Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-02-25
CUT LIVING COSTS
BY MAKING GARDEN
Such Is the Advice Given by
the Department of
Agriculture.
PI ANc Die ncppIMc npNIcv
PLANS BIG "SPRING DRIVE"

The Department of Agriculture is
planning big spring drive against the
high cost of living in fashion which
has special interest for Washington.
Carl Vrooman, assistant secretary of
agriculture, last night made the first an
nouncement that concerted effort is
to be made. by the publication of spe-
cfai bulletins and through the activi-
ties Of the states relations office, to get
cities interested in the possibility Of
home and vacant lot gardening.
This educational campaign is not only
being undertaken from the standpoint
Of the scarcity of city food supplies,
their consequent high prices and the
increasing difficulty of transportation,
but it has a bearing on national pre-
paredness.
Value in Time of War.
Each spring for several years past
we have been publishing suggestions
about this work." Mr.. Vrooman ex-
planned. In the face of present condi-
tions and the prospects for the coming
summer. such community gardening
movements on the part of cities are ten
times more necessary now.
Moreover. if this country becomes
involved in war such activity will be
ten times again more worth while"
Mr.. Vrooman believes that Washing
ton offers special opportunity for
such an effort The reasons he as
signs for this belief are these:
There is an unusually large amount
of available space. in back yards, but
especially In vacant lots, which own
ers might be willing to turn over to
community gardening clubs or to rent
at nominal sum.
Washington has the advantage of all
the expert advice to be got from the
Agricultural Department Mr.. Vroo-
man said the department would COOP
crate with such a movement here by
furnishing all the printed Information
desired. by giving all the advice that
was asked. and even, if men were
available. by sending out agents for
demonstration work.
Office Hours Are Favorable.
Thousands cf government clerks here
get away from work at 4 80 o'clock, and
this would give them plenty of-oppor-
tunity to cultivate home gardens.
Washington school children already
have received special training. in many
cases. in such work. and they could be
further interested in it during the
summer months.
Most folks in this country do not
realize that it is possible, by using
methods which it is not difficult to
learn. to raise three and even four
vegetable crops during the summer"
Mr.. Vrooman said. by this means
many families could greatly increase
hai nf n
summer months, and could put in a
supply of such commodities as pota-
toes for the winter months.
MANY cities did not take a great in
terest in this movement when it was
only a question of raising vegetables
for home use during the summer
though the incentive to do that in
creases with higher prices. But they
learned that canning made it possible
to put away goodly supply of canned
corn, tomatoes and other vegetables
for winter use. Our canning clubs are
well organized. the agents are ready to
assist any community which wishes
to undertake this work, and the result
is that the home gardens can be made
even more useful.
Added attention has been attracted
to the possibilities of home gardening
in Washington by letter to The Even
ing Star from Bruce l. Norton in which
he commented on Star editorial on
Food Riots in this Country" and
called attention of the need for adding
to the production of garden and truck
supplies in this country.
Boston Community Gardens.
William Baxter Closson. Boston ar
tist, now visiting in. this city. called at
The Evening Star office to tell Of the
community garden work being done in
Boston.
IN my city" he said. several organi-
cations and individuals succeeded in
getting owners of vacant tracts to lend
them for the purpose of raising table
supplies. The results were highly salts |
factory. though I am not at this time
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