairs and other details of the work. " Satisfied with the general results, the French government by Jegal enact- ment January 2, 1917, created a credit of $6,000,000 for subsidizing agricul- tural co-operative societies and groups of farmers for the purchase of tractors. In some instances the government has advanced 40 per cent of the price of the tractors to aid and encourage farm- ers in securing them. The tractors and plows in this expe- dition are being purchased by the French high commission with money loaned to it by the treasury depart- ment, and the expense of the mechan- ics who accompany them is being met by adding a lump sum to the purchase price of the tractors. Judging from past experience these outfits will. plow about half a million acres for wheat, potatoes and sugar beets this spring, and 1,000,000 acres for fall planting of wheat. ‘When operated in large fields, as in the reconquered zone, the tractors work in batteries of 10, preferably all . of the same make. With each battery there are 10 drivers, two blacksmiths, two mechanics,; one cook and a man- ager in charge who has a clerk to as- sist him. In addition, there is a field man who lays, out the work for the tractors; and several motor trucks which serve as workshops, or for haul- ing provisions, repairs, fuel and sup- plies. Machines of medium size and rela- tively simple construction have been selected. They are of the 9-18 and 10-20 horsepower 8izes. The plows used are self-lift gang plows having three 12- inch bottoms. '"WOUNDED SOLDIERS; WILL PLOW THE LAND These batteries of tractors are sub- Ject to the orders of the minjster of agriculture, notwithstanding the fact that 76 per cent of the operators are goldiers. The problem of getting com- petent operators and mechanics has been one of the most difficult to solve.- Mechanics at present employed on the batteries of tractors either are men relieved from military obligation, wounded men who hdve not regained their strength, or inexperienced young men below draft age. The agricultural service also has sought to employ as mechanics cripples from the re-educa- tion schools, who have studied mechan- ical courses for a few weeks. The United States food administra- tion’s tractor- expedition will include a limited number of experienced mech- anics, who will help supervise and in- struct the French in the operation of the machines. It is planned to conduct American lines and to organize the 150 new batteries in the shortest time pos- sible and also to assist the French minister of agriculture in distributing ‘ Henry Morgenthau, Jr., author of the accompanying article on farm tractors in France. the tractors ‘and operating them eco- nomically. In.addition to the beneficial efl!ect the machines will have on the morale of the French people, the land plowed by the tractors in 1918 is expected to produce 1,500,000 tons of sugar beets and potatoes - and 450,000 tons of wheat; and this increased production in France, amounting to nearly 2,000, 000 tons of food, will obviate the send- ing of about 400 large shiploads from America through - the perilous sub- marine zone, The employment of 1,500 tractors in France will be as_much a help to “Scenes of desolation In France wlll -soonm be transfotmed by the Amerlcan tractor brlgade, ‘and food will. " 'soon: be- growlng ln “No Mnn's Land” in the, reglon from whlch the German army haa been: drlven. 5 PAGE FIF'.I:EEN 4 U S. Tracto‘r ‘Expedlrtion to France Food Adminsstration Sends 1500 Farm Outfits to Help French Grow American farmers as an equal number in this country, for they will be doing work that American farmers with American tractors would otherwise have to do. Also this much machinery will be utilizing the help cast off from the battlefields, which otherwise would not be employed, but which to that extent is relieving the farm labor shortage in the United States. FIGHT SEED PROFITEERS A move to protect farmers against 'high prices for seed corn was begun by the Missouri Corn Growers’ associa- tion at its January meeting in Okla- homa. The members of the association unanimously pledged themselves to test every ear planted for the 1918 crop and not to ask more than $5 a bushel for selected tested seed corn. About 300 members were present. Many of the men who were present at the meeting and voted for this resolu- tion had been offered as much as $10 per bushel for tested seed, but the members of the association went on - record as opposed to profiteering. At the meeting proof was shown that certain seedsmen who have been purchasing crib corn at from $2 to $4 per bushel have been advertising this corn at from $7.50 to $10 per bushel. The resolution declared that $5 a bushel shall be considered a just and equitable price for pure-bred tested seed corn. The Missouri eorn growers have no desire to profit by the mis- fortune of their neighbors or the mis- fortune of corn growers in other states. This does not mean that members of the association may not sell specially selected corn for more than $5 but it establishes a maximum average price for seed of standard 'strains. THE SHEEP SITUATION The wool from 20 sheep is used to make the clothing and other equipment of one soldier. Six farms out of every seven in the United States‘have no sheep. Sheep can be produced profitably on almost every farm. What about your farm? If you keep 20 sheep you are outfitting a soldier who is risking his life for your free- dom. If you have a flock of 200 sheep you will clothe 10 men who are flght- . ing in France. They make both meat and wool— and both are badly needed. By proper management they can be produced on the average farm without entailing a reduction of other livestock, and with- out interféring with any other agricul- tural plans. Sheep, in proportion to - ™ the value of their prod- ucts, are produced more economically on the farm than any other livestock; the feed and labor -re- quirements are less. They fit in with practically every kind of farming; get much of their sub- gistence from forage, from grazing weeds and grass that would. not sup- port other stock. They eat almost no feed that food, and need less grain - add ‘materially to "the farm revenue but add very little, relatively, to * the farm. expense. : Those who are in: close touch with the sheep in- <. prices will continue. B ] “ 9 has a value as human’ than other animals, They- dustry belleve that high