The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-04-02

4 To go back to agriculture in the
mainland OF France, this year sees the
elimination Of a movement begun be.
fore the war. 1t is so far a sort OF
volunteer service in matters for which
civil government has been proposed. 1t
began as amateur cultivation of waste
ground in the near cities for vegetable
gardens-and 1t is becoming a serious
help rendered by patriotic volunteers
in the cultivation ana harvesting Of
crops. -. Hs r.
First, a priest induced the children
| OF workmen, and then whole families.
in the great manufacturing city Of
| Saint Etienne to use some of their
| hours out of school and workshop in
| raising vegetables In hundred little
plots of ground lying waste near the
| town. Then workmen and miners at
the other end OF France, in the north
east took up the plan, to the great
benefit of stomachs and sobriety. 1t
was propagated by the popular Able
Lemire, the only priest who is a mem
Der of the French parliament. Then
it spread to the high schools and COL
leges which were favorably situated,
and finally to high schools of girls.
Such students from neighboring Ly-a
Gees help last year in gathering straw
berries in the fields of Sceaux, which
supply the Paris markets, and college
boys worked during vacation at the
harvest in the vast wheat fields of the
Beauce. This year the work has been
made systematic effort of families
women and children-and schools Of
boys and. girls.
Thousands of Vegetable Gardens,
In and about Paris alone, chiefly by
the Notifications which .encircle the
city, ground Tor tens of thousands Of
vegetables gardens has been found.
Green vegetables are mostly cultivat-
ed, naturally, for their variety is
sought in the cookery OF the humblest
not be neglected. When 1t is remem-
bered that this Is going on through
all France, its influence on the coming
food supply will certainly be consider.
able. One woman lawyer is trying.
with every prospect Of success, to en-
list thousand women for the grain
harvest. CouegeNand high school boys
are engaging themselves in great
number, going to live in squads with
the farmers. Perhaps the chief effect
of such q movement will not be the
immediate help given to the agricul-
tural production Of the country. It ia
the calling back Of a whole young
generation to the land and to a thor
ough mingling of farming and city
youth. AS agriculture rises or fails
with the honor shown it, this MAJ
have far reaching results long after
the present need is past. For one
thing, 1t is sure to be extended to the
invaded and devastated parts of
France as soon as they are freed from
occupation by armies. They produced
one-hfth OF the wheat crop of France
before the war. 1t will be seen what
an impulse their recovery will give
to the Independence. of France In sus-
tanning herself with her own products.
It Is too early to foresee the crops of
the present year. Farmers In many
parts OF France begin their springs
work IN February, but a winter such
as this has not been felt for twenty
two years and 1t makes everything be-
lated. It is said there will soon be
made an experiment of mixing Indian
corn -four with the entire wheat -four.
which alone Is now allowed for bread
making. The wheat flour is not pre-
cisely what we associate with brown
bread. 1t contains up to IS per cent
OF the wheat, but excludes all bran.
Whether 1t can be successfully mixed
with Indian corn -four and whether the
French people will learn to eat such
2 mixture cannot be, known until 1t
is tried.
A similar attempt is to be made with
rice and barley. II Indian corn takes
the taste, that will be SO much gained
for American production. The male
which Is eaten as "polenta" or hastv
pudding in the south Of France Il not
raised In sufficient quantities. and
Italy is obliged to ask supplies from
America in addition to what she
grows. At the time Of the Paris Elk
position OF 1900 q determined effort
was made, under the auspices Of our
government and for some years to-
gether to introduce the use OF maize
products into the food OF various
european peoples. 1t failed, but needs
bred by war may induce the people at
last to acquire the taste OF SO Amerl-
can q product. IT was only q little
while before the revolution that the
French learned 70 eat potatoes.