My War Memories, 1914-1918
all a question of human nature. It could be eliminated to some extent by strong patriotic feeling, but in the long run could only be finally overcome by better nourishment. More food was needed. We had to find new sources of supply, conserve our own stocks, and, above all, increase our own production. The last was the most important.
The recent occupation of Wallaclna was of decisive importance. Other measures were needed, however. The necessity of using straw and wood for fodder, and perhaps even for human food, was constantly insisted on by G.H.Q., as was the employment of leaf-hay for fodder. Just as we had to get every ounce of strength out of the people to carry on the war, so, with the help of our scientists, we had to make Nature yield up everything that could be used for, and turned into, food for man and beast.
The necessity for preserving foodstuffs from decaying and going to waste led, among other things, to potato drying, in which I took a great interest*
To increase agricultural production supplies of artificial manures in sufficient quantities and at reasonable prices \veru essential.
G.H.Q, took every step to secure these supplies, which were all the more important, as natural manure became more scarce owing to the diminution of our cattle stocks and the shortage of straw, not to mention the progress of intensive cultivation. We obtained the necessary phosphates from the occupied territories of Northern France and Belgium, and were constantly impressing on the Chancellor and the Treasury the necessity of extending the establishments at Merseburg for getting nitrogen from the air.
The question of prices was a matter for the home authorities. It suffered from political considerations, In view of the prevalent socialist agitation against the Land and the Agrarians, who were '* raising the price of bread against the poor/' and taking into consideration the already serious living conditions, the Government lacked the courage to fix maximum prices which would be suitable in the long run. Agriculture, suffering from very high cost of production, and faced with the necessity of having stocks for after the war, was often quite incapable o£ working
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