Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-04-17
HOW GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES
MAY SHOW THEIR PATRIOTISM

scheme to speed up food production and
conserve the food supplies
The coordination of machinery Tor
the feeding of the army is largely
ell of national defense in cooperation
with the Department of Agriculture.
because this branch Of the government
service has been engaged for many
years as centralizinE agency con-
cerned with food production, the han
ding of food and the utilization of food
and all problems regarding the preven-
ton of waste of food in the home.
The Department of Agriculture. DR..
Galloway points out. already has ma
chinery at work which has been turned
over to the assistance of the council of
national defense. This machinery con-
sists in part of.
Ten thousand field men in lines of
work touching all phases of food sup
ply.
Three thousand men and women en-
gagged In extension notwithstanding
out the information which the Depart
ment or Agriculture collects by expert
ments and otherwise to all the peo-
pie Of the United States
Ihat machinery Families down
through the states into the counties and
mas agents at work in every commu-
nifty.
Reporting Crop Conditions.
10 give concrete example: The De-
partment of Agriculture has in opera
ton crop reporting system After
careful survey this will perhaps show
that the winter wheat area has been
reduced by unfavorable weather, and
other untoward conditions so that
1hefe is an actual shortage of % or
"a per cent from the normal wheat
crop. This means that immediate steps
must be taken to put in some other
crop This field machinery of the de-
partment is used to advise the people
what substitute crop they should put in.
Take another example: The tremen-
dous waste in the home in preparing
and utilization of food The Depart
ment OF Agriculture is making an ex-
tensive campaign to prevent waste in
the homes. through having its county
agents warn all housewives within
their area and through an information
and publicity service which is giving
definite suggestions to the housewives
how to prevent waste
| Again the department has engaged
| in widespread propaganda for utili-
cation of waste on unoccupied lands.
Through its boys and girls clubs it
/ is encouraging production of foodstuffs
by boys and girls and the preservation
Of these foods through canning clubs.
The Department of Agriculture APP
preciates at this time that patriotism
can be shown on the farms just as well
| as by enlisting in the military forces
/, of the government. The farmers of
/ the country nave betl advised TINS
| year that they have an unusual oppor-
tunity for the exhibition of patriotism
| through maintaining food supply to
meet every emergency. They have been
| told that the more effective expression
| of patriotism in the spring wheat belt
| is through the production of large
cereal crops.
| What the Department of Agriculture.
! state agricultural institutions. the rail-
roads and communities are doing to en-
/ courage increased production of food
supplies will be treated in detail in a
| later article in this series. 1t is consider
| now before the council of national defense
and administration leaders.
Patriotic Work for All.
| From what has been said above, en-
| r1oynS ne oil of tho