The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1918-11-29
SURPLUS FRUITS
AND VEGETABLES
Much Canning Done by Volunteer
Women Workers Of the De-
partment of Agriculture.
CREDIT GIVEN MRS. HOUSTON
Wife Of Secretary Planned That Prod
uots BE Utilized In New and Pa
triotlc Mannen--Donated to
Walter Reed Hospital.

Twenty-Five hundred and fifty quarts
or canned vegetables, preserves and
1ellles to tempt the appetltes OF our
wounded boys Ia the Walter Reed hos
pitni ln Washington. as well as hum
ireds Of bushels Of fresh fruit and
vegetables, Is the result Of summer
Of unceasing activity by women Of the
department Of agriculture interested in
this work.
AT the Arlington farm, where is car
rled ON governmental experimentation
with fruits and vegetables, there has
been necessarily much waste product
In previous years. In order that accu-
rate observations during their entire
season might be made by the plant
specialists a large share Of the fruits
and vegetables grown there Ind to be
allowed to come TO full maturity on
the plants. Thus to large extent the
farms products were too ripe to be
marketed when their value to the sci
enlist was at an end.
How Project Started.
10 Mrs. David II, Houston, wife of
the secretary OF agriculture, is due the
credit for these products being utilized
In new and patriotic way this year.
The Walter Reed hospital, filled with
our wounded from overseas, was to be,
II II could be managed, the recipient OF
all the surplus fruit and vegetables of
the Arlington farm. Mrs. Houston
| planned that all OF the products which
were In prime condition and which
could be used at once by the commits
sary department OF the hospital should
be sent there directly. The surplus
was 70 be made by volunteers into
home dnlntles for the boys.
When It Is realized that the lieuten-
lnt tn charge Of the commlssary must
provide food for each soldier, wounded
or sick. ut maximum cost OF 90 cents
day, the exceeding value Of these
preserves and teiiles to the diet OF
the lnvalids there may be better ap-
precIated Perhaps no other one thing
which has been done for the hospital
has been so much appreciated by the
boys themselves as this food. which
as they said. etasted like home ant
mother sent through the untirins
work OF these women connected witt
the department Of agriculture.
Girls Picked Ripe Products
All the work was done through efi
Client committees. One OF these wal
composed of girl workers from the, de
partment, who went out after work 4
the farms and did the picking when
ever their chairman was notified tina
the ~brrvest was ready" As Is quit
usual With crops. those grown by tn
government ala not accommodate,
themselves TO regular schedule bu
fluettated from none on some days (
an amount that taxed every recruit {
the utmost NJ other times.
The War Relief association OF tn
department Of agriculture supple
help In he kitchen and for cans 0
supplies. However, large part Of IN
cans and spices were donated by thos
Interested IN the work.
The recipes used were all home one
although The work, especially The Ia
ter part 80 the summer. had 20 be don
on I, commercial scale because of n
qGHtity Of fruit and vegetables ayai
sfi.. MRS. Houston and Miss FlorenC
+. Wanlof the states relations servie
tla,isumn nf the committees, lit