Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-05-07
MOBILIZATION OF AUTOMOBILE S
FNEDIsNIC J..

wasted upon his place every year; be-
cause he produced more than he could
use In fruits ana vegetables, but sell
dom had enough at one time to max.
IL profitable to haul the stuff to market.
Depends on Years Crop.
thus in good year for tomatoes.
SIX vines will supply his family with
all the tomatoes he can use: bur I'm
IL bad year for tomatoes sixty vines
would hardly yield enough lie plant.
about forty vines, and IL the yrop il
heavy IL large proportion of II Is al
lowed TO rot on the ground In the
same way last year all OF the water
melon vines he planted did not give him
,"o really good melons. but this year
ne may feed watcrmefons to his hogs
Every small mixed orchard I'm Tho conn
Try represents tons of waste II 81 IL
a EoOd ycai for peaches. then ncacheu
are wasted. while apples may be scarce;
and the next year the order NAV h,
reversed.
Now the total of food wasted In this
way within Il radius OF nifty miles of
a town In any good farming section
IN enormous. If this great quantity
Oh ROOD could be brought TO town. tho
cost OF living would be greatly re-
duccd. Ana If all the automobiles I'm
that town were devoted for one day
week 10 the gathering of this food. Il
large part of IL could be saved
Most Of the farmers would he glad
TO give away what would be other
wise wasted provided some one eI.c
harvested the crops. or to harvest them
himself and sell them for a nominal
inquire one plan suggested was that
CARDS should be sent to all farmers
and suburban gardeners asking them
10 list what they had that would
otherwise be wasted, and which thcv
would be willing to donate for chart
table purposes. Automobiles couid
hnU
thcm over to hospitals and other in
stitutions. Any rotary or AUTOMOBILES
c'uh would serve as nucleus for the
motor organizations
sport Element Might Enter.
spirit or competition could be in
trodnced aud prizes offered for the
greatest number OF miles covered
This sort or work might he as ,n,,r,,
run as objcctlcss motoring and wouId
nave The social value Of bringing TO-
ge'her people who would otherwise
never see each other. Boy Scouts or
o'h'r chiidrcn's organizations might
be used for gathering fruits and her
rics
ms plan might work we'll In some
helEhborhoodS. but would have certain
difficulties. The thing could undoub,
ediy be carried out on a larger scale
u the farmers wcer paid a price suit
Gent TO give them Il reasonable profit
on the time spent in cul,ivatinr and
gathering the crops. This would o-
course. be great deal lower than
market prices. II would operate 10
reduce prices in the open market but
would protect the market gardener
and grocer from the unfair compe,i
tion OF n free distribution of foods
IL this latter plan were used, II
would be necessary for the committee
10 form sort of clearing house. OBJ
tam inc use OF an empty storeroom
or market hall. and dispose Of the
foodstuhs at moderate prices Great
quantities of tomatoes, berries and
fruits which would otherwise be
wasted could thus be obtained for pre-
serving. II loca! agent OF tho Dc
partmcnt OF Agrculturc's canning
club work could be induced to CO.
operate, great quantities Of food could
IN this way be saved for winter use
and poor people whose winter diet (.
generally very deficient in fruits and
vegetables could secure a supply o.
taosc foodsIuns.
Admittedly this plan requires much
elaboration. and would have to be
varied 10 meet various local conditions
But any one who can work il out in
a practicable manner VIII have rem
dered a real patriotic service, and sue
cessful methods will be published SO
that others may profit b. them.