Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-03-29
TIPS DESIGNED
FOR GARDENERS
ON WAR PLOTS
=. S. Hopes to Raise Much
Food in Backyards This
Summer

nome, is the slogan OF Ine united
States Department of Agriculture.
Many forces and different organiza-
tions are helping in the garden cam
paign. but the United States Depart
ment of Agriculture and the agri-
cultural colleges are carrying the
biggest end of the work of organiza-
tion and instruction. There are ap-
proximately 100000 rural FAM
lilies in the United States. and ap-
proximately 100000 additional
families in cities and towns up to
$4,000 population. In the entire
United States there are about 21,-
100000 families, but q portion of
these in the large congested centers
of the population can not have gar
dens. a home garden for every pos
sible family is the aim. The work
is we'll under way, already having
been organized in January for this
years campaign of food production.
Caution
The department is emphasizing
economic production of food through
these gardens, and, therefore, points
out the following important eau
tions:
Nd' NJ upulc SdTueH SllOulu be
raised, except by labor of the fam
lily for the use of the family; in
other words, a home garden with
hired labor is not advocated. The
hired labor should be released to en-
gage in general farming to add to
the food stores of the Nation.
(b) Garden seed, especially of
certain important standard crops,
such as beans and peas, must be
conserved and not wasted.
Co Good soil, sunlight, and air
are necessary for good gardens. 1t
is a waste of seed and labor to plant
on land not suited or where shaded
large part of the day.
Cd In small backyard gardens,
plant only those crops which pro-
duce large quantities on limited
area, such as string beans, toma-
toes, lima beans. beets or onions.
Corn. peas. potatoes, and other such
crops require more space than is
needed for the other crops.
Organization
The United States Department of
Agriculture, in cooperation with
state agricultural colleges, has one
of the most extensive organizations
ever possessed by any country to
put this campaign into effect. The
partment of Agriculture have charge
of the department campaign. They
represent both the Bureau of Plant
Industry and States Relations Serv-
ice. In almost every state there is
home-garden specialist represent
ing the extension service of the coll
lege and the department. Un some
states two or three men are employ
ed.) In addition to these special
men, the department of Agriculture
in cooperation with the state agri-
cultural colleges, has a very large
force of men and women at work in
the field, who will assist in the home
garden campaign as a part of their
great campaign for food production.
There are at present 2,260 county
agricultural agents and their assist
ants, trained in agriculture, who are
actively engaged in the food-produc-
tion campaign, including it's home
gardening phase. There are also
1,196 county home demonstration
agents and 160 city home demon
stration agents. There are highly
trained and experienced women vino
are devoting some time to the garden
campaign and who will assist in
teaching the canning of the surplus
products during the summer and
fall.
Through the boys and girls agri-
cultural clubs organized in the forty
eight states. a huge army of farm
boys and girls is enlisted annually
for productive work. 1t is too early
to estimate the number in these
clubs. Based on the increase al
ready reported over last years en-
rollment, the number of rural boys
and girls in these clubs will prob
lllN- ha tIor1 fu- nj
a half engaged in larger productive
enterprises, such as corn clubs, gar
dening, and canning clubs, pig clubs
etc. In addition to these, a large
number of home gardens were pro-
duced by boys and girls and adults
in cities and towns last year and
will be enlisted by the department
this year.
The state and county councils of
defense, state food administra tors
and their county representative are
very greatly interested in the gar
den campaign and are cooperating
with the department and the COL
leges in many ways.
The Bureau of Education is en-
listing the interest of teachers and
other school authorities to enroll
school children and give them lead
ership in home or backyard gar
dening in many larger cities and
towns. These will add materially
TO the huge garden program of the
Department of Agriculture.
The Boy Scouts of America, the
Girl Scouts and Campfire Girls, and
the Junior Red Cross are also or
ganizing for productive gardening
or club work, and are correlating
their work with that of the depart-
n1nnf and tho nn1lnDnG nd
instruction from county agents, club
agents, and other extension en-
ployes.
Three important bulletins have
been published by the Department
of Agriculture on this subject:
Farmers Bulletin No. 934. Home
Gardening in the South.
Farmers Bulletin No. 936. The
City and Suburban Vegetable Gar
den.
Farmers Bulletin No. 937. The
Farm Garden in the North.
The Department and the state
agricultural colleges have many
other publications which will be
found valuable. If you are not con-
nected with this home-garden move-
ment, which includes a vast army
of adults, as we'll as boys, and girls.
communicate with the extension
~ervice of your agricultural college,
Ir write to the Department of Agri-
'.-'ture, and it will be glad to put
:~ou in touch with the right people in
order that you may become a men,
ber of this huge army of food pro-
ducers.
DEAD MANS ASHES STOLEN
The police of Newark, n. j., were