Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-04-23
arming in the City
Opinion Unanimous That Food
Supply Must Grow.

| WASHINGTON. April c2.-Charles
Laihrop Pack. president of the Ma
tional Emergency Food Garden Com
| mission. and the American Forestry
| Association. urges the adoption by
every State in the Union of the policy
and tho plans Of the Pennsylvania,
State Forestry department. In Penn
s!i'ania, the state officials have de-
| cided TO make available immediately
every inch OF untitled land in their
| state forestry reserves. SO that tho food
problem may in a measure be solved SO
! far as that particular state is con-
ccrncd.
President Pack. who wishes to see
created in tho cities, Villages and
towns in the country. Il million vcge-
table gardens. feels that the situation
is such that only quick action by tn.
people Will forcstall a food crisis. lie
knows through investigation and
through the thousands OF reports
reaching the commission daily that the
! food problem OF the nation is the one
vital factor which is causing the gov
ornamental heads more worry than al
most any other issue. And it is be-
cause Of this crisis that he is urging
the immediate tillinc OF all unused
land in one stupcndous effort to aug
!nent the natural food Yield
! President Pack calls attention TO the
plen OF President Wilson. who. TO the
American people said:
Every ono who creates or cul,ivates
garden helps. and helps greatly 10
solve tho feeding OF the nations: and
every housewife who practices
strict economy, puts herself in the
ranks OF those who serve the' nation"
Gould more dire warning TO a
people he sounhed?" asks Mr.. Pack.
The cold fact remains. the president
OF the commission saws. that the food is
the vitalizinS force that keeps alive the
human body. and that this supply of
necessary food IS dwindlins.
Here is what the Pennsylvania De-
partment Of Forestry says: Acting on
! the suggestion made by Governor
Brumbaugh. Robert &. Conklin. com :
missioner OF forestry. has issued di-
| rections which literally throw open
| for free cultivation every available
J inch OF tho million acres of State for
est under the control of the Depart
ment Of Forestry. Any citizen OF the
state who can find plot of ground in
Il state forest suitable for gardening
or farming may have the use OF il
without charge until the present crisis
passes. There are no strings to this
offer. and there Will bc no red tape TO
| unwind.
The National City Bank. of New
York. perhaps the greatest financial
| institution 'of its kind in the world.
has interested itself in the home gar
den campaign. started by President
Pack. and in It's monthly bulletins
directs attention TO the Importance of
| the movement"
Here are other expressions on the
| Importance of planting food gardens:
"in these strenuous times. why
| should all corporations not place all
| the untitled unused land under
| their control at the disposal Of in
dividuals that the food production Of
tho country might he augmented ?
| This corporation has practiccd what
| il Is preaching with splendid results.
Now is the time TO come to the aid
OF the nation."-E. |. du Pont de Ne
mours & CO.
The planting OF home food gardens
teaches valuable lesson OF thrift and
Of value of the soil"--Newton d. Bak-
CT. Secretary OF War.
Unless the United States wishes to
walk deliberately into catastrophe,
the best brains OF the country under
| government supervision must immedi :
ately devise means of increasing and
| conserving our food SUPPLY. Ogden
Armour