Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1917-05-10

Will SuiIluliL l"t NitSltIll anu
inefficient methods now in vogue.
1t Is unlikely that the United States will ever
be In the position of the bclligerent countries in
Europe, especially Germany, where land is scarce
as compared with the farm acreage on this con-
tlnent. The problem Of feeding the more than
1NO,OO0,0OO Of Inhabitants of the United States
AS well as supplying Great Britain and France
can be solved by means of the enormous agricul-
tural resources at the disposal of the American
nation. Prudence. foresight and efficiency are
needed.
National policy DEGREES that there should be a
big increase in our acreage. and this being so.
the nation rs n whole and not the farmer rs Il
class should and must assume the major part OF
the risk involved. Each section of the country
must become as nearly as practicable agricultural
- independent. This is II good policy in time of
peace and Is n vitally important policy now that
We have entered the war, with every prospect
that our transportation systems Will eventually
be chiefly occupied with the transportation of
soldiers and military supplies.
From Washington comes the call Of the nation
~ emergency food garden commission, which
would see a million food gardens planted through
cut the United States. This plan is similar TO
that which was followed in Germany when the
lawns Of private houses, the parks and the
grounds about hospitals alike were subjected to
t'p spade md hoe. The Germans are given to
lNt tTISiN '"N'h't"fN"| - N''s 49, '''
az for thar matter are other European ha'ions'
The call to the garden. however, will undoubtedly
haze some effect in providing food for those VINO
are thrifty aud patient enough to look after their
own gardens.
Benianin +. Albaugh, known nationally as an
enthusiast in the subject Of city lots gardening,
and author of several books on the subject. says
that the "garlenette." or back yard farm, Is one
Of The surest means Of combating the rapid rise
en- .ta prica nf fopUStufTS In his book, "Inp tar
denette," Mr.. Albaugh has pointed out the posi-
bilitcs of unoccupied building lots, and he is now
tahing an active pnrt in the general campaign
which has been inaugurated to educate the city
dweller up to the potential worth of a few square
rods of ground.
II one has an unoccupied area In the rear Oh
bis home, even if 1t is only % by 90 feet IN SIZE
then he has the means of cutting down the cos'
Of summer foodstufrs almost two-thirds. says Mr.
Albaugh. The soil need not be particularly 1ertil'
to yield satisfactory returns in garden crops y
treated right. And the soaring equations on al
varieties Of vegetable foo1stuGs make the etor
we'll worth while.
The backlot garden has been tried successlui'
in the East ana In many other sections OF lh
country. At first the backyard gardening IN ID
larger ccnters Of population was nhder''ke" p"
people OF foreign birth. who from Il desire U
effect practIcnl economies, or from m inherite'
Iit1ll " INV " ~
ing up the small areas Of unoccuplen ero""
around their homes.
Two or three months later these thrifty inter
sivc agricultnrists were selling huhu'eos y
lunches of celery, radlshes or lettuce apout !"
northumberland receiving the full marker pHc
for their wares. .
Housrwlyes augmented the family income VII
n strip of garden land Is or 20 feet In wldlh an
30 or 50 feet In length. The amount OF 'ss
tables that can be grown on such Il iot. when -"
telli-ently cultivated and carefully tended. is Il
tOnisllng. .u
There is a threcfOid incentive to city lot ga
deninr. The first Is u handsome saving II ]"
Vegetables ure consumed by the family. or Il nv
profit IL they are sold In the ne,ghDorhoo". -
second is the Incompatible superiority III efls
ness and flavor Of gnrden,grown produce ~
variety purchased after several days OF trahspo
,nt,on md exhibition In stock Is often toug
~leathery and flavorless.
Mr.. Albnugh is authority for the statement tn
three square rods or Il space OF grounu' shs
by az feet, can be made to produce a large pa
Of ~, the vegetables needed to supply the tat
~ . family Of five or six persons, throusho
tho seasOn. He, himself, has repeatedly prohuc
on such n plot, but containing four square ro'
the following: ,.-,S i,
rb,rtv dozen green onions, one bushe' q
onions. ten messes green peas, ID dozen peets'
dozen ~radishes. 200 heads fine celery 20 cno'
egg mint fruits, % extra me sq"asi'ts' ~ -
iottucc 20 messes endive, ten 'Desses koh'fh
eight dozen sugar corn. ten messes green beo'
q ~ hcnds finest ca%uiilowcr. % heads cnbbaae'
,nesses. spinach, ten messes chnrd. 20 messes
nornun.. ten messes ~salsify. ten dozen carrots
dozen parsnips, 30 Anc muskn'elons' 200 p'ck''
tucumhers, ten sIIcing cucumbers. five bushels
,natocs, two bushels early potatoes. eight gun
I'm, hcans. three bushels turrips, tnree ~"
okr,. md three dozen sweet nhangocs.
A. = law cst,mute these crops were worth "
oycr S5O. often they would cost much more
buy. Yet the plot was cultivated In MI. A'b"us