The Oskaloosa herald., 1917-07-19


been immediate and enthusiastic.
Hundreds OF thousands of people have
been stirred to. action through the
various activities of the campaign
including canning demonstrations,
literature sent out, work of the coun-
ty agents. newspaper information,
boys and girls, club work, farm labor
bureaus and the volunteer food pro-
ducers' league.
More than million copies Of food
emergency leaflets nave been distrib-
uted by the department since April
j. These leafiet dealing with differ
ent phases of crop production and
household thrift, have solicited keen
praise from authorities at Washing
ton, ID. c. The editor of the indie
pendent magazine writes Mr.. Bliss
that he has recommended them to his
readers as the best bunch of up-to-
the,minutes emergency food bulletins
put out by any Institution in the
present food crisis" More than
100000 home gardening bulletins
ment blanks for enrolment in the
ranks of volunteer food producers.
Newspapers have been furnished
full information on gardening and
other food production lines. The
college clipping sheet has disseminate
ed similar news to all country news
papers. Farmers have been furn-
ished lists of men with forage crops
and winter wheat seed available, a
most important move in the present
requested 1t have been furnished the
free services of students tractor ex-
perts. These are few of the things
the department has done toward food
production alone.
In the ranks of the volunteer food
producers, an organization formed in
the state by the extension depart
ment, 10000 enlistments have been
received from people who have volun-
teered to carry on one or more
phases of food production work.
Most of these are new recruits who
haye never done such work before.
Of the $4,000 enlistments, 10000 have
volunteered for garden work; $500
are doing farm work; $500 home
thrift and health preservation work;
1900 for poultry production; 1000
for pork production; 1900 for can
ming and the remainder for selecting,
testing and storing of seed and com
batting of insect and other/destruct-
i've pests.
Twenty thousand members have
enlisted in the boys and girls club
work, an increase of 10000 over last
year. The garden. enrolment alone
is 10000 The other divisions of the
work INCLUDE corn. poultry, pig and
beef production, garment making,
canning. food preparation and handi-
craft work ~ @e '2s -
The organization of farm labor bu-
reaps has played large part in the
campaign. The latest count of the
department shows that more than
1900 men have been placed for farm
labor through 152 of the 34t bureaus
in the state. Reports from the re,
mainder. would undoubtedly show
that more than 5000 men have been
placed for farm labor through this
channel. But 80 bureaus have re.
ported that additional help is needed.
Other bureaus will be largely able to
supply this from their available men.
Besides these men, placed through
the bureaus, reports from 1862 high
schools, or about half in the state,
show that 11,156 boys and girls from
these schools are either helping on
Iowa farms or stand ready to answer
the call to farm work Statistics
from all high, schools would undoubt-
eddy show that this number will reach
from 10000 to 10000. The same
schools report that $4,000 of their
students are caring for gardens.
Most of the students do not live on
farms but have gone to help there as
a duty.
One thousand farmers compared to
666 last year, are enrolled in the
Iowa agricultural experiment asso-
citation. This means that 1000 farm
ers are this year trying out new
strains. of various crops that will ul-
timately determine the best types to
grow in Iowa and THUS add to pro-
duction.
Finally, one of the most significant
activities in the whole campaign is
the canning demonstrations that have
been held in every part of Iowa by
the. department. By August 1000 of
these demonstrations will have been
held and every community in Iowa
reached. Through the campaigns
more than 100000 will be taught the
newest methods of food preservation.
At the close of practically every dem
onstration so far held canning club
has been formed with memberships
ranging from so to 400. About 40
600 women have Joined these clubs
to date.
Conservatiyely it is estimated that
Iowa housewives will can 4O,000,O 900
quarts of foodstuffs for winter use
this year. This will be worth at
least $10,000,0OO Sixteen million
~,