Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1918-06-14
ARE YOU GOING TO EAT
TOUGH ROOTS NEXT WINTER +?
Simple Dehydratisg Devices VIII Dry
The Water oAt OF Fresh vegs-
tables Which Can Then Be
Stored In Small Space
Without RIsk OF Decay.

Why should countless Americans
eat tough, odd root vegetables in the
winter time when they could almost
as easily have fresh, tender ones? And
why do most Of the others push Up
the High Cost OF Living by buying
vegetables in a form which necessi-
tates shipping around the country mil
lions Of gallons Of water? The reason
Ii that they use only a little more
foresight than the squirrel who hides
away nuts for the winter, and Will
not take the little extra trouble which
would make vegetables, fruits, milk,
and even eggs equally storable. de
hydratfon," the method by which this
Is done. is so simple way Of drying"
that 1t was practtced in ancient Egypt
and savage Africa Even the old-time
Redskins were more up-to-date In this
regard than thousands of Maryland
housewives. That is why the Gov
eminent is so anxious to spread the
gospel of "dehydration" at a time
when war is being waged on all kinds
OF waste-waste of vegetables, waste
Of money, waste OF cans, waste OF stor-
age room, and waste OF railroad facili-
ties.
There has been installed at the War
Food Bureau, Lexington Building, Bal
timore, modern drying plant which
gives daily demonstrations and soon
win be put on a commercial basis 1t
will reduce vegetables three or four
fifths Of their volume without impair
ing their form, flavor, or fragrance
by the simple process of drawing out
the water-content which in some vege-
tables is in greater proportion than
even in milk Dwellers in fats and
small homes where there Is little stor-
age space win find this reduction in
volume a Godsend. And the price OF
next winters menu viii be less be-
cause Of the prudent purchase of vege-
tables at a time when they were plen-
tiful and, therefore. cheap.
The New York plant, which was the
pioneer community drier in THIS coun-
try-Germany has over 20OO--in-
volved an initial cost of $500 and
with volunteer workers will dry a half.
ton OF material daily at an operating
cost Of one-third cent a pound. The
output takes up one-tenth the room
of the original commodity 1t cannot
be injured by summers heat or win.
ter's cold.
The Baltimore plant, too, is able to
handle big quantities, but home
made equipment Of a few little chick.
en-wire trays will serve in private
homes. With a small stove, some
trays. and the help Of a young daugh.
ter and a farmboy, one Baltimore
woman put up Ave hundred pounds OF
dried vegetables from a farm BY
adding a ton or 80 OF water as need.
ed. she put her household where rail,
road tie-ups or the high price Of tin
and glass could not reach IT, 81 just
used commonsense," she explained,
put the sliced vegetables a few feet
above the stove where they were dried
till they were dry. Then put them
in muslin bags and stored them in a
dry place. II is. OF course, the pres.
ence Of moisture that allows the forces
OF decay to operate. When the vege
tables were required they were simply
soaked in fresh water till they re-
gained their former volume. Then
cooked, they we're found as tasty as
ever and in some cases even better
than new"
Dehydration OF war-garden products
has carried the enemy through three
years Of war. Maryland is now the
scene OF the biggest garden contest
ever arranged In this continent n the
housewives will grasp this simplSde'
MIGRATING idea, this State and each
community in II can become self-sup-
porting nert winter There VIII be no
need TO worry over transportation
tangles. Indeed. the trains, instead
OF carting around millions of gallons
OF water, will be able to apply more
motive power to hauling coal
ALI round there viii be saving In
stead OF waste. And in addition. there
will be fresh, palatable vegetables in.
stead OF tough. Old roots TO make our
wheat-savins diet a delight as well
as service. Every woman who can
visit the drying plant at the War Food
Bureau should learn there how to get
pleasing winter meals at lower cost
than poor ones. For those who can.
not reach Baltimore there Ia ample
dehydrating literature issued free bv
the Department OF Agriculture. Wash.