Cheyenne record., 1917-02-08
Reclaim Waste Town Land.
[Contributed]


for food production is just now en-
gaging the attention of the people of
England, as it has already done those
of Germany, and efforts are being
made to conserve this potential source
of wealth.
II is estimated that in the city of
London alone there 1l,O00 acres OF
idle land, capable OF producing annu-
ally $500 worth of foodstutfs per acre
an amazing total of S7.0OO,O0O yearly.
In connection with the high cost of
living this item of news should carry
potent lesson for every town and
city in own country.
The SUBJECTS fall of possibilities for
this town.
Have you, reader, ever tried to es-
innate how many acres of idle land
there are in this town-in our town?
Take day off some time and count
the vacant lots that are now given
over to weeds, old tin cans and rub
bish generally. Try to reduce this
the possibilities of these acres, and
then you will see what the people of
this town are annually allowing to
slip through their fingers for want of
little energy.
1t is folly to protest against the
high cost of living when we are neg
lecting the means right at our doors
of largely alleviating those conditions
Almost any family can cultivate
from quarter to half an acre of
ground, and quarter or half acre will
produce vegetables ard small fruits
for most any family for the entire year
Look around you and locate the men
who are loudest agains: the prevailing
high prices. Are they the men who
have cultivated good gardens and
truck patches? No indeed. These men
have cellars well stored with sweet and
irish potatoes: they have probably
raised and fattened pig or two: they
have fruits and vegetables canned
and preserved, and are really living
dt ipliic. Aui tiiCs uoh nav y Ii ~
mares near the end Of the month over
the grocery bill that must be paid on
the first of the month.
Let us have II revival of gardening
interests in this town this year. Let's
every one of US who have Il few square
feet or yards of soil see to it that that
soil produces this summer all of which
it is capable. II we have no surplus
vacant lot from some neighbor and
turn it into food for the family.
Many of the people in this town buy
all of their groceries and provisions,
while they have ample land lying idle
from which they could supply major
ity of their wants in this line.
An important phase of the question
lies in the splendid possibilities for
health afforded by the congenial task
of gardening.
Every dweller in n city or small town
should, if possible, acquire q piece of
ground to work through the summer.
De IL ever SD StHuil. AL uoui VI WV
OF diIigent work in the soil is natures
finest tonic. 1t will dissipate the worst
case of crouch; it is u perfectliver reg
ulator, cures dyspepsia, is Al excel
lent remedy for rheumatism, and makes
you feel that life isrsaliy worth Ii, e.
Let's get down to the business Of
conservation in earnest. Reaas, peas
cabbage, lettuce, radishes, ETC., COM
ing fresh from your own garden are
not to he compared with the average
detected looking article usually found
in the markets.
So while we are urging the country
to reclaim the waste lands, let us re-
claim our own waste territory. twill
conserve our health; 1t will Tighten the
strain on our income; and last, but
by no means least, it will aid largely
in benutify!ng our town.