The patriot., 1919-05-30

Nj Pack wishing to do war work which was
actually necessary which was essentially practicaI
and which would certainly aid in making the war
successful, conceived the idea in March, 1917, OF
inspiring the people of the United States to plant
war gardens in order to increase the supply OF
food without the use of land already cultivated, of
labor already engaged in agricultural work, OF
: time devoted to other necessary occupations. ana
of transportation facilities which were already
inadequate TO the demands made upon them.
He thereupon organized the national war garden
commission 1t was not federal government
body, though 1t was indorsed by the admnistra-
ton, and the quarterlnaster generals office CO.
operated with it at soldiers camps. The commits
sion consisted of Charles Lathrop Pack president
OF New Jersey; Luther Burbank, California {; +. L.
claxton United States commissioner Of education,
Washington. ID. c.; Dr. Charles w. Eliot, Massa-
cfssetts; Dr. Irving Fisher, Yale university, Con-
necticut; Fred IL. Goff, Ohio; John Hays Ham
mond, Massachusetts; Fairfax Harrison, Virginia;
Afyron T. Herrick Ohio President John Grier Hib-
ben. Princeton university, New Jersey; Emerson
Mcdln New York A. W. Shaw, Illinois; Mrs.
John Dickinson Sherman, chairman OF the con-
servation department of the General Federation
of Wonlen's Clubs Illinois; Capt. J. b. White, Mis-
souri, ; Hon. James Wilson, former secretary Of az
riculture Iowa Assistant Secretary Of Agriculture
Carl Vro0man (for the year 1917 Fl s. Ridssiaie.
executive secretary, who also executive secre-
tary Of the American Forestry association, with
the conservation department of which the com
mission was afiliated. and Norman c. McLoud
associate secretary. Mrs. Sherman also was APP
pointed by the department of the interior special
assistant director. in charge of women's organ-
cations Of the United States school garden army.
with which the commission was in close co-opera-
fion.
4puf the Stacker land to work. was the first slo-
gan uf the commission. War gardens are essen
TALLY falny-pOwer 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 its employees The railroads
went big business one better; the children of the
nation put il over 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 were amazing. The 1917 war gar
spns numbered approximately 3. 3.J00O00 and their
food products are estimated ait ss50000.0O0 The
1918 reports shew 5.zS5OO0 gardens and food prod
ucfs az S525,O00.0OO The first season 500O00,000
quarts OF vegetables and fruits were canned; In
1918 the number increased to I.4JU000000 quarts.
This Of course, Is but small part Of the story
II needs such d book as this to show US how many
other things there are to the story, as for instance
the releasing or many kinds of labor and the
lesscnihg Of railroad congestion. The book gives
ali Interesting picture Of mighty host nany mill
liens strong ginning new strength and reyigorated
heaith by handling the hoe and getting exercise
good as golf and tennis mere profitable than
either ana more patriotic than both The gardens
they titled ranged from neglected. wepd-inass
tered sshbishliftered yaeant lof toa city park.
Tile bags uf Camp I5.s went nyer the top as ~.
ssIierS at home before hey got their opportunity
ri 81 oyer the top az crusaders IN The glorious
cs,1sa IL lluinan liberty abroad