Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-05-03
FOR FOOD CONSERVATION.
Champlain Valley Grange Stands for
Eumfnati0n Of Waste In the state
and Nation.

4
and Nation.
The program of the meeting Of the
Champlatn Valley Grange Saturday eve
ming was full OF patriotism. The musical
program included songs appropriate to the
occasion. The talk by Clarence ]. Fergu-
son on Agricultural Patriotism. Sane
ane Saneless Planting and the
principles that should govern. led up to
the Grange taking formal action to in
augurate State and national protest and
appeal that the Congress shall at once
stop the tremendous waste Of our food
products in the manufacture OF drink.
The speaker said in part that city folks
should be carefully and wisely led in
planting that there may be no waste Of
seed and money. and country folks. .uoeo
versed In the arts Of agriculture, need to
use care and conservatism in their plant
ing plans. There should be extraordi-
nary planting but it must fit in and mar
monte with we'll established Vermont
dairy farming.
Our planting should be along the line of
ourbecoming self-sustaining first and then
me"-self-sustaining in that we raise. IL
possible. all foodstuffs for our own fam
ilies our own stock, our own State and
then something to send away to those
fighting our battles. Our planting. at
least on small scale. should supply our
domestic -four. An acre or two of wheat
will make the farmer independent of the
worlds greatest granaries. Don't can on
the West to raise wheat for flour for
Vermont nor on the railroads to transport
-four to US. grain for our stock.
They will have quiet enough to do to sup
ply the cities and for transport. Not a
fruit can in our houses should 60 into
next winter empty. They may not all
have the costliest fruits and vegetables
In them. but they should contain food
that will sustain life at home and keep
US out OF the country's markets as buy
ers. We will surely be In a position to
make a substa ntial contribution to others
Of apples, potatoes. beans and much hay.
OF these with favorable conditions we can
spare no uncomfortable amounts and we
should zee that We do not
In high anticipation of doing our best
not alone on our farms and In our gardens
and by careful economy In our homes, but
also In maintaining Vermonts traditions
in sending to the front at the country's
call the pick Of Green Mountain boys,
whose skin and courage never has, nor
Will. sec any superior. we have the moral
right to demand Of the nations leaders
tnat tNey permit no Wdcte VI tho Hot'Sh
food supply We have the right to pro-
test that enough wheat to supply all
America with plenty Of -four shall not be
consigned to the manufacture Of a conced-
ed harmful product to intoxicate our peo-
pie Such tremendous waste for paltry
revenue Is a terrible comment on ma
TONS intelligence.
The nation will now lay her strong hand
on our best boys and take them to face
the country's mercless enemies. and we
will have no legal or moral right to pro-
test. And shall we know that they face
starvation in the trenches and on ships
as we'll as the miscalls of death from the
enemy? God forbid.
Nor should our government, State or
nation. permit outrageous prices for
foodstuffs or seeds. II CONSUMPTION OF
our boys IL Just and right. conhscation Of
boarded food and seed supply 10 JUSTIFIED.
In this. too. the golden rule" is most
earnestly commended to the attention OF
our farmers. No farmer with an extra
supply should allow himself to demand
price therefor which will make It hard
for others to procure a needed supply.