PRECIOUS POTATOES.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 March 1917, Page 8

PRECIOUS POTATOES.

GERMAN MINISTER'S ORDER. "SOT ONE TO BE LOST." The Bavarian Minister for Agriculture hru issued another of liis numerous circulars to agriculturists. These are three points:—(i) With reference to potato gleaning it is desirable that children should help in the gathering of potatoes, and especially in the search for potatoes after the principal gathering has ended. Not a potato must be lost if it is possible to save it. The potato harvest is scant. Children have sharp eyes, and it would be well to get them to work at once before the bad' frosts begin, (2) Farmers and rural communes must see that their barns, stacks, and other food stores are carefully protected against fire. It. is not enough that they insure. They must take every additional precaution and especially guard against mischievous and evil-disposed persons, that is, prisoners of war.! Children playing with iirnrarms or matches must be kept away from important places. There must be no smoking in the vicinity. The same measured are to be taken as are taken against an explosion in a powder j magazine. The lives of hundreds are indirectly at stake. (3) Silver must not be hoarded. It should be given out cheerfully, remembering that good example is contagious. Throughout South Germany the Governments of Bavaria, Wurtemburg, and Baden, as the result of public pressure, have begun to take active steps againstfarmers and others who are suspected of withholding stocks of food from the market in the hope that prices will rise ,beyond the present extravagant rates. Early in October careful estimates were made of the potato harvest, which in numerous districts of South Germany was considerably below the- average. The District Governor of Augsburg (Bavaria), in an address to local farmers, said: '•Tn view of the precarious situation of tfie -working classes, this conduct will not be tolerated. I would gladly believe that farmers only require this warning in ordev Jo deliver their potatoes. Should, however, t/lis warning be unavailing, I shall be compelled to order domiciliary visits, and in fill .cases will confiscate stocks of potatoes wherever found. "I shall be compelled to noti.-y the action of sueii farmers to the criiwna. authorities, and will, moreover, publish their names ill a public paper, my object being that those fanners and others may be branded for all time as men who, disregarding the necessities of their fellowcreatures at a time >f sore need, have displayed unpardonable L,ise-miiidertness and a spirit of infamous se:t'-seeking."