Victory Gardens Feed the Hungry

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VICTORY GARDENS FEEDTHE HUNGRY

The Need* of Peace Demand the Increased Production of Foodin America's Victory Gardens

BY CHARLES LATHROP PACK

President of the National War Garden CommittionWashin^on, D. C.

Tne Seeds ?^ VictoryInsure the Fruits ^ Peace

CapyriKlit 1919 >y _

National War Cardan CammtHlon.

FP

VICTORY GARDENS FEED THE HUNGRY

BY CHARLES LATHROP PACK

PREVENTION of wide spreadstarvation is the peace-time ob-ligation of the United States.To say that peace hath its food prob-lems no less than war faintly ex-presses the condition with which thiscountry and Europe are now com-pelled to reckon. Grave as it was


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during four years of war, the foodsituation is now more serious still.The advent of peace not only broughtnothing to help give relief but actu-ally increased the dread danger ofstarvation for Europe's millions. In-stead of being improved the world-food problem is now worse than atany time during the great conflict.

Chief among the nations whichmust look to America for food areFrance and Belgium. ItPost 'War is true that we had toNeeds victual those countries

during the war, butthey were a France and Belgiumgreatly reduced in area because ofGerman invasion. Much of theirterritory and millions of their peo-ple were held by the enemy, shutoflF from their own countries andtherefore compelled to depend in part

on the invaders for subsistence.Today these people are repatriated.Their restoration to citizenship hasbrought the obligation to feed them.While the direct burden falls onFrance and Belgium, tjiese countries

must look to America for ways andmeans. By all the ties of interna-tional friendship, by a sense of grati-tude for the part these countries

played in winning the war, by geo-graphical location and by inherentcapacity to provide food, America isthe one country able to meet the call.France and Belgium provide but apart of our responsibility. The food

situation throughoutMillions Europe is highly

are Hungry complicated. The

territory capable of

being self-sustaining for the nextfew months is extremely small. Asidefrom Hungary, Denmark and SouthRussia, no nation in Europe can passthrough the immediate future withoutimports on a large scale. At the closeof the war we were already feedingFrance, Belgium, England and Italy,with their aggregate of 125,000,000people. This must continue. We must


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also provide for the smaller alliednations which have been un-der German oppression Serbia,Rumania, Greece, the Czechs, theJugoslavs and others. In these groupsand in repatriated Belgium andFrance we have an aggregate of75,000,000 people for whom we arelargely responsible. In the neutralstates of Europe 40,000,000 peoplemust be kept from hunger and inNorth Russia 50,000,000 more. The

JAN 24 1919

[C)r.\ A n 1 !M;,: G

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northern part of Russia is in seriousstraits. The break-down of transpor-tation facilities, combined with thereign of anarchy, makes this one ofthe most grievous problems of Eu-rope. That these needs must be metis dictated by the American con-science. That they will be met isassured by the American spirit.

The food supply for all Europemust, to a large extent come from

America for a consider-We Must ^^^^ period. IncreasedFeed food production during

Europe *^^ ^^^^ year of peace is

impossible for Europeitself. Readjustment and some meas-ure of reconstruction must take placebefore there can be any important

contribution to the world's food

VICTORY GARDENS MUST HELP FEEDTHE WORLD

supply on the part of the countriesexhausted by four years of warfare.


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America cannot forget the horrorsof war as practiced by the Germans.We cannot forget the robbery of foodfrom the helpless, the wholesale andpiratical destruction of millions oftons at sea nor the wretched plight of

the millions of people who have suf-fered under German domination dur-ing the last few years.

America must meet the situationwith the same spirit of determined

support given the prose-Must cution of the war. As

Prevent ^^^ "i^" best posted onAnarchy the food problems of

Europe, Food Adminis-trator Hoover has made this signifi-

cant statement of fact:

Our object in the overthrow of all autocraciesin Europe and the establishment of governmentby the people is but part of our great burden,for beyond this, when these immediate objectsare attained, we still have before us the greatestproblem that our Government has ever facedif we are to prevent Europe's immolation in aconflagration of anarchy such as Russia isplunged in today.

To realize the needs of Europe it

is not necessary to consider the imme-diate requirements of the enemy na-tions. With peace comes the lettingdown of war-made barriers whichhave for several years prevented ship-ments of food supplies to Rumania,Serbia, European Russia, Poland, Ar-menia and others who now lack ade-quate provisions. Some of thesecountries are near starvation. Asfood was vital to the winning of thewar it is now vital to reconstruction.The starvation which prevailed dur-

ing the conflict was secondary to thewaging of battle. Today the worldrealizes that no real and lasting peacecan be made until the food problem issolved. There will have to be a vastmachinery of distribution to penetratethroughout Europe and this ma-chinery must be backed up by in-creased organization for productionand conservation. The need for the


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elimination of waste was never sogreat as today. This waste appliesas much to the resources of the soilas to food stores themselves. The

War GardensBecomeVictoryGardens

stigma attached to idle land is greaternow than it was in 1918. The untilledacre, the uncultivated vacant lot, theunemployed backyard was never sotruly "Slacker Land" as at the pres-ent time.

This means that the WarTiarden of1918 must become the Victory Gar-den of 1919. In

more literal sensethan ever before,America is the"granary of thenations." No one ofour allies was self-supporting beforethe war, and each became less ableto produce food as the war went on.Thousands of acres of the best farmlands in France and Italy, and prac-tically all of Belgium, are war-devas-tated and unfit for cultivation. Inaddition, the areas which have not

been touched by war have becomesteadily poorer through unskilledhandling and the shortage of fer-tilizers. America alone can producemore food than it did before. There-fore the task of keeping Europe inbread is peculiarly our own.

UNCLE SAM HAS PUT OUT THENOW CLINCH THE VICTORY

FIRE.

Our harvest season has come andgone and whatever food is exportedmust come from our surplus and from


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our savings, very largely the latter.Certain foods such as meats, fats anddairy products, it is true, are pro-duced throughout the year, but eventhese depend largely on feeds andfodder, supplies of which are limitedand cannot be replenished until an-other harvest.

The original pledge made by theUnited States was 17,500,000 tons offood to be shipped overseas by July 1,1919. This amount of food is 50 percent, greater than the year before.With Belgium and France liberatedand millions in south central Europeclamoring for food, the United Statesis now undertaking to increase itsexports from 17,500,000 to 20,000,000tons. The Mediterranean route isnow sufficiently safe for bringingwheat from India and Australia,hence our exports will consist largelyof fats, meats and feed. Feed is es-

sential for milk production of whichthe stricken nations are in dire need.

We can export, together with othersurplus countries, an apparent suffi-ciency of the coarseIncreased grains for feeding pur-Exports poses, such as oats, bar-ley and com. On theother hand there is a world short-age of high protein feeds, suchas the wheat feeds and the seedand bean meals, upon which the dairy

production of the world, particularlyof Europe, so considerably depends.

This world fat shortage is due pri-marily to the fact that Europe hasbeen steadily under-feeding its dairyherd and has made steady inroads

into its herd of hogs during the warand to the fact that there has been agreat degeneration in the production

of vegetable oils in certain regions,owing to the inability to secure ship-ping.

Of our export possibilities in fats,the largest item is pork products.Here again we have aProduction right to congratulateMust Grow ourselves as to thepolicies pursued in


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the administration of food supplies inthe United States by the Depart-ment of Agriculture and the FoodAdministration. If you considerthat we have reasonable promiseof ability, through increased produc-tion and conservation, to export seventimes as much products as our pre-war contribution in fats in this newv/ar against famine, we are justifiedtoday in our every act in the stimula-tion of production of this commodity.While we cannot supply the world'sfull deficiency we have ameliorated itenormously.

To send twenty million tons of foodto Europe is a big order but it will befilled ; there is no doubt of that. Whenthe amount was fixed it was the resultof careful study of the minimum needsof America's Allies and the neutralswho are dependent, necessarily, onthis country for a large part of their

food supply. Twenty million tons isnot all they need but it is the leastamount that will meet their require-ments. It was figured out that theAmerican people, without any unduerestrictions, without denying them-selves to the point of privation, couldeasily furnish this quantity. It wouldbe well to make it greater if possible,for it would prevent that much more

hunger, suffering and starvation inEurope and Asia. It will be impossi-ble to prevent a certain amount ofstarvation. This pitiful toll cannot beprevented. Before sufficient quantitiesof food can be supplied to them fromthe present diminished granaries ofthe world, thousands of wretched peo-ple who have been near the point ofstarvation for the past three or fouryears, will actually have died for lackof food.

LET EVERYBODY WORK TO MAKE VICTORYGARDENS GROW

To meet the demands for foodAmerica has two sources of st^)ply.Food can be raised only on the farms,by those who make a business of pro-


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duction, and on the lands of our cities,towns and villages. No other sourcesexist. The 40,000,000 acres of farmland under cultivation have alreadyprobably reached their maximum ofpossible production for the immediatepresent. It is obvious, therefore, thatif we are to give the world more foodthe new supply which will make thispossible must come from the onlysource the small gardens in oururban and suburban communities.

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The task of America is to reducethe world's suffering and death to aminimum. Conservation of food willhelp. But the big problem is to pro-duce. There can be no conservation

when there is no production. The wargardeners of the United States havemade a wonderful record during thepast two years. They can always lookback proudly to what they did in theway of increasing the nation's foodsupplies.

Now they are called on for an evengreater task. This phrase "an evengreater task" is used advisedly. Thereare several reasons why it is true, whythe Victory Gardeners of 1919, as the

home food producers will be known,have their biggest year ahead. Wargardening has been an evolution, adevelopment. The War Garden wasthe chrysalis. The Victory Garden isthe butterfly.

ALL FOR ONE ONE FOR ALLWORK TOGETHER TO PRODUCE FOOD

Of the 20,000,000 families in Ameri-ca probably half live in cities, townsand villages where the majority canhave victory gardens. This may becarried even further, with the state-ment that practically every one of

these households may have a garden


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if full use is made of the vacant landin the various communities. Withthe home gardens producing to theirmaximum capacity and with this idleland converted into productive area,by the cultivation of individual andcommunity gardens thereon, Americahas a potential capacity for food rais-ing which must be made to show tre-mendous worth in 1919.

The area of these vacant lots inalmost every city and town is amaz-ing. Two years of suc-Slacker cessful campaign forLand ^^^ gardens, by the

Drafted National War GardenCommission, have dis-closed that this available land pos-sesses vast possibilities for food pro-duction if properly mobilized. Thereis probably no community in theUnited States which did not have at

least 50 acres of unused slacker landwithin its borders before the wargarden began to thrive. Many com-munities had much more than 50 acresand of this idle land it was recog-nized that a large proportion wouldproduce vegetables in generous yield.When the available land in a singlecommunity is taken into considera-tion and the average multiplied by thethousands of communities in theUnited States the aggregate is im-pressive as to the nation's further

capacity for food production.

The year 1918 brought increasinglylarge response to the urgent demandthat this slacker land be put to work.Backyard gardens and land previ-ously untilied yielded a food supplyestimated by the National War Gar-den Commission, after careful survey,

as having a market value of $520,000,-

000. This yield w^as produced on5,285,000 war gardens. By enablingAmerican households to feed them-selves this newly created source ofsupply was a real factor in making itpossible for other food to be releasedfor shipment to the American troopsin Europe and to the people of theAllied nations.


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In spite of the fact that there wassuch marvelous response by the homefood growers of the United Stateslast year and that they rounded upthe "slacker land" in fine shape, let-ting very little of it escape, it is be-lieved that there can be even greaterresults. This applies both to numbersand to average production. With thetraining and the experience they havegained during the past two years itis certain that a majority of the "cityfarmers" will be able to raise morebeans and tomatoes and cabbage thanthey have heretofore. And as to thenumber of gardens, that figure, too,should be increased. All that is neces-sary is for the people of any particu-

LET YOUR WAR GARDEN OF 1918 BECOMEA VICTORY GARDEN IN 1919

lar locality to say, "We had 5,000gardens last year ; we'll make it 8,000or 10,000 in 1919." Every communitywill doubtless find a certain numberof lots which were not cultivated lastyear. There were some back yardsand a few plots which escaped thegeneral round-up. The thing to do isto get them all into the Victory Gar-den "draft" of 1919. If every city,

town and village will make up itsmind to work a little harder in 1919than in 1918, the thing will be done;and after it is over, the ease withwhich it was accomplished will sur-prise everybody. For instance, Bos-ton set out last year with the idea thatit could reach a mark of at least 15,-000 war gardens. When the countwas made it was found that there weremore than 30,000. There were manysimilar experiences. That shows thatany place can "surpass itself" if it

determines to do so.

It is obvious that 1919 must seenot merely continuation but exten-sion of the abolition ofContinue slacker land. Food sup-the Fight ' P^y ^- O. B. the kitchendoor means more todaythan it has at any time in thepast. To save transportation strain


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is as important in its way asto increase the nation's food sup-ply. All available transportationfacilities within the country will berequired to handle the traffic createdby the return of peace. Merchandiseneeds in all lines have accumulatedduring the period of wartime concen-tration on munitions and food. Torestore normal conditions and to re-plenish depleted stores and ware-houses will tax the transportation

system to its utmost. This rendersall the more imperative the need forfood production at home, where itwill not add to traffic congestion.

It would be very easy to permit alet down in the days of victory. Infact there will be one. When the"shouting and tumult die," when the

cannon have ceased to roar and whenvictor}-^ is assured, it is so easy to say :"Now we can rest; we have foughtand won ; there is nothing more forus to do."

There must be no slackening. Re-laxation may mean ruin. Much of

the good that has beenWe Must brought may be lost;Not Relax indeed, worse days

may come, days ofworld-wide pestilence, anarchy andsocial wreck if famine is allowedto sweep unchecked through thenations. That is why it is moreimportant than ever to keep up thegood work, to make the "VictoryGardens" of this year and the nextand the next even more numerous,more flourishing, more helpful to thisnation and to humanity as a whole,

SAY TO YOURSELF: "ILL GROW A BEANOR KNOW THE REASON WHY"

than were the War Gardens of 1917and 1918. It can be done. I firmlybelieve that the American people can


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do greater things than they have everdone before. I am not mistakenabout their character and their deter-mination. There were 5,285,000 WarGardens in 191 8. Why not make it10,000,000 in 1 91 9? Let us show theworld that we are no "quitters" andthat we do not surrender to the truththat it is harder to work for some-thing that seems to be accomplishedthan while the fight is on.

The practical arguments for foodproduction at home are various. Be-sides the satisfaction of having aplentiful supply of fresh vegetables,and the health-giving properties of thisfeature of the daily diet, it is of greatimportance to remember the profit tobe derived in actual money value ofthe home crops.

Compared to an acre of landworked by the usual farming methods

the possibilities ofThe Profit ^^nd devoted to gar-is Very dening are suprising-Large ^Y large. It is a good

acre, indeed, that willyield forty dollars worth of wheat,even when wheat sells at two dollars abushel. Yet $600 is a small yield forland of equal fertility intensively cul-tivated and enriched. An acre ofsuitable vacant community land, di-

vided into plots, and well cultivated,will easily produce this much. In theDistrict of Columbia in 1918 officialfigures showed an average yield of$700 to the acre in nearly 2000 acresoccupied by 29,200 war gardens. Oneof America's great tasks, therefore, isto further organize the slacker land

of the nation and mobilize it into anactive food producer.

No other single business born ofthe war has affected a greater numberof people than has gardening. Start-ing from a mere nothing before theUnited States entered the war, thisform of service grew in less than twoyears into a new occupation, whichcounted its followers by the millionsand, in the number of people employed,


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exceeded any other branch of gainfuloccupation, with the single exceptionof actual farming.

The fact that such a vast numberof American citizens took up this workshows that they appreciated the meritof it, and is one of the reasons for theconfident prediction that gardeninghas come to stay. It is something thatthe world will not willingly let die.Home food production will continuebecause it has been found worth while,and, like other things which this warhas proved to be of value and benefitof mankind, it will last.

War gardening will permanentlyestablish itself as Victory gardening

because its peace-timeVictory value will fully equal itsGardens war-time worth. ThisNeeded ^^^^ ^^ *^"6 ^^ ^^^ times,

but more particularlyso during the first five or ten years ofthe great reconstruction period, forduring that period the matter of foodproduction will be of the most press-ing importance. It will be on a parwith many of the other enormous re-construction problems that face theworld. It will require the continuedapplication of broad thought and ef-fort. There will be no decrease inthe demand for food ; in fact that de-

mand will really be greater, muchgreater, than it was during the daysof actual conflict.

Nor will this terrific demand forfood be a matter of a season only. Foryears and years we must continue tosupply unheard-of amounts of food.Indeed it would have been almost aseasy to put Humpty Dumpty together

again as it will be to restore the world'sagriculture. The soil of thousands ofacres has literally been blown away byhigh explosives. Practically all thelands in the embattled nations have de-creased in producing power throughpoor handling, neglect, and lack offertilizers during the war. Of thehost of farmers that toiled to feedEurope before the war, millions now


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lie beneath the soil they tilled, andother millions, maimed and crippled,can never again turn a ûrrow or har-ness a horse. Assuredly, agriculturalproduction is not, like Aladdin's pal-ace, the growth of a night. Yearsmust elapse before Europe's produc-tion is restored to normal.

PAY HOMAGE TO INSURANCE AND INSUREYOUR OWN FOOD SUPPLY

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Particularly must the Americangardener keep up his work becausethe return of our soldiers

Farm ^^ îîl life will not meanLabor ^"y great increase in theScarce amount of farm laboravailable on Americanfarms. The tendency away from thefarms will not have been changedby military life, and it is not tobe expected that there will be anygreat flocking back to the soil. Itwill not be possible therefore, to look

NOBODY IS TOO^ FAT, TOO LEAN, TOO

SHORT, TOO TALL, TO BE A

VICTORY GARDENER

for any large increase in the quantityof the food produced on the farms.On the other hand, broad plans arebeing made in the United States bythe Department of the Interior to pro-vide land which can be reclaimed for

settlement and use by the soldiers.This back-to-the-land movement isprobably the biggest that has ever beenattempted and, if it is carried out suc-cessfully, will add to the wealth of thecountry by putting to work much ofits idle swamp, arid, and other wasteland. It is figured that there are con-siderably more than 230,000,000 acresof unappropriated land which could be


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made to yield valuable crops; butyears must elapse before this can be-come reality.

In the meantime, this other back-to-the-land movement that of war gar-dening is an accom-Forward to plished fact. It wasthe Garden established simplyand without any dis-turbance of existing social, political,or economic conditions. , For a dec-ade or two before the war, therewas deep study and much discussionof the problem as to how to check theexodus from the farm to the city ; butargument and discussion availed noth-ing, and the exodus continued. Inthe "city farmer" has been found apartial answer to the stay-on-the-farm idea. Ambitious young men and

women will not remain in the countrywhere comforts are denied and whereadvantages of education and social lifeare few ; but they will be glad to farmin the city and the war garden hasopened the way. By this means almosteveryone becomes a food producer.

Furthermore, increasing prices willmake it desirable to the individual, andthe growing demand for food willmake it desirable from the country'spoint of view, that everyone help to

feed himself. The readjustment whichmust come out of the war will call forpowers as Herculean as those it hasbeen necessary to put forth during theterrible struggle. This reconstructionwork will call for every bit of manpower that can be found. It will be aquestion not of months but of yearsbefore this upbuilding has been com-pleted. In France, Belgium, Poland,Italy, Russia and other Europeancountries the rebuilding of cities and

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churches, railroads and bridges, docksand roads, of houses and barns, theremaking of trench-scarred and shell-torn farms and many other big works,


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must be performed. So we can lookfor no huge immigration after the warto solve our labor problem, and thatproblem is acute. For, though thereare no ruined cities to be rebuilt, ordevastated farms to be restored in theUnited States, there are innumerableconstruction tasks to be done whichhave been put aside during the war.

Thousands of miles of road tomention a single task will have to becompletely rebuilt. The heavy motortruck as a means of transportation be-tween city and city has come to stay,and with it there must be a strengthen-ing of roads. This is one of the greattasks awaiting the returning army ofmen from the battlefield. The con-struction of new buildings in our citieswhich has been checked on account ofwar time need of material and menmust be resumed and lost time madeup. Cities will need many improve-

ments which will keep the workersof the world busy. In these and ahundred other ways there will besteady call for the men released fromstrictly war work. Men can hardlybe spared for agriculture.

All these facts point to the increas-ing value of the Victory garden. Itwill be just as important a factor inthe life of the nation and the communi-ty after the war as the War gardenhas been during the war. The need

for gardens will last for many years ;and by that time, the value of garden-ing will be so apparent that the move-ment will continue indefinitely. Itwill have become a fixed habit and

firmly implanted in the hearts andlives of the people of the country.

Furthermore, gardening has beenfound to be a health measure. It has

been used in the re-Gardening habilitation of con-is Healthful valesccnt soldiers.

Around the hospitalsin Europe, almost since the begin-ning of the war, vegetable plotshave furnished the means for provid-ing easy and pleasant outdoor work


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for convalescents, which acted as atonic to their shattered nerves andbodies. At the hospitals and armycamps in the United States this formof activity was employed to help inthe rebuilding of disabled and conva-lescing soldiers.

In the great reconstruction work atthe Walter Reed hospital, which liesin the outskirts of the Nation's capi-tal, a fifteen acre war garden provedof much therapeutic value in thetreatment of men suffering from var-ious diseases. In addition to helpingthem to regain their health andstrength, gardening is training thesemen for the future and equipping themto make their own living and become

"YOU DON'T NEED MEDICINE. WHAT YOU

NEED IS TO WORK IN THE GARDEN"

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valuable citizens of any communityafter they are out of active service.Part of the large war garden at CampDix, N. ]., adjoins the base hospital;and potatoes and other vegetables were

growing during the season of 19 [8 upto the very porches on which some ofthe invalids sat in their wheel chairs.

Sailors as well as soldiers need freshvegetables in their diet but they cannotgrow vegetables at sea. To over-come this handicap a movement wasstarted throughout the United King-dom to give naval men a supply offresh vegetables whenever they getto port. Navy vegetable rationsformerly consisted of potatoes only

and a few dried or can-f ceding ^^^ products which canThe Navy ^^ ^^P^ ^ lo"g" time and

stored in small space.This British organization soon hadeigh hundred branches and collectingdepots throughout the United King-dom. Headquarters were established


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in London, with Admiral Lord Beres-ford as president. The patrons in-cluded many prominent people, but its

MAKE THE MOST OF THE SUNSHINE ASA GARDEN HELPER

members range from the owners oflarge estates, who contribute regularsupplies weekly, to the small school-boy with only a ten- foot plot to cul-tivate. Long after the work got underway, 300,000 pounds of fresh vegeta-bles and fruits were being furnishedweekly to the British navy. In speak-ing of this work and its value, RearAdmiral Lionel Halsey, third lord ofthe Admiralty, said:

''Those associated with the Vege-table Products Committee can happilyfeel that this work is of pricelessvalue, for without a vegetable foodthe men of the fleet could not have sothoroughly performed their work inthe past; nor will they be able to doso in the future, without a continuanceof the splendid work as efficiently andas generously as in the past. Its valuemay be realized when it is stated thatthese supplies are an invaluable fac-tor in keeping the men in good health

and fitness."

What is true in the case of thestalwart men of the British navy, istrue of all other members of society,of high and low degree. There is needfor vegetable food. The body is keptin better condition if it does not de-pend too largely on a meat diet. Vic-tory gardening will add greatly to theproportion of greens which will enterinto the diet of the American people.

The future of Victory gardening,therefore, is assured. It is such animportant economicFuture gain, and its benefits in

Gardens other ways are so nu-Assured merous, that the armyof home food producersthemselves will be its own strongestand most ardent champions. Both by


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practice and by precept they will con-tinue to spread the gospel of foodF. O. B. the kitchen door. Just as thearmy which has fought for justice,decency, and our civilization will seeto it that these principles are main-tained in every part of the world, sothe soldiers of the soil in the city,town and village, millions of whomhave tested the worth of war garden-ing, will be its future champions anddefenders.

In planting our Victory Gardens wemust be duly mindful of the nationaland international needs rather thanhaving regard merely to our individual

requirements. In our gardens wemust try to produce substitutes forthings which must be shipped abroad,such as wheat, meat, sugar and fats.

As substitutes for meat, peas andbeans have especial worth. So greatis the food value of beans that theyhave occupied prominent place in thedietary of the Allied armies. Potatoesare the big savers of cereals. Theiruse makes it possible to get alongwith less bread. Six ounces of pota-

toes enable the saving of one and one-half ounces of flour. The potato,therefore, occupies a position of greatimportance in the suitable cultivationof slacker land Victory Gardens. Thetown gardener will do well this yearto try to raise a part or all of his ownpotatoes.

Sweet potatoes and fruits are thegreat sugar savers, and for this reasonit is of especial importance that weraise all the sweet potatoes that can

be grown in our gardens and that wemake the best use of all our fruit.

When the war garden first beganto take its place in the realm of food

production there was a tendency tolook slightingly upon this source of


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food supply. It was thought thatwhat the city and town farmer couldproduce would be but a drop in thebucket. The critics, however, had notcounted on the immense number inwhich the new army of the soil wouldmobilize. They had not figured on thevast unused acreage that would be putto work in the cities and towns.

In this day of big things the smallthings are not to be ignored. Thishas been splendidly exemplified in thecontribution to the world's food sup-ply by the home and community gar-dens of America. TheSmall financiers of the world nowThings speak in billions where theyCount formerly spoke in millions,while millions mean littlemore than thousands did a few yearsago. The United States Governmentappropriated money by hundreds of

^V^l-^-

OUT-HOE THE HOE TO MAKE THINGSGROW

millions for war purposes without amoment of hesitation, but it mustnot be forgotten that much of this

was made possible by the innumerablelittle war-savings stamps, by pennies

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collected at moving picture theatresand by other sources of income smallin their individual items but massinglarge in their totals.

In our gardens in backyards and onvacant lots it is not by the amountthat any one of them may producebut by the sum total of the millions ofsmall gardens that we reach the stu-pendous aggregate of food productionwhich made 1918 memorable. Thehome food production idea spread likea vast wave over the entire nation.


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That it was a mighty factor in theproper feeding of the world is uni-versally recognized. The food pro-ducers have performed a service ofinestimable value in holding off thewar-time monster Famine and in re-moving his clutches from the throatsof our European Allies. The Ameri-can soldiers of the soil respondedvaliantly to the emergency call sent

out by their country.How They Answering the call toAnswered "Keep the Home Soil

Turning," they gotout their rakes and their hoes, puton old shoes and clothing andwent forth into the back yards andvacant lot to "Sow the Seeds of Vic-tory." They dug and raked and plant-ed in deadly earnest, with determina-tion to deal effective blows against theenemy with the "Machine Guns of the

Garden," as the garden tools werepopularly called by the National WarGarden Commission. The slogan ofthis Commission played an importantpart in emphasizing the need for homefood production. In addition to thosejust quoted there were many otherswhich led to the enlistment* of addi-tional thousands in the ranks of thewar garden army. "The Battle Cry

of Feed 'Em" was supported by "FoodMust Follow the Flag," and thesewere given impetus by "Let There BeNo Slacker Land" and "Hoe andRakes versus Hohenzollerns."

Perhaps one of the most effective ofthe battle cries of the home gardenarmy was "Every Garden a MunitionPlant." This achieved widespreadcurrency and became a popular phrasethroughout the country after its cir-culation on the posters and in the

publications and newspaper publicityof the Commission. Today its place

has been taken by "EveryBattle Garden a Peace Plant,"Cries conveying the subtle sug-

of the gestion that the need for

Garden munition plants no longer


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exists but that the out-put of nature's workshops must inno wise be diminished because ofchanged conditions. Urgent behest isalso given that the nation should makeits war gardens become gardens ofvictory. Two of the new slogans forthe season of 191 9 are "War Gardensover the Top." and "War Gardens

MEMORIAL GARDENS FOR THE FALLEN

HEROES WILL PROVE THAT THEY

DID NOT DIE IN VAIN

15

Victorious," the purposes of whichare obvious in this time when the vic-tory of peace is as vital as the victoryof war.

To give our Victory Gardens theirfull meaning let us make them alsomemorial gardens. In this way theywill become a silent and creative trib-ute to our soldier and sailor dead. Letus put into our garden-making this

touch of sentiment to afford recogni-tion of the sacrifice made by the gal-lant fighters who gave their lives inthe cause of freedom. By this tributelet us give tangible support to theirefforts in defense of the flag andprove that in our home trenches weare inspired by the same patriotic de-termination that made them face thefoe with unflinching courage. Throughtheir gallantry international Democ-racy was made possible. It must bethrough our labors of reconstruction

that this condition may be made toendure. To fittingly express our grati-tude to our fallen fighters we can donothing more useful, nothing of great-er worth, nothing which manifests afiner sentiment, than to cause ourmemorial gardens to do their sharetoward feeding a famished world, andthus write into the record of worldDemocracy the eternal truth that our


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fighters did not die in vain.

Plans have been made by the Na-tional War Garden Commission for a

bigger and more intensive campaignthis year than was carried on lastseason. In order that results be ob-tained it is necessary to continue thepreaching the lesson of food need. Itis only by keeping the thought con-stantly before the minds of the peo-ple that they can be impressed suf-ficiently with the importance of thework. They must be reminded againand again, "lest they forget." In thepress of other work, in the welcomingback of our soldiers who deserveevery tribute that can be paid them and in the vast business of reconstruc-tion now occupying so much thought,it is essential to keep the home food

production idea to the fore. This isbeing done. Everybody is urged toco-operate.

One of the finest and most inspiringslogans which helped the AmericanArmy in the carrying through of someapparently impossible war tasks was "It can't be done but we'll do it." Putthat into effect in the home food cam-paign of 1919.

All the world that is, all the

world worth mentioning loves awinner. That is why it praisesand honors the men who "dothing."

Is it worth trying to reach thatgoal of 10,000,000 Victory Gardens?"It can't be done? Let's do it."

16

VICTORY GARDENING BY COMMUNITIES ANDNEIGHBORHOODS

THE best way to stimulate theplanting and cultivation ofVictory Gardens is through or-


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ganized eflfort.

The tracts of vacant land in everycity, town and village should be usedfor growing vegetables. To culti-vate these and make them add theircontribution to the national food sup-ply is a duty that no community canafford to overlook. People who haveno vacant land of their own shouldbe encouraged to grow gardens fortheir own protection from the highcost of living and to help the generalsituation. Land owners should beglad to contribute the use of theirproperty for this patriotic purpose.Community organization should bringgardener and land together.

Co-operative gardening, throughcommunity organization, has manyadvantages. It enables gardeners topurchase supplies in large quantitiesand secure the benefit of wholesale

rates. It makes it possible for ex-pert supervision to be provided.Where organized work is done it ispossible to employ teams for plowing,which it not always convenient in thesingle small garden worked inde-pendently. One team will plowseveral gardens in a day, at slightcost to each gardener.

Before a community can intelli-gently plan a garden campaign it mustknow how much land it has available

for cultivation, the location and char-acter of the land, the kind and quan-tity of manures and fertilizers avail-

able, the skilled directors it can secureand the probable number of garden-ers. To ascertainOrganizing these facts an in-

a Community ventory of thetown's gardening

resources for community v/ork shouldbe taken. Such a survey can be madeby existing agencies, or a specialforce can be created.

If garden production is to be stimu-lated to its maximum possibility, itwill be necessary to survey all thelands within the community, includ-ing private yards as well as vacant


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lots. Thus the project will becometruly a -community affair. The Cham-ber of Commerce, the Board of Tradeor the Civic Club is the nucleus forsuch an effort, but the School Boardor a church or a political club, canjust as effectively conduct the work.

The first step should be to securethe co-operation of the local news-papers. The community must bemade acquainted with the plan to putevery foot of idle land to work. Themovement may also be advertised atmoving picture shows and on bulle-tin boards.

A public meeting should be held toenlist interest and secure general co-operation. An eft'ort should be madeto secure the attendance of the minis-ters, the school superintendent, thelocal officials, prominent civic work-ers, and club leaders.

A survey force should be selected,with a leader and assistants, one for

17

each district in the community. Thesurvey force itself can very well con-sist of the senior class in

Survey ^^^ ^^S^ school, or a troopForce ^ ^^^ older Boy Scouts,or a Sunday School class.Finally a survey day should be chosenand well advertised. In preparationfor the survey, large scale maps ofthe community should be procuredwhich will show the different parcelsof land. The high school drawingclasses can well prepare such maps aspart of their work. In larger citiesdistrict maps may be necessary.

Whether the community is large orsmall, it will be necessary to divide itinto districts for the survey. An as-sistant to the leader should be maderesponsible for each district.

On the survey day the force of can-vassers should go out in twos, one tointerview the land owner while theother examines the yard or lot. In


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preparation for the survey, cardsshould be printed, which the survey-ors are to fill in. On these cardsshould be recorded the following:

1 Name, addreti, and telephone number of land

owner.3 Whether land is a back yard or a vacant lot.3 Location of plot.4 Approximate area in square feet.$ Condition of the plot.6 Whether owner will cultivate it or rent or

lend it.7 On what terms and conditions owner will rent

or lei^d.

The surveyors should also record,on other cards, the names, addresses,and telephone numbers of all whohave manure available for fer-tilizer, the quantities available and

the terms on which it can be had.Inquiry should also be made as to theamount and varieties of seed, toolsand all oth^ suppHes required. Thecommittee may buy outright and sell

to the users at cost or it may make

arrangements with dealers wherebythe dealers will supply the individualsat reduced rates.

When all the cards have been filledout and filed alphabetically, the sur-vey committee will be in possessionof a complete card index of all thepossible garden lands in the com-munity. Meantime, the committee canreceive applications from those de-siring gardens, and assign conveni-ent plots as soon as arrangements canbe made with the owners.

Thus it should be possible to pro-

vide with comparatively little diffi-culty for the working of every footof available garden land.

To insure maximum productionthere should be co-operation in thegardening itself. In every town may


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SPREAD THE GOSPEL OF FOOD NEEDS

be found retired farmers or otherexperienced vegetable growers, orperhaps a county agricultural agentis available. Arrangements shouldbe made to have some such persongive supervision and instructions asto selecting the crops best suited tothe soil and the details of plantingand cultivation. If such supervision

18

is not available it is desirable to raisea fund to hire a school garden super-visor or other skilled gardener to de-vote such time as needed to oversee-ing the work. In many cases agri-

cultural college students will doubt-less volunteer their services.

Under supervision thus providedthe lots should be plowed, manuredand made ready for seeding. Manyamateur gardeners do not know howto make a seed bed properly andsuch supervision will prevent manydisappointments. Where possible thecost of supervision should be paidout of a general fund raised by the or-ganization in charge. If this is not

feasible the gardeners should pay inproportion to the size of their plots.

The supervision should extend overthe entire gardening season. Timelyadvice will prevent gardeners fromplanting vegetables in soil unsuitedto them, and show the gardenershow to cultivate the different cropsproperly and safeguardthem from drought, in-sects and diseases.

Neighbors in any sec-tion of a city, town orvillage may work to-gether to excellent ad-vantage, even if there isno central organizationto direct their work.The first essential isthat some person shouldarouse the interest of


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the various families andsecure their co-opera-tion. The number offamilies should be de-termined by the size ofthe available land. In al-

most, every neighborhood a vacanttract will be found which will serve

the purpose ofNeighborhood several households.Gardens Land owners

should consider ittheir patriotic duty to allow idleproperty to be cultivated for thesake of increasing the nationalfood supply and those who wishto cultivate gardens should nothesitate to ask the privilege. Ifthe land cannot be secured free of

charge a small rental may be paidwithout seriously interfering with thesuccess of the project. In selectingland be sure that it has convenientwater supply, as an abundance ofwater is essential to a good garden.After enlisting the active interestof a number of gardeners, the leadershould place the matter before theowner of the tract of land desired.A definite statement that the garden-ers are ready to do their work willhave its influence.

t 2t2FEtT M

wt

ttJ

Ik


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_ _.j

AN ARRANGEMENT FOR A COMMUNITY OR NEIGH-BORHOOD GARDEN. ALL ROWS SHOULD RUNIN ONE GENERAL DIRECTION.

19

A good plan is to divide the landinto lots 60 feet long and 40 feet wide.Each lot should beSuggested surrounded by a two-Type of ^oot path, to give pas-

Plot sage way for garden-

ers whose plots areaway from the outer boundaries. Inthe diagram which appears on page17 is illustrated a good type of ar-rangement for dividing the land. Theplot there shown is 212 feet long and188 feet wide. It contains 39,856square feet, slightly less than an acre.It affords room for 15 garden plots.Each plot should be numbered. Plotsmay be assigned to individual gar-deners by drawing numbers. When aplot has been assigned it must be

remembered that for garden purposesit belongs to the person or family towhom allotted.

The group of gardeners should beorganized just as any other associa-tion is organized, with its executive


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head and directing committees. Thisorganization should be effected as

early as possible. TheOrganize executive head shouldYour have general supervi-

Gardenera sion of the work and

should therefore, if pos-sible, be some person who is familiarwith gardening. Committees shouldarrange for purchasing seed, ferti-lizers and other necessary sup-plies. By handling this through acommittee lower prices will be ob-tained than if the gardeners buy inde-pendently. The committee may buyoutright after procuring from eachgardener the funds for paying hisshare or an agreement to pay for it ondelivery ; or it may arrange with deal-ers to supply each member at reducedcost. The co-operative spirit in the

purchase of tools and in using themwill save money. The same sprayersand garden hose may be used byall.

SUMMARY OF ORGANIZED GARDENING.

Summed up some of the importantsteps in Community or Neighborhood

gardening are these:

1. Enlist gardeners.

In community work this mij be donethrough the central body having chargeof the community work, with the co-operation of the newspapers and otherpublicity. In neighbornood work itshould be done through personal effort.

One or more meetings should be heldat a central place, to stimulate and

maintain interest and to instruct the gar-deners, through lectures, on the detailsof their work. In the public library allliterature on gardening should be with-drawn from circulation and set aside forthe use of the gardeners.

2. Procure land.

Learn what land is available and se-


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cure permission for its use.

3. Arrange for supplies of manure,commercial fertilizers, seed andimplements.

A committee should get prices in largelots and buy for all or should arrangewith dealers to supply to individualmembers at reduced price.

4. Prepare for planting.

Remove stones and burn rubbish.Spread manure over ground to be plowed.

5. Plow land, harrow and preparefor seeding.

Secure farmers or skilled plowmen andteams. Plowing will make a better seed-bed than can be made by hand and will

save much labor with spade and rake.The cost should be paid proportionatelyby each gardener or from a general fund,if available.

6. Lay off land into gardens.

The city, town or village engineer maybe willing to do this without charge.

7. Assign individual garden plots togardeners.

On the day on which gardeners arepresent to receive assignments have fer-tilizers on hand, if bought by committee,and distribute them to the gardeners,collecting from each the cost of his share.

20

If the individuals buy their own thejr

should have the supply on hand at thiatime. (For the use of fertilizers andmanures consult thia Commission's book"War Gardening.")

8. Plant seed.

Planting days should be arranged.Saturday afternoon ia a good time forthis Have everybody on hand and have


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the planting done under instructionsfrom experienced gardeners. The in-structors should guide inexperienced gar-deners in the selection of crops and aato the proper time for planting.

9. Cultivate.

Frequent cultivation ia important tokeep soil loose and free from weeds.

10. Take care to prevent theft andvandalism.

In community work the Boy Scoutahave been found extremely useful in

protecting crops from persons who wouldtake or destroy vegetables.

11. Harvest.

12. Clean up for next year.

Important and should not be neglected.

13. Secure reports as to cost andyield of each garden.

Each gardener should keep a recordof his expenditures, the hours of workput in and the value of crops raised,figured at market prices.

For full instructions in Gardening

consult this Commission's Book "WarGardening," which may be had onapplication.

VICTORY GARDENING BY CORPORATIONS

THE post-war need for enlargedgarden production offers to thecorporations of America an op-

portunity, through the encouragementof gardening among their employes,not only to be of help to the nation,but also to benefit themselves. Theemploye who can be induced to be-come a gardener becomes straightwaya more worthwhile employe.

The contented v/orker is usually onewho enjoys a comfortable living; and


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gardening, by virtually adding to theemploye's income and providing himwith better food than he can buy inthe market, tends to make him con-tented. Money that would otherwisehave to be spent for food can be usedfor the purchase of small luxuries.Of no less value is the recreationalfeature of gardening. The toiler ina noisy mill, or the worker in a smokyforge or foundry can find no avoca-tion that will build him up physicallyand refresh his energies as gardeningwill. - Duty to both the nation and hisown corporation demands that everycorporation manager should do his

utmost to stimulate gardening amonghis employes.

The Pennsylvania Railroad, for ex-ample, began its garden campaign as

soon as America became a belligerent.Along its right of way lie great tractsof land suitable for vegetable pro-duction. These tracts were offeredto employes in small plots at a purelynominal rental. Among those whoembraced the opportunity thus offeredwere many men who had little or noknowledge of gardening. The rail-road took a census of its prospectivegardeners and secured several thou-sand of the the National War GardenCommission's manual on gardening,

placing one in the hands of each gar-dener. So successful was the workthat in 191 8 the movement was widelyextended and for 1919 it will be on astill greater scale.

Among those who will take an activepart in stirring up Victory Gardeningin 1919 are the agricultural agents ofthe United States Railroad Adminis-tration. J. L. Edwards, who is ingeneral charge of this branch of the

21

service, has called on the regionaldirectors and the supervisors of agri-culture of the differ-ent lines, to give this


35/40

work their carefulattention ; and as aresult, the agentsthe Commission oftheir desire and readiness to helpin the work. Typical of repliesreceived by the Commission is thatfrom B. F. Bush, regional direc-tor, Southwestern Region, who says,

Government

Railroad

Co-operation

have notified

UNITED WE GROW AND FEED THE WORLD

"I wish to state that the railroads inthe Southwestern Region will again doeverything they possibly can in per-mitting their right-of-way and otherstation grounds to be used for farmingand agricultural purposes ;" and fromN. D. Maher, regional director, Poca-hontas Region, who says : "We willhave our agricultural agents co-operatewith you in connection with spreadingthe message of Food F.O.B.the Kitch-en Door. There is no doubt that, with

all the poeple to be fed in Europe, theVictory Gardens are as important asthe War Gardens." The railroadsactively supported the War Garden

campaign ; they will assist equally theVictory Garden campaign.

The worker in the steel mill or ironfoundry will derive physical benefit

from outdoor work.Benefit Many such workers are^Q ignorant of the princi-

Workers pies of gardening. Such

a concern can withprofit engage the services of a skilledagricultural agent or gardener to de-liver a course of lectures to the men.


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A small library of gardening bookscan be provided and circulated amongthe prospective gardeners. Finallyland can be provided and prepared forthe actual gardening, for practicallyevery large industrial corporation hasgreat areas of land not in use.

The United States Steel Corpora-tion has offered prizes to those of itsmen making the best showing as gar-deners. These prizes were open tocompetition for employes in the var-ious mills. The manager of the millat Farrell, Pa., set aside a considerabletract of company land in order thathis men might enter this competition,and the manager of another subsidiarymill secured vacant land easily acces-sible. The men were also assisted byhaving the land plowed and preparedfor seeding.

The American Rolling Mill Com-

pany of Middletown, Ohio, promotesgardening among its employes throughits "mutual interest department," andhas provided the land for the gardensand held exhibits at which prizes wereawarded for the best products. Insimilar fashion it has encouraged thewives of workers to conserve the gar-den excess, by offering generous prizesfor the best canned products.

22

Probably no set of industrial work-ers will gain larger benefit from gar-dening than miners

Miners "^^" "^^^ spend most

0^ of their working

Gardeners hours below the sur-

face of the ground.The Inspiration Consolidated Cop-per Company of Inspiration, Ari-zona, turned its workers into gar-deners in the face of seemingly in-surmountable difficulties. Its landwas among the mountains at anelevation of 3,300 feet. The regionwas arid. Its employes were cosmo-politan. Few of them spoke English,


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while fewer still knew anything aboutgardening. Yet the company turned217 acres into gardens for them, firstdrilling five artesian wells to supplythe water necessary for the irrigation.Bulletins were printed in many lan-guages and conspicuously posted, toinform the workers of the rules gov-erning the gardening enterprise. Agarden expert from the Arizona Agri-cultural Station was engaged by thecompany to make regular visits to thegardens to instruct the men. Thedouble crop system was employed, sothat as soon as one crop had been har-vested another was started. Noth-ing was permitted to go to waste, andthe food which could not be used atonce was dried or canned or sold inthe market established by the companyfor the sale of excess products. Thecompany itself did the selling.

One of the well-known manufac-

turing corporations which havebacked the garden movement of em-ployes is the General Electric Com-pany at Schenectady, N. Y. Whenits employes were questioned as tothe gardening movement, 1,500 of

them expressed a desire to cultivategardens. The company provided asixty-acre tract of good river bottomland which it owned, and plowed and

prepared it for seeding, apportion-ing the land in small parcels. AtMeriden, Conn., the employes ofFoster, Merriam & Company eachhad plots 50 x 100 feet in size, onwhich they produced 1,000 bushelsof potatoes alone, not to mentionquantities of other products. In thiscase the company secured the seedsand fertilizers in quantity and allowedthe men to pay on easy terms.

Among other industrial concerns

which have aided the gardening move-ment are the Oliver Chilled PlowCompany, which has a large acreageof gardens near its plant at SouthBend, Ind. ; the Brown & Sharpe Com-pany, more than 500 of whose em-ployes are helping to feed themselveson the products of the communitygarden which the company leases andplows for them at Pleasant Valley,


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in Providence, R. I. ; the New De-parture Manufacturing Company, ofBristol, Conn. ; the M. B. SchenckCompany, of Meriden, Conn. ; theDelaware & Hudson Coal Companyand the N. E. Tillotson Manufactur-ing Company, the J. E. and C. H.Wilson Manufacturing Company, andEaton, Crane & Company, all of Pitts-field, Mass.

Many banks, business houses, andother concerns have joined in themovement to put the "slacker" landto work. A few banks have organ-ized bank gardens, which are to beoperated by the employes and fromevery section of the United Statesbanks are writing to the NationalWar Garden Commission for its

23

manual on gardening with the in-tention of distributing this manual to

their customers.Banks ^"^ obstacle to the

Fight complete success of the

Slacker "pl^"t ^ garden" move-Land ment has hitherto been

the fact that many work-ing men could not find the time to carefor gardens. But the daylight savinglaw removes this obstacle. By startingwork one hour earlier in the morning,the worker will now have an hour

more of leisure time in the afternoon ;and this hour can be put to no betteruse than the production of food.

In a number of cases the mana-gers or superintendents of corpora-tions have become fellow workerswith their employes in the companygardens. This contact with the menhas been of great advantage. Thesympathetic understanding so gainedhas helped in the solution of execu-tive problems later on.


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COMMUNITY CANNING AND DRYING

fipiHE Community plan of workI should also be applied to foodconservation for winter usethrough canning and drying. Ingeneral the scheme of organiza-tion followed in garden work maybe adapted to cannnig and dryingoperations by communities and neigh-borhoods. On a small scale two ormore families may work together inthe home of one of them, with equip-ment bought jointly. This reduces thecost to each household. On a largerscale a neighborhood may organizeand establish a canning or drying cen-ter with equipment bought by volun-tary contribution and with a committee

to manage details of its use. An en-tire community may work to excellentadvantage along this line, with oneor more centers established in schoolhouses, store rooms or other placeshaving facilities for heat and water.For community organization the workcan be best conducted through the\, Chamber of Commerce or other civic

organization, as in community gar-

dening.

THE SUMMER AND FALL SHOULD BRINGCANNING AND DRYING ACTIVI-TIES ON A LARGE SCALE

The National War Garden Com-mission issues bulletins explaining indetail the plans of organization. Oneof these bulletins deals with canning

operations and the other with drying.These may be had free upon request.

mS,^ ^ CONGRESS


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>*1

After J, N. Darling, in New York Tribuxw.

NATIONAL WAR GARDEN COMMISSION

A Patriotic Organization Affiliated with the Conservation Department

of the American Forestry Association

WASHINGTON, D. C.

Charles Lathrop Pack, President.

Percival S. Ridsdale, Secretary. Norman C. McLoud, Associate Secretary.

Luther Burbank, Calif. Dr. John Grier Hibben, N. J.

Dr. Charles W. Eliot, Mass. Emerson McMillin, N. Y.

Dr. Irving Fisher, Conn. Charles Lathrop Pack, N. J.

Fred H. Goff, Ohio. A. W. Shaw, 111.

John Hays Hammond, Mass. Mrs. John Dickinson Sherman, 111.

Fairfax Harrison, Va. Capt. J. B. White, Mo.

Hon. Myron T. Herrick, Ohio. Hon. James Wilson, Iowa.

P. P. Claxton, U. S. Commissioner of Education.

.7

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

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Documents

Victory Gardens Feed the Hungry