The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-08-16
PERISHABLES MUST BE SAVED

President Wilson has addressed to the Secretary of Agriculture the following letter commenting the plans of a special committee to encourage the canning, dry- ing, preserving and storing, as well as increased consumption of perishable fruits and vegetables:
 MT. Secretary and Gentlemen of the Committees: very earnestly desire to commend your plans and to second your efforts to secure the conservation of sur pluses of perishable food products Out of the depths of their patriotism the farm CTS of the nation gave an immediate and effective response to my appeal to in- crease production. Providence favored them and we have not only the prospect Of increased crops of a number of staples but also the certainty of a large produc- ton of fruits and vegetables.
 But increased production, important as 1t is, is only part of the solution of the food problem. It is of the first inn portance that we take care of what has been raised and make it available for consumption. This task is of peculiar urgency with reference to our perishable farm products. It is essential not only that adequate measures be taken to se- cure their conservation but also that the department of agriculture redouble it's efforts to assist producers in the matter of marketing.
 I am informed that in many sections in which fruits and vegetables have been produced in abundance the people already are canning and drying them in large quantities. But we should be content with nothing short of the perfection of organization and should be unwilling that anything should be lost In this hour of peril, I am concerned, as I know you are, with the necessity of avoiding waste. Every bushel of potatoes prop erly stored, every pound of vegetables properly put by for future use, every jar of fruit preserved add that much to our insurance of victory, add that much to hasten the end of this conflict. To win we must have maximum efficiency in all directions. We cannot win without complete and effective concentration of all our efforts.
 ALL CAN AID
 We can all aid by increasing our con- sumption of perishable products. Such of them as we can efficiently utilize, we must utilize. and, by so doing. relieve the strain on our store of staples. We must aim to consume these things To- cally so far as possible and thus relieve the pressure on transportation agencies, freeing them for the more efficient ham, ding of products required for military purposes. What we cannot presently con- sume we must conserve.
 The service we are asking the people to render in this matter is public serv-
  hold Upon the housewife much of the burden of the task will fall. I join you in your appeal to the women of the na- ton, whether living in city, town. or country, to devote their time. so far as it may be feasible and necessary, to the performance of this very essential work. Among them some will be found who are fitted by experience to teach others, and they will put their knowledge whole heartedly at the service of their neigh bors
 I am sure that we may confidently count upon the cooperation of the edi- tors of the nation in disseminating the necessary information I am equally cer- tain that the governors and the food committees appointed by them in the states in which this problem is urgent will leave nothing undone to attack tt promptly and to assist in solving it. Faithfully yours.
 WOODROW WILSON
 The particular vegetables that have been raised in home yard gardens in cities and rural communities as well as by farmers in abundance are: Tomatoes. beets, potatoes, beans, cabbage, onions. sugar corn. peas, carrots. The fruits are: Peaches, pears, apples and in some states. blackberries.
 COMMITTEE ON PRESERVING
 Local authorities in many of these states have asked the United States de- partment of agriculture to lend federal assistance to their efforts to encourage and instruct their citizens in preventing waste of perishable foods. To direct the departments efforts to aid the conserva- : ton movement, the Secretary of Agricu!- ture has appointed the following com Op nraSarvipp frliitS par lon