tter or bacon. (_Brunswick Volksfreund_,
January 16, 1918.)

THE SITUATION IN THE UNITED STATES

The United States has great resources of vegetable oils, cottonseed,
peanut, corn, and olive oil. It is this apparent plenty that makes
it so difficult for many to visualize the shortage abroad. We are
shipping about one-third of the lard which we produce, and large
quantities of oleo oil for oleomargarine. Although the exports of
butter in 1917 have almost been doubled since the preceding fiscal
year, it is relatively unimportant, representing only about 1 per
cent of the production. We are shipping cottonseed oil also, but this
requires tank-steamers, which are scarce. In general, as the oils are
much more difficult to handle and impossible for the armies to use, we
must ship the solid animal fats.

_The Individual's Part in Fat Conservation_. Although at present
there is butter and lard on the market, the need for conserving
it is important, just as in the case of meat. WASTE OF ANY KIND
SHOULD BE ABHORRENT TO ALL OF US AT THIS TIME. There probably
has been a greater waste of fat than of any other commodity, but
it is encouraging to note that this waste has been decreased by
conservation. The amount of fat in city garbage has gone down all over
the country. In Columbus, Ohio, the fat in the garbage was almost 50
per cent less in 1917 than in 1916. In fourteen large cities with a
total population of over 5,000,000 nearly 40 per cent less fat was
recovered in March, 1918, than in March, 1917.

Not only can fat be saved by carefully avoiding every bit of waste,
but less can actually be used. FRY FOOD LESS, AND BAKE, BROIL,
OR BOIL THEM MORE. USE VEGETABLE OILS. In a long view of the food
situation, it is the animal fats that cause gravest concern, because
of the years necessary to build up a herd. WE MUST SEND AS MUCH FAT
ABROAD AS POSSIBLE, AND CREATE RESERVES FOR PERIODS OF SHORTAGE WITH A
MINIMUM DEPLETION OF OUR HERDS.

CHAPTER VI

SUGAR

OF ALL THE FOODS WHICH IT IS NECESSARY TO CONSERVE, SUGAR IS THE
EASIEST TO DO WITHOUT. If the war and what it means has become part
of a person's consciousness, he wishes only the bare essentials. Sugar
is a luxury of former times which has become a commonplace to-day.
The average use in the United States was 83 pounds per person last
year--1-2/3 pounds a week--less than one hundred years ago the yearly
consumption was 9 pounds. Sugar was a rare luxury. It will do n