The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-09-24

Washington, Sept. 24.-The home
vegetable gardener, who has planned
his planting we'll, is now about to reap
the most important fruits of his labor
"A crop of late vegetables to store for
winter use. Even for the householder
who has no garden, the storage of
vegeta bles is a measure of great econ
omy at this time of the year when they
are cheap.
Beets, late cabbage, carrots, celery.
onions, parsnips, potatoes, sweet pota-
toes, satisfy and turnips will all keep
thru the winter if properly stored, as
will beans and peas when they have
been dried.
A garden of half an acre will sup
ply the average family with most of
it's winter vegetables, in addition to
all that can be eaten fresh during the
summer. And most of these vegetables
may now be obtained in the markets
or from farmers or market gardeners
at a very moderate price. This is the
season of abundance-the traditional
time for the laying by of winter food.
The wild creatures are busy at 1t, from
ants and bees to squirrels and wood
chucks. So are those forward-looking
the country. They are drying beans
and peas, killing hogs and making
hams, putting up preserves and
pickles. laying by apples and potatoes
beets and turnips in cellar and attic.
Food trusts and food dictators have
many the farmer class has remained
well-fed because of it's provident
habits.
Fewer Opportunities in City.
OF course the city dweller has no
such opportunities as the farmer and
suburbanite for putting away foods.
But the striking fact is that he neg
lects what opportunities he has. The
average American urban home con-
tains no storage room but small pam
try and an ice box, while in many
cottage and apartment homes even
the pantry is omitted. The amount
of food kept on hand is usually very
small, and that small amount is in
many cases staples, which may be
bought as well at one time as another.
The typical urban American, in the
words of DIR. Corbett, of the depart
ment of agriculture, Lives in a paper
bag" Each day he buys in market
what he that day eats. At present he
has plenty of fresh vegetables because
he can get them cheap. In January,
however, he will stint his diet of veg
etables, to the detriment of his health
and will pay a fearful price for what
gets. He places himself absolutely
at the mercy of the retailer, and then
wonders why the cost of living is high.
At this time of the year you can
buy enough vegetables for meal for
ten or fifteen cents. You can also
buy enough vegetables for your
Christmas dinner now for fifteen cents
and keep them until December. But
consider what vegetables will cost
you at that time! You will either buy
canned goods. paying an enormous
price for metal, and for the storage
and shipment of water, or else you
will buy vegetables raised under glass
in the far south and shipped hundreds
of miles. In either case enough vege-
tables to give your family the vita
mines and other food elements that
they must get from this source will
cost you three or four times what the
same materials are selling for now.
For this reason the storage of vege-
ables for winter use is very real
economy, and it is also a very worth
while health measure. Furthermore,
it is in no sense unpatriotic or to be
confused with boarding. On the con-
trary, it is a means of adding to the
nations total food supply.
Business as Usual"
The outbnEst of preachments of
economy which followed the entrance
of the United States into the war was
followed by a reaction. Merchants
found that business was falling off.
People were not buying the Injuries
they should So a counter campaign
was started for business as usual"
These conflicting lines of advice from
high authorities have left that buff
feted and struggling individual, the
average citizen, in a state of com
plete bewilderment. This has been
further increased by ridiculous and
wholly unfounded rumor that the gov
eminent would seize stocks of food in
private houses. Having been advised
to can food and store food by his
s,fer
now hears that it is. all to be taken
away from him.
OF course, the government has no
idea of Selling food stocks in private
homes, nor is there the remotest pos
sibility that the necessities of our case
will ever call for such a measure.
Furthermore, the preservation and
storage of foods are very desirable,
both from the individual and the ma
tional standpoint. They add a def
mite amount to the nations food SUD-
ply, because at this time of the year
great quantities of vegetables and
fruits are thrown out at all the mar
kets, left to rot in the fields and or
chards. Every pound stored or pre-
served is a pound saved.
This is especially true of vegeta bles
which will keep thru the winter, for
no labor of canning or preserving is
needed for them-merely the fore
| keeping them.
Furthermore, it is vegetables and not
staples which should be stored The
| buying and storing of flour and sugar
is mistake, for by reducing the re-
tail stocks, it automatically forces UP
prices. The present high price of food
staples is in no small measure due to
such boarding.
Don't Need Much
Almost anyone who lives in a house
may store vegetables successfully for
winter use. for he will possess either
a cellar, an attic or a backyard. He
cannot do this, however. unless he
knows how Sweet potatoes that will
keep until March in a place that is
| cool, dry and properly ventilated, will
| begin to rot in less than a week if kept
! in the kitchen. A storeroom that
would be entirely adequate in the