Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-06-09

a
An automobile ride Of few hours
confined 70 the limits OF any city in
Maine. these days. would convince a
thinking man that the leayen is work
ing. Everywhere backs are bent and
hands are blistering, while black flies
and mosquitoes are puncturing the
tender skin. as city dwellers DO their
bit in the everybody make "a garden
stunt. Women find new pride in dig
ging right womanfully. and in making
the dirt fly. Children pose for pictures
beside pig-pens or little patches of
self cultivated vegetables. Every
body's doing IT,
And so they arc learning it-and We
rejoice
Learning what?-ah no, not asricul-
ture but what il costs TO transform an
ounce Of seed into a peck Of fodder.
Tickling the soil Is a fascinating
pastime and Is glorious exercise" the
kind that was expected Of Father
Adam and the first equal suffrage ad-
vocate That is. the exercise is up
building and strengthening Of human
tissue when not Offset by the mental
anxiety Of hazardous venture. and not
administered in full-day doses. There
is a point. you know. when exercise"
becomes wear and tear.
The eigh,-hour day laborer in Office
or shop mill or mission (where sub
sistence is securcp reaches the zenith
Of the combination Of work and exer-
I else. and the pleasure Of dreaming
himself a new Luther Burbank. by cul-
tivating a garden TO wallop the h. c. of
l. He keeps no books but knows that
the cash and time going into gardening
isn't going into anything worse. And
II "A peck Of peas costs him four dol
lars and eleven cents in porous plas-
tiers. arnica and cooling lotions, it is all
forgotten when the visitor is proudly
told RAISED 'em in our own garden
didn't cost a cent. Real stuff. too;
right from our own vine and fig tree
no more wilted truck for us"
But they are absorbing something
more than the satisfaction Of produc-
ing. and the experience of doing it,;
they are learning that the business of
getting a living from the soil is some
thing more than sowing seed in the
waste places and reaping a harvest Of
sustenance.
Some have been unwise enough to
venture beyond the garden backed by
Job that returns available dollars
every week. They have been misled
by the back to- thel land shouting OF
those who have more experience in
shouting than in farming. We hear OF
pathetic cases where the savings Of
years have been plunged in agricul-
tural venture that will return sure
disaster, because Of inexperience and
acceptance OF the popular misconcep-
ton that anybody can be a successful
farmer. II he will exercise those facul-
ties which the average farmer hasn't
perception and activity"
These poor fellows will pay dear for
what is seeping into the gray cells OF
. the garden makers Of the city lots.
We are sorry for them, but some
body always has to settle for crusades
Of the uninfformed enthusiasts who
theorize and try their cure-alls on
somebody else.
Other things are being learned. also
and the slumbering seed Of wisdom
sown q generation ago Is sprouting un-
der the influence OF a new atmosphere
Strange, isn't It? that war and q
worlds need should recall the spirit Of
Henry George. but we expect, in the
cussion OF single tax. as we'll as an at.
tempted adjustment Of supply and de-
nland effect, without the manipulation
or gamblers and cornerers.
According to the economies depart
ment Of the University of California
there are two reasons for the vast in.
crease In food prices. They are
THE Increase In money in circula-
ton, including credit instruments.
ACTUAL scarcity of food and abb
normal demand.
Now suppose the economics depart.
ment of this university and others con
slider the speculative price OF farm
lands. which are made speculative be
cause nearly half the farm land in the
United States is in the hands Of ten.
ants-and the deplorable condition is
increasing. The Department of Agri
culture has put out. we believe figures