The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-04-01
SUNDAY MORNING, APRIL I, 1917.
BREAD AND BATTLESHIPS.

The unhcard of prices that are being paid and will
be paid during the coming year for potatoes sugar
beets. wheat, beans, onions cabbage milk and but
ter should result in the planting to crop of every
acre Of arabic land this spring
We should plant to garden every back yard in
Mssoula, within the next 80 days. The man who
has possible garden plot in his back yard and who
fails to take full advantage of the present food sit
uaton will live to his missed opportunity before
the end Of the 1e- months period
This nation Is entering upon the world wide
and no man knows the full extent of our immediate
needs and food necessities. Battlcshps armored
cruisers and marching battalions will play their
part but the war has reached the stage where
bread and not battleships will be the final arbiter
of victory.
1t may literally be question of beating swords
into plowshares before .the end shall have been
reached Italy is now offering bonus of four dol
lars per for every acre seeded to wheat this
spring. The British government has by official de-
cree fixed standing offer for all grains that may
be raised during the coming three years at prices
unhcard of in the past 40 years Germany is strain
ing every nerve to plant every square yard of soil
that viii produce food for her armies in the field
and for the people at home.
Director General Lee, in charge of food supplies
for the British Isles, says I'VE hope to make 1000
tractor plows fill the caused by the shortage of
labor. We do not believe that we produce suf-
ficient 20 feed the population in time peace but
we are confident that will be able to grow enough
to stave off starvation during the We must
begin blowing by night well as in the daytime"
With the struggle for bread in Europe already as
suming famine like proportions with the surplus
food supply in the United States lower than it has
been during this generation it behooves every FAM
lily in Montana 10 get busy with plow and hoe and
seed drills.
The average Missoula family can raise this year
if it villa large percentage of next winters food
supply. Every back yard and every vacants lot
should be planted
If the vacant lots within the municipal limits Of
Missoula planted to potatoes. beans and cab
bage, raise food enough for one half
needs this year.
The situation is apparent that suggestion
should be necessary. The who expects to eat
next year afford to neglect plant
than he afford TO go unarmed when threatened
with direct attack
But in order to further stimulate the increasing
interest in planting gardens. the Missoula Chamber
Of Commerce offers $3.50 in cash prizes for the
best gardens grown in Mssoua county this year.
Of this amount $500 is offered the best garden
crs upon Missoua city back yards and vacant lots
and $500 in cash prizes will be paid the best gar
dens grown in the the rural districts the county.
No lot will be too small to compete for the city
prizes and person living without the city limits
need hesitate account of either the large small
size of the garden plot entered in the competition
The Missoua Chamber Of Commerce offers to give
$500 in cash. for the best gardens grown by the pco
pie living around Bonner, Lolo, Potomac. Arlcc, St
Ignatus Frenchtown, Roman, Post Creek. Round
Butte Moiese, if the people living in those COM
munities will raise similar sum for cash prizes in
their own individual community.
We expect to see Mssoua county grow the great
est tonnage edibes for next winters CONSUMPTION
OF any county in the northwest Next winter when
other less favored communities complaining
about the high cost of living, will be congratu-
lating ourselves having taken old time by the
forclock
George E. Roberts of the National City Bank of
New York recently said:
IF q man occupies 100 Of rich ILL
nois land and gets only ne-half the crops
from It that it would yield under capa-
bic farmer 1t is a matter of national con-
cern II his incompetency helps make food
dear. he lowers the standard of living, he
affects the national health, he forces chill