Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-02-28


Paint Up" campaign bureau The
publicity experts are now putting on;
volumes Of literature, some Of which
claim. that 1000 communities are or
ganized for back yard and vacant lot
gardening. Here is the alluring sum-
mary:
A Thrift Garden in the back yard,
2xb0 feet, will
Al a cost not exceeding 500 for Uest
seeds; and $50 for fertilizer:
If properly cultivated very material
Jy reduce the cost of living.
supply family Of six with fresn
vegetables throughout the season
II can be made to yield produce, IN
cash value. from SO to 500 per season.
II will provide wholesome and pro-
fitable exercise Of mind and body
II will make more contented people.
II will teach preparedness and econ
omy.
1t will conserve the resources of the
country.
Far be II from our desire to discour-
age the plan or TO throw cold water on
the hope Ever should no more than
one per cent realize as much as s25 on
such a garden plot it would be worth
while II the average returned no
more than the cost Of seed and fertiliz-
er, even then the occupation OF at
tempting to improve the back yards
and vacant lots and to realize few
meals Of green stuff raised by ones
own endcavors, is worth it's weight in
gold. Cultivation Of the soil sows the
seed Of contentment; the exercise
makes for better health; it teaches
children-and old boys and girls-the
basic principles Of life; it compels
hours Of honest endeavo otherwise of
ten worse thar wasted; it keeps idle
hands-and mnds-out of mischief in
spare" time.
And, above all, it MAY have an eff
feet on the high cost of living.
But let US offer the suggestion that
increased production is not the direct
road to reduction of outrageous prices.
While markets are regulated for mil
lions Of consumers who have no back
yards. by spectators, cornerers and
gamblers. the amount of available food
supply produced in the back yards and
vacant lots of the cities would have
about the same weight as would the
boycotting OF the markets by some big
western market farm.
Hoping that many OF these back
Yard gardens may return to their
workers a saving OF many dollars, yet
We. and they, must realize that they
would have to purchase in the markets
much more. in the course of the year
With that considera ton let them give
thought TO The subject of throwing the
combined Influence Of 700 communities
toward reasonable prevention of mar
let manipulation by the gamblers
IL 1000 communities would think and
talk ana act toward national adoption
Of scientific plan for disposing of
farm products. they would raise a crop
hat would mean something-more
han So or slo0-to every consumers
household in tie land.
We have been taught to rcsIect the
governmental efficiency Of Germany
Tor n generation We have recognized
her leadership in a real thrift that has
been woven into the fabric Of all So
cicty In the fatherland. And Germany
worked out remedy for what tie
comes OF America are suffering TODAY,
many years ago
In this country the middleman and
the Spectator get the profit and the
farmer gets the cusses and a MORTGAGE.
The farmer, for half century. has
been feeding the people at less than the
cost Of production and giving his. his
chiidren's and the nations birthright of
soil fertility to the spectators. He has
no voice. or, rather, he does not raise
". and not yet has a Moses arisen to
devise organized and concerted means
OF pI.ring farm products and eIiminat-
ing the gamblers.
Government officials and trade or
Ranizations talk wisely and endlesslv
OF developing foreign markets"-haye
you heard any OF them giving their
gray matter to the problem of n great
Misunderstanding and ion-developinp
organization that will conserve sol,
fertility. forest growths and water.
power birthrights Of all the people that
are now recklessly squandered for the
benefit of the few exploiters?
A bare hint Of popular uprising and
federal investigation acts like magic on
congested conditions that make nos
sible such public throat-cutting nroc-
esses as witnessed of late. Greed
knows when it has reached the limit
and shrewdly puts about on another
tack while the public forgets and for.
gives.
David Lubin tells us that Roma in
times long gone. had her demonstrat ton
OF what poverty Of the farmer means
to the people. In the time of Emperor
Tiberius Gracious Rome began to buv
her food in Africa instead of encouras.