Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-12-30
In Home and Garden They
Are Busy Knitting and
Their Larders Contain
Food to Spare.
Conservation and Proven
ton Of Waste, Together
With Red Cross Work,
Stand to High Credit of
States Female Population
By MRS. J. G. GREEN.

Woman'1 war work In Idaho began
when the first call from the govern
ment came hurrying westward and the
Red Cross responded promptly.
Then came a moro urgent cry for
both REQ Cross work and the conser-
walton of food; and again the response
was quick and hearty. A third time
were the women OF the nation called
upon for actual personal service
through the women's committee OF the
council Of national defense and the
loyal answer to this new demand was
flashed back to Washington from
thousands upon thousands OF patriotic
women everywhere, including Idaho.
Here the response has been magni-
ffcent the enthusiasm contagious. The
Red Crors work has been carried on
with marked energy and faithful work.
,ers have met daily and worked with
tncessapt zeal from morning until eve
ming. The crusade in the cause OF
food conservation throughout the state
has been and is still being prosecuted
~ vigorously as the Red Cross work.
fOOD CONSEhV "A tON.
The tremendous impetus given tho
movement of increased food produce
ton. elimination of waste, economy In
the home and the lessening of extrav-
hsance and expense In every direction
has made a change for the better that
will be felt in Idaho for years to come.
While Idaho women are knitting for
the solGiers. food conservation as re-
lated TO war needs. is carried on by
the women of Idaho with almost sa-
cred enthusiasm. Most housewives
have prepared sufficient supply for
q term of two or three years, AND
EACH ONE HAS AN EXTRA
AMOUNT CONSERVED, WHICH IS
LARGE ENOUGH TO AFFORD
FOOD FOR AT LEAST ONE SOL
DIIR. Many are working together on
these projects.
Large concerted movements have
been made by bodies of women pursu-
ing certain definite plans-picking
fruits IN season and canning or dry
ing them rapidly to prevent the waste
which the abundant yield of 1917 has
produced In Idaho. Gardening in in
tensive form has given astonishing re-
cults. Thousands of women in Idaho
have cultivated their own gardens,
both fruit and vegetable, this year,
and later conserved all they produced.
Gardens have been planted on vacant
lots, parkings, small, unused spaces
In towns, and In the fields and by
roadsides in addition to the usual gar
den in the country.
Potatoes are eyeryrwhera Rahhtts
and fowls have been raised for the
meat supply and fish from the famous
trout streams of Idaho have been salt
ed or dried during the summer vaca-
ton. Canning and drying OF Idaho
wild fruits, huckleberries, currants
raspberries, etc. has been carried on
successfully. By-products hitherto I'M
used are now saved. Vinegar Is made
\ from the pressed out fruits used in
making jellies or jams. Garden seeds
are saved for next year. Corn cobs,
husks, Feelings, fruit stones, nut shells
for fuel. Some women are picking
UP the fallen fruits in country gardens
and drying these for the poor who
have no time to perform this labor.
WOMEN GARDENERS.
state is found the woman gardener, hoe
or rake or spade in hand in the midst
of the crop of fruit and vegetables
she has cultivated and cared for. Food
pledge cards have been widely dis
tributed and great interest aroused.
"Meatless" and ''wheatless" days are
observed that the soldiers may have
more food. Strict economy is main
tanned in the kitchen but the family Is
not stinted in the supply OF food. The
food pledge cards having been liber-
ally signed the next step In the plans
of war work for women has been to
find how many are willing to register
for service on behalf of their country.
With list of 1876 different occupa-
tons, and the opportunity to contrib
ute aid in other forms, there has been
place for every woman to do her
"bit." The enthusiasm with which the
Idaho women have responded to this
new phase in the war work" laid out
for them is considered remarkable.
There is no doubt of the intense 10y
atty Of the women of Idaho to their
country; and the government has an
opportunity to learn the full woman
power of the state. Among the nota-
BILE women who are aiding the govern
ment in solving the food problem. is
Mrs. Fred T. Dubois. wife of Senator
Dubois Of Idaho. who is speaking to
the women throughout the western
states on this subject. Mrs. s. H. Hays
wife Of Mayor Hays Of Boise, is the
president of the woman's committee
council Of national defense of Idaho
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