Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-08-03

VNTASHINGTCN, D. c., July 29.-We live in q
wv period oe emergencies. The time from now
until further notice has been designated by
congress and the president great emergency
and within this emergency minor emergencies are
continually arising. The most pressing of these
is pointed out by the department of agriculture
We in the midst of it right 1t is the
perishable foodstuf situation, and it must be NIT
at once.
In twenty-four states, perishable food products
have been produced in such quantities that enor-
nous amounts of them will be lost if quick action
is not taken. The secretary of agriculture has
created a division i'll his Office to take imme-
special assistant to the secretary, Mr. w. l.. Stod-
dard has been appointed TO direct an intensive
campaign for a period of three weeks with the
sole object of arousing the country before it is
ables, and the time for preserving them is short
at best and getting shorter.
The campaign was decided upon as the result OF
a preliminary conference held some time ago. Tho
country's response to the home garden campaign
had been very ready and enthusiastic. Farmers
and truck farmers had greatly increased their
acreage. The next question was the disposition
of the coming harvest. kilograms sent to
the in charge of the agricultural extension
work all the United States, asking various
questions the answers to which would summarize
the situation. The replies tC these kilograms
showed very clearly that an emergency was at
hand.
The reply from Vermont, for example, typ
est and most thickly settled states. In reply to
questions to how much acreage had been planted
in perishable crops, what was being done to take
care of the harvest, ano what was needed in addl-
tion the director of extension work replied that
the acreage had been greatly increased over that
of 1916, that everything possible was being done
to provide for the anticipated harvest that funds
being stretched to the limit in carrying on
the educational extension campaign-and finally,
that probably not than half the crop would
be taken care Of unless additional assistance were
provided at once.
This condition, unfortunately not at all excep-
tional is the direct result of the big drive to
courage home gardening and increased acreage OF
all kinds. 1t unavoidable, and should not be
discouraging. The United States was confronted
with the war emergency very suddenly, and the
brought with it the duty of feeding half Eu-
rope. One of the quickest ways to prepare for the
task to plant millions of gardens in front and
back yards and in vacant lots. Aided by numer-
other agencies, official and unofficial the de-
partment put through the home garden campaign
with a rush. Now it has the task of making sure
that of the products of this earlier campaign
go to waste.
Through it's Iong-esta blished office of informa-
ton and through the three thousand agents and
demonstrators of the states relations service
great deal has already been done. Secretary
Houston's creation of a and additional agency
to devote itself to this particular problem fndl-
Gates that he regards the situation as serious.
While realizing fully that it shares the credit for
the enormous increase in garden acreage with
numerous other agencies-to say nothing of the
people who planted the gardens and have been
hoeing them ever since-the department feels in
way responsible for all of them, and will spare no
effort to see that every pound of surplus crop is
saved. t-,
The campaign to this end, in full swtng'
is primarily campaign of publicity. There is only
one agency earth that can save the present crop
of perisha bles, and that agency is the American
people. There is time to organize a nation
wide machinery for canning, drying, preserving,
and picking. The of America must can,
dry, preserve and pickle, and they must do it now
if the crop is to be saved. Every effort is being
made to bring the situation home to them without
delay.