River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1917-05-03

they will double in value before the
new crop is available, and, as war
conditions develop, it may be impos-
sible to secure much food Of any kind.
Shipping facilities will be crippled.
We shall be sending vast supplies of
food abroad, and those who have not
been forehanded enough to provide
food may be unable to purchase it at
any price.
Raise your own food.
There is one way to avoid this
shortage of food, and that is to plant
every available piece Of ground with
staple vegetables. Every square foot
of ground which is worth cultivating
should be planted. Every boy and
girl, man and woman, not actively en-
gagged in doing military service,
should work in some garden and help
add to the country's supply of food.
A large percentage of all the food
consumed in the home during the
summer, fall and winter should be
raised near the place Of consump-
ton because freight and express cars
will not be available to ship perish
able or even staple foods. We must
produce more; we must conserve what
we have through the knowledge of the
nutritative value of foods, and by wise
planning. We must learn how to
economic on all foods; how to use
proper substitutes for foods scarce
and high in price; we must not waste
food.
Plant a Garden.
The only way to be assured sup
ply of food for yourself this year is
to raise it. Plant garden. Plant
beans and peas for proteins; plant
potatoes for carbohydrates; plant
corn, carrots, beets, parsnips, onions,
tomatoes, lettuce, radishes, cabbage,
there to maintain the body in health.
Plant satisfy and celery if you have
room, but do not waste time expert
menting with new and untried foods
Plant the staple crop.
The most important of the above
mentioned vegetables are beans, car
rots, onions, tomatoes, and, if large
lot is available, potatoes and corn.
AS the two latter take considerable
garden space, it is not we'll to try to
raise them in the small back yard.
Organize Forces.
Any public spirited organization in
the city can easily handle the home
garden work. The commercial club
the common council or city commits
sioners, woman's club, parent-teacher
organization, or any other organiza
ton which can secure the co-opera-
ton of all of the people, is a good
agency. The service of the newspaper
is invaluable. AS it reaches practic-
ally every house in the city, it is the
only way that all people can be aware
of the movement, and it is the only
method by which and through which
all people may receive instruction
free Of charge. This service, how
ever, is all that should be asked of
the newspaper, and live committee
should be appointed to secure and ap-
portion lots, to compile information
as to the best methods of gardening,
to see that the lots are properly Gull
tivated, and to give advice as to con-
serving the food after it is raised.
If there is no newspaper in the
town, or if the editor cannot cooper
ate with the organization in handling
the gardening movement, use the
moving picture theatres as a means
of reaching the people.
Cultivate all vacant lots and back
yards that are worth cultivating.
Ask all owners to give their land
for cultivation if they can not cult
vate it themselves.
Ask all those who want land to ap-
ply for it.
Ask some newspaper to act as a
clearing house.
Appoint a good live committee to
handle the situation; some one on the
committee should be familiar with the
city so that the vacant lots may be
assigned to those who live in close
proximity.
Secure map of the city so that the
members of the committee may mark
lots listed and assigned and so that it
will be easy to keep track of them
during the season.
Members of the committee should
urge owners to offer their land.
People should be allowed to take
only ,,-l,nt 49, III a,,l4;..n4o