The Washington times., 1917-03-24
SCOUTS TO GARDEN
FOR ARMY SUPPLY
Each will Raise Vegetables
Enough for One Soldier
II War Comes.

A plan whereby every Boy Scout in
Washington will be prepared to supply
at least one soldier with fresh veget-
ables every day in case Of war, has
been adopted by the local Boy Scout
council, Of which A. C. Moses is presi-
dent The forty-seven Boy Scouts who
have received gardening merit badges
have been appointed headquarters' gar
deners and will be used to instruct the
1000 other Boy Scouts in the city. A
special collar letter. &C." has been Sc
lected to designate those boys who are
actively engaged In gardening.
The following. written by Examiner
Ralph E Campbell for The Times, ex-
plains the part which the Scouts expect
to take In the gardening work in Wash
ington this summer:
Although the Boy Scouts have been
known to hike, camp, work, and play
through the city, they have finally con-
cluded to demonstrate their ability to
help the nation should their services
be needed by the country.
Greater Supply Needed.
"The time is here, and the Scouts
are going to use what training they
have. The nation has crying need for
a larger food supply-the Scouts are
working to avoid a famine in case of
war with a foreign power. Every
one of the 1000 boys under scouting
influence in Washington will have
garden this summer: they will have
the biggest and best they can 1ake.
The boys with back yards viii 20 all
they can to demonstrate the teaching
they have had In thrift and econom-
les. The Scouts without back yards
and who live in apartments will have
at least a large window box full Of
lettuce or other small vegetables.
at Is stated that this movement
is not only local but national. Think
what approximately 100000 scouts
in the country may do to supply the
millions OF pounds of wholesome food
to the nation, IL not to the guardsmen
of their respective communities! This
is real scouting.
Arthur c. Moses, president OF the
local council Of Washington, stands
back of the movement to the extent
that he has issued orders that each
scout shall be recognized to the ex-
tent of a special metal collar letter
C. The letter will be made OF bronze
and will be worn on the left point of
the uniform collar.
"Start Now- Slogan Adopted.
"The only other official decoration
for the call issued by the Washing
ton organizations is a c for the cour-
iers OF the various troops, who only
number sixty-ifve- Every scout be-
low the grade OF first class will now
be recognized by this letter. How
ever, no letter will be issued to those
boys who are not registered under
the rules of the National Organization
and at a recent meeting CT the forty
seven boys. known as headquarters
gardeners the slogan START YOUR
GARDEN NOW was adopted. No
better time, in the minds of the
Washington officials, exists than
right now to show that the Boy
Scouts OF Washington are prepared
to meet the needs OF
our nation in the time of war.
Every scout holding the merit
badge in gardening has been officially
appointed with the title of head
quarters gardener. All boys holding
this merit badge are advised OF q
special meeting to be held in room
22S, Munsey building. to discuss the
to till a large forty-acre
tract under the supervision OF the
council of Washington"