The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1919-06-05

Mr.. Pack wishing to do a work which was
actually necessary, which essentially practical
and which would certainly aid in making the war
successful conceived the idea in March, 1917, OF
inspiring the people the United States to plant
gardens in order to increase the supply of
food without the of land already cultivated, of
labor already engaged in agricultural work, Of
time devoted to other necessary occupations and
of transportation facilities which already
inadequate to the demands made upon them.
He thereupon organized the national war garden
commission. 1t not a federal government
body, though it Endorsed by the administra-
tiOn and the quarternaster generals Office
operated with it at soldiers camps The commits
consisted of Charles LathrOp Pack, president,
of New Jersey; Luther Burbank, California; P P.
Claxt0n United States commissioner of education,
Washington, D. c.; Dr. Charles W. Eliot, Massa-
chusetts; DR.. Irving Fisher, Yale university Con-
necticut Fred H. Golf, Ohio; John Hays Ham
mond, Massachusetts; Fairfax Harrison. Virginia;
MyrOn L. Herrick, Ohio; President John Grter Hfb-
ben, Princeton university, New Jersey; Emerson
McA1illin, New York; A. w. Shaw, Illinois; Mrs.
John Dickinson Sherman chairman Of the
servation department CT the General Federation
of WOmen's- Clubs, Illinois; Capt. J. Is. White, Mis-
souri,; Hon. James Wilson, former secretary of ag-
rculture, Iowa Assistant Secretary of Agriculture
Carl VrOOman (fOr the year 1910 2. S. Ridsdale,
executive secretary, who also executive secre-
tary OF the American Forestry association, with
the conservation department of which the
mission affiliated, and Norman G.. McLOud,
associate secretary. Mrs. Sherman also ap-
pointed by the department of the interior special
assistant director, in charge of wOmen's Organi-
cations, of the United States school garden army,
with which the commission was in close co-opera-
ton.
"Put the Stacker land to work the first slo-
gan of the commission. War gardens are essen
TALLY family institutions. But big business
caught the spirit of the hour and capitalized the
enthusiasm of. numbers and the healthy rivalry of
teams by establishing community gardens financed
by It and worked by it's employees. The railroads
went big business one better; the children of the
nation put it both of these; daylight saving"
gave them all chance to take time by the fore
lock; while preserving kettles, canning clubs and
dehydration plants all contributed their several
shares in the saving of the fruits of the national
endeavor.
Results Are Amazing.
The results amazing The 1917 gar
dens numbered approximately 100000, and their
food products are estimated at S350,0O0,000 The
1918 reports show 2S5 600 gardens and food prod
ucts of $525,0 100000. The first season 5O0O0O,O00
quarts of vegetables and fruits canned in
1918 the number increased to 1,45OOOO.OOO quarts.
This of course, is but small part of the story.
It needs such a book as this TO show US how many
other things there the story, for instance
the releasing of many kinds of labor and the
lessening of railroad congestion. The book gives
an interesting picture of a mighty host, many mil
lions strong, gaining strength and refrigerated
health by handling the hoe, and getting exercise as
good as golf and tennis, profitable than
either and more patriotic than both The gardens
they titled ranged from a neglected. weed-mas-
tered, rubbish-littered vacant lot to a city park.
The boys at Camp Dix went over the top gar
deners at home before they got their opportunity
to go over the top as crusaders in the glorious
cause of human liberty abroad