Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-04-20

question is an industrial one.
and a board of industrial experts is
at work on It. Tho nnanclal
osn Is Ssns ss BY the the
question can only be solved by the CO.
operation Of every American.
AS to the local side of the food ques-
ton. Assistant Secretary Of Agricui-
when he told farmers meeting IN the
south that they must take steps TO pro-
duce enough food for the use OF their
section at home If they were to AVOID
the pinch Of short transportation facili-
ties.
In recognition of this national food
problem. the Department of Agricul-
ture has launched it's two great cam
paigns to check waste and promote the
economical use Of food on the one hand.
and to increase the supply by means
Of the city-lot and backyard and subur-
ban garden campaign on the other.
Annual Food Waste.
The experts of the department. &C
cording to Secretary Houston. estimate
the annual American food waste at
500. 100000. This enormous waste re-
suits largely from bad preparation and
bad cooking and much Of it can be
avoided. Another point is the custom
that that has Of up ser IN many an
abundance Of food. There is among
some of us the feeling that to
put on the table just enough food.
and no more. is rather mean
economy: This notion. as the depart part,
ment points out, is entirely mistaken,
and shows rather bad taste as Wen.
Waste is never admirable. even In the
most prosperous times. and 100 Inucl
food cooked means that some coo IKE
food is thrown away. In time IKE
the present such ideas must be pan
ished at once. In Europe TO-DAY tne
people take pride In economy, not IN
iberality; even the women prlde tnems
selves on the simplicity and cheapness
of their clothes.
The department is urging the Ameri-
can people to avoid throwing 1000 lnIo
the garbage pail. to keep perlsnato ols
food clean, cool and covered. to stew
fruits and boil vegetables that threat
en- to spoil. to cook carefully. to avold
waste in preparation. ana 70 COOK
enough and no more. Some people pee
potatoes in such a way that 70 pei
cent Is wasted. In Germany law pro-
vides that all potatoes must be oolleo
to avoid waste in Deeling.
Avoid Food Prejudice.
Another thing for which the depart
ment calls on Americans Is a more cath.
Ollie taste in foods. We have toe
many groundless prejudices against
certain foods that are cheap and nour'
ishing. and against new foods in gen
eral. In the rice districts of British
India, in time of want the government
sometimes sends trainloads and ship
loads of fine northern wheat. But thu
ignorant peasantry are unfamiliar witt
wheat: and they have been known t
starve within arms length OF plenty
or to trade enough wheat for thre'
meals for a handful Of dirty rice
Americans are too Intelligent PEG
Pile to cling to food prejudices. BY al
increased use of rice. the wheat suppl.
may be conserved. The use OF corn
meal may be greatly increased. Fo
So you can buy a little hand mill ant
grind your own cornmeal to suit you
taste with a minimum of labor. Sucl
new articles as soy beans. sometime
called togo beans. will be put on tn
market in greater quantities. an
should be given their due place IN Tn
diet.
Such substitutions are PARTICULAR.
desirable because all indications poin
to a wheat shortage at the coming har
vest. The latest crop estimate Shove
a probable decrease of 100000 bush
els over last years crop. and of 243.
| 900, 900 bushels over the crop OF 1915
From the American representative a
| the International Institute OF Agricul
| ture in Rome comes the news that tn
| crop situation Is bad over all the Worio
| The only way to make up for a whea
shortage with a minimum of hardship
| is to be ready to eat substitutes. an
| in this case, used intelligently, substi
tutes are really lust as good"
Increase Acreage.
Besides its campaign for food thrift
and for the small garden, the depart