The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1917-05-11
zy RnbErtH.Muu|tun

EaXDl8Ma@1l system of distribution which
- will supplant the wasteful and
inefficient methods in vogue.
1t Is unlikely that the United States will ever
be in the position of the belllgerent countries in
Europe, especially Germany where land Is scarce
compared with the farm acreage on this con-
tinent. The problem of feeding the more than
loo0oooOo Of inhabitants of the United States
well supplying Great Britain and France
be solved by means of the enormous agrcul-
tural resources at the disposal of the American
nation. Prudence, foresight and efficiency are
needed
National policy DEGREES that there should be
big Increase in acreage, and this being so.
the nation a whole and not the farmer
class should and must assume the major part Of
the risk involved Each section of the country
must become ms nearly practicable agricultural
y independent. This is n good policy In time Of
peace and is vitality important policy now that
we have entered the war, with every prospect
that our transportation systems will eventually
be chiefly occupied with the transportation Of
soldiers and military supplies.
From Washington comes the call of the nation
al emergency food garden commission, which
would million food gardens planted through
put the United States This plan Is similar to
that which followed in Germany when the
lawns of private houses, the parks and the
grounds about hospitals alike were subjected to
the spade and hoe. The Germans are given to
the intensive development of every inch of soil
as for that matter are other European nations.
The call to the garden, however, will undoubtedly
have some effect In providing food for those who
thrifty and patient enough to look after their
gardens.
Benjamin +. Abaugh known nationally
enthusiast In the subject of city lots gardening,
and author of several books the subject, says
that the "gardenette,' back yard farm, is
of the surest means Of combating the rapid rise
In the price of foodstuffs. In his book, THE Gar
denette," Mr.. Albaugh has pointed out the posi-
bilites of unoccupied building lots and he is now
taking an active part in the general campaign
which has been inaugurated to educate the city
dweer up to the potential worth of few square
rods Of ground
If has an unoccupled area in the Of
his home, If 1t is only 25 by 80 feet in size,
then he has the means of cutting down the cost
of summer foodstuffs almost two-thirds, says Mr..
Alhaugh. The soil need not be particularly fertile
to yield satisfactory returns In garden crops, If
treated right And the soaring equations on all
varieties of vegetable foodstuffs make the effort
well worth while.
The backlot garden has been tried successfully
In the East and in many other sections of the
country. At first the backyard gardening in the
larger centers of population was undertaken by
people of foreign BIRTH who from desire to
effect practical economies, or from an inherited
penchant for the work, began industriously spad-
ing up the small areas of unoccupied ground
around their homes.
= Two three months later these thrifty inten-
sve agricultursts selling hundreds of
lunches of celery, radishes lettuce about the
neighborhood, and receiving the full market price
for their
Housewives augmented the family income with
q strip of garden land Is or 20 feet In width and
20 or so feet in length. The amount of vege-
tables that can be grown on such lot, when IN
telligently cultivated and carefully tended is as
tonishng.
There is n threefold incentive to city lot gar
denpg The first Is handsome saving If the
vegetables are consumed by the family, or a neat
profit II they sold in the netghborhood. The
second Is the Incompatible superiority In crisp
ness and flavor of garden-grown produce. The
variety purchased after several days of transpOr-
tation and exhibition In stock is often tough,
leathery and iavorless
Mr.. Albaugh Is authority for the statement that
three square rods space of ground, say IL
by As feet, can be made to produce a large part
Of all the vegetables needed to supply the table
of a family of five six persons, throughout
the season. He, himself, has repeatedly produced
on such a plot, but containing four square rods,
the following:
Thirty dozen green onions, one bushel dry
onions ten messes green peas, 10 dozen beets, ~
dozen radis She's 200 heads fine celery, 20 choice
egg plant fruits % extra fine squashes, 90 messes
lst.uce 20 messes endive ten messes kohlrabi,
eight dozen sugar corn, ten messes green beans,
rs heads finest caulifower, % heads cabbage, ~
uesses spinach ten messes chard 20 messes as
paragus ten messes satisfy. ten dozen carrots. ten
dozen parsnips 30 fine muskmelons, 200 picking
cucumbers ten slicine cucumhers.s fva bushels to-
matoes two bushels early potatoes, eight quarts
lima beans three bushels turnips, three quarts
okra and three dozen sweet mangoes.
At a low estimate these crops were worth well
over $50 Often they would cost much more to
tuy Yet the plot cultivated In Mr.. Albaughs