American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1917-08-31
REVyING A LOST ART.

In no other field Of endeGvor have
German efficiency and German science
been so emlnently successful as in the
conservation OF that country's limited
resources to such a remarkable de-
gree that even after three years of
isolation from world markets, on which
formerly it depended so largely for
sustenance, the nation is not yet faced
with the alternatives of surrender or
starvation.
The United States can profit by this
economic success of its enemy.
One of the most important features
OF the food conservation movement in
Germany since the outbreak of the
war. and one which has been of ma
terial aid in maintaining the physical
fitness of the German industrial work
er and his family, has been the prac-
tice of drying fruits and vegetables.
In the great cities all over the en-
pire the government, following the es-
tablishment of an effectual blockade
of food supplies, put into operation the
establishment of an effectual blockade
of food supplies. put into operation
the scheme of collecting from the mar
kets all unsold vegetables and fruits
at the end of each day. Those foods
which would have spoiled if held
over" were taken TO large municipal
drying plants, where they we're maze
tit for future use at negligible cost.
These drying plants thus became great
national food reservoirs, saving I'M
mense quantities of food which other
wise would have gone to waste.
But the activities of the German gov
ernment did not end here. community
driers we're established in the smaller
towns and villages, and the inhabitants
we're instructed to see that all sur
nlus vegetables were brought IN ana
subjected to the drying process "hlcn
insured against the great eXtraNa-
gance of nonuse
A third method of conservation oy
driving was inaugurated with the
i+;,,orart driving machines. These
vegetable drykilns on wheels were
sent through all the rural conlllu5 ilies
mites. and the farmer was aullonlaiitu 81
to allow no fruit to grow over iPe 80
his orchard. no vegetable 10 spoll un,
Gathered in his garden. II WaS az az
intensive campaign for the say Elu7 ~
little things. in so far as eacu lnui
,.idual household was cOncerned' pu1
il has totaled large in the story Oh '"e
nations economic endurance. ..-
Not only does the drying oil lrulls
,,d vegatahles increase the supply III
tho winter larder of the people d.
home hut much of the dried prouuJ,1
oan he included with the wheat Wulcn
r,ret he sent in a constant stream
across the seas to feed our own SUI
diers in France and our allies on 'ne
hattie fronts of the world
The practicability Of sending urlsu %
Garden and orchard products 10 tns
fghting men has been demonstrate
already in Canada, where fruits nave
been preserved in this manner anu
shipped to Europe.
While the process of saving surplus
summer vegetables for winter con-
sumption by merely drying may seem
novel to the housewife OF TO-DAY, IL as
not unknown to the thrifty mistress Vi Vi
the home two generations ago Ou'
grandmothers knew the secret OF dry
/ ING many garden and farm producls'
and so successful were they IN putting
side for the winter day those vege-
tables which could not be consumed
/ in season that they came to prefer
dried sweet corn over the canned pro
duct. while the dried pumpkin ana
SQUASH were pie-plants par excellence
In certain communities today snap
beans are strung on threads and drieu
above the stove. while festoons OF req