From Scratch

"... Your fundamental purpose must be to determine the facts and find solution of a multitude of agricultural problems. ... All this cannot be accomplished by a magic wand or by an overnight action. . . . You are the representatives of organized agriculture itself. . . . I invest you with responsibility, authority and resources such as have never before been conferred by our government in assistance of any industry. . . ."

With these words and a few more President Hoover last week started the Federal Farm Board off on its long task of jacking husbandry up out of its economic bog. The President met the Board for an hour in the Cabinet Room. One place on the Board remained vacant: A member to represent Wheat, whom President Hoover had not yet been able to find. Two last-minute Board appointees: William Frank Schilling of Northfield, Minn, to represent Dairy Interests; Charles S. Wilson of Hall, N. Y. to represent truck-gardeners.

Chairman Legge led his Board away to temporary offices at the Mayflower Hotel, there to begin their work "immediately." Said Chairman Legge: "What we farmers must learn is to do collective thinking. . . . When we [of International Harvester] have a problem to solve we get all information in and lay it on the table and go over it collectively. . . . We all start together from scratch and think collectively. . . . This is just the way I want to start the work of this Farm Board. . . . We will proceed slowly and surely because conservatism is necessary for safety. . . ."

The Board's first problem was wheat. Here Nature had already started helping the Hoover administration. Last week the Department of Agriculture announced crop estimates. Forecast was a wheat harvest of 834,000,000 bushels (1928: 902,000,000 bu.; 1927: 878,000,000 bu.). Great had been the crop shrinkage since the spring estimates. Reason: Hot winds, drought, severe insect damage. Bad weather conditions in Canada and improved world demand brightened the outlook. The Chicago wheat pit reflected these conditions. Prices, on the rise for the last month, went higher. July deliveries touched $1.29 per bushel, a 35 cent advance since the disastrous drop of May. Oldtime traders looked for even better prices, gossiped about $2 wheat.