The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-04-18

National City Bank, New York,
Review: After all is done that can
be done in the way Of stimulating
farm production, it is perhaps true
that the best chance for immediate
results is in the extension of garden
cultivation, because the time to work
small garden plots can be found out
side of regular avocations. The sup
ply of common vegetables can be very
largely increased by the gardens, but
the extension of gardens also re-
quires organized effort. Ground must
be provided and placed at the dis
posal of those willing to use 1t. In
struction may be needed in the appll-
caIion of fertilizers and in cultlVa-
ton, and aid in securing seeds In
every village of this country this
matter should be taken in charge by
some organization. A garden CLUB,
in which all the local civic organiza-
lions are represented, is good
medium of operations. In some local
tiles the won ems clubs are taking
up the work, in others the CONNER
cial clubs are leading off. In Rich
mond. Virginia, the school board mas
undertaken to supply vacant lots for
cultivation by the school children,
and this is an excellent idea for gen.
eral adoption. There Is nothing
which it is more desirable to have
taught to the children than the mys-
teries of plant life and the processes
by which food is produced. If this
emergency is intelligently seized
upon to create wide interest In
agriculture and in garden cultivation
most valuable results will follow.
The people who have grounds and
help to work them should make 1t
a point to grow their ewn food, thus
diminishing the demands upon the
market. Public institutions which
have ground that can be utilized
should do the same.
A most encouraging development
is the movement by large employers
tc provide garden plots for their
EN- ployes The Carnegie Steel COM
pany has rented 200 acres of land
near it's Youngstown works which it
will subdivide and offer to employees
for their cultivation. The company
will plow the land and supply fer
tilizer. Numerous similar announce
ments are made, indicating that tn
movement may become widespread,
and it is highly desirable that this
shall be the case. The employer is
interested because the whole indus
trial situation may be disorganized
by high prices for food, and the
wage-earners are interested because
unless sufficient food supplies are
grown no possible wage-adyances
can provide enough for all.
The main facts of the situation are
such as must appeal to every one.
The whole world is bare Of food
supplies, and dependent upon the
crop of 1917. The fields of Europe
are poorly tended and scantily fer.
tilted, with the result that short
crop is already foreshadowed. Our
own winter wheat crop is unpromis-
ing. We are on the verge of war,
which will make necessary a call of
men, many of whom will come from
the farms, and the withdrawal of
others from shops will create vacan-
cies which to some extent will be
filled from the farms. The first
essential requirement in time of war
or time of peace is that the people
shall have food, and with world con-
ditions what they are now this coun-
try cannot affordeto allow the food
Supply for the coming year to be de-