Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-03-03
GARDENS TO SWELL
LOCAL FOOD SUPPLY
Famine Conditions Possible,
Says Garden Committee, in
Urging Production.
TO TILL VACANT AREAS

Never before in the history of the
country has the necessity been so great
and urgent for the production of vast
ly increased quantities and amounts OF
vegetables as at the present time.
Withdrawal of hundreds of thousands
of young men from productive farm Ia
Dor; the imperative need to feed these
Inon-producers as well as to supply food
for the armies and the civil popula-
tions of the allied countries. and the
disorganization of the nations trans
portation systems by reason of wars
demands, are a few OF the causes con-
tributing to the need for tremendously
expanded production of food-and par
ticularly local expansion.
1t is by no means certain that the
railroads will not be compelled to de-
clare embargoes on domestic freights,
in order that they may handle with
the greatest possible expedition freights
abroad and to the peoples of the allied
nations. Even if such a course does
not become necessary. it is inevitable
that congestion of traffic on all rail-
road lines will make deliveries Of per-
ishable products extremely uncertain.
Herbert Hoover, food administrator,
has given warning that the next sixty
days may bring the country face to
face with what may amount to famine
conditions as regards foods.
The duty of every American, there
fore, is apparent-to cultivate every
available foot of ground and to pro-
duce all the vegetables used in the
family during the summer season. with
surplus to be canned, dried, picked
or stored fresh for winter use. Not
only is this duty, but unless present
production of vegetables probably will
be the only means of insuring a sup
ply otherwise than at prices such as
never have been heard of before.
Scores of agencies throughout. the
country are actively waging campaigns
to bring about intensive cultivation of
hitherto unutilized ground. The Ma
tional War Garden Commission, with
Offices in the Maryland building. H
street between 18th and 18th streets,
one of these agencies. has prepared a
war garden primer, which it will send
to any address on receipt of a 2-cent
stamp.
The United States Department of Ag-
riculture is issuing a series of bulle.
tins on the home cultivation of vege-
tables, and in addition has appointed
state agents in every state to have
charge of city lot gardening activities
in the states.
The war garden committee of the
DistrictCouncil of Defense Union Trust
building, is organizing the people of
the National Capital for intensive
spring. summer and autumn. 1t has the
services again this year of H. M Con-
oily. gardening expert from the De-
partment of Agriculture. and is now
conducting a campaign to raise a fund
of $4,000 with which to carry on its
work. The plan is to obtain the use
for gardening purposes of every va
can lot in the District of Columbia:
to induce every householder who has
backyard to grow vegetables in that
yard; to obtain the use. il possible. of
unused government land such as the
eastern part of Potomac Park, etc,
and in every way to induce and assist
residents of this city to supply their
own households with vegetables grown
by themselves, either in their own
backyards or on ground the use Of
which is donated for gardening pu--
poses.
"Only by growing their own vege-
tables to the absolute limit of possi-
bility," the war garden committee
assured Of an adequate food supply
during the coming summer and fall.
Market gardeners supplying the local
markets can do no more than they
did last year; in fact, they cannot do
as much. because of the shortage of la
Dor to till the ground. The city's popu-
lation has increased approximately
100, 900 in the. last year. To feed the
original population and those who
have come here during the last twelve
months, every household that can by
any possibility do SO should and must
cultivate a vegetable garden. The only
alternatives, as far as can humanity be
foreseen, will be either to do without
vegetables or to pay unheard-of prices