The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-03-07
NEED IS STILL
URGED FOR BACK
YARD GARDENING
U. S. Department Of Agricul-
ture Offers Government Aid
to Home Gardeners.


WASHINGTON. March 1.-THE eag-
erness with which German soldiers
dropped their rifles. cried "Kamerad!"
and called for soup; the walls of hun
ger from the former empire of the ex-
kaiser: walls Of the same sort from
Russia and elsewhere--these and 9TH
err instances indicate the part that
food had in forcing an end to the
fighting and victory for the allies and
the United States.
American farmers have won I'M
stinted praise for the way in which
they increased their production; home
gardeners In city and country now
are coming in for compliments of the
same character. The farmers were
the heavy artillery Of Americas army,
but the home gardeners were the
auxiliary troops-delivering lighter
individual blows, perhaps, but In total
a huge assault---and to the home gar
deners is given credit for definite
part in throwing the food balance
in favor of the force Of freedom.
: The home garden specialists Of the
United States Department of Agricul-
ture would be far from claiming that
the home gardens of America, numer-
GUS and productive as they were. won
the war" But they do believe that
the home garden supplied vegetables
that decreased the demands on meat
and wheat and other staples, produc-
ed food at home without calling on
the railroads to carry 1t, saved many
a dollar that went into Thrift Stamps
and Liberty bonds, and in such ways
contributed beyond doubt to the
strength of America modified.
Need Still Great.
In 1919 the need for food Is changed
from that of last year, but it Is just
as great There will be fewer Amer
lean soldiers overseas to supply with
food, but there will be more hungry
civilians of other nations. The rail-
roads will still be overbuldened and
will have no more space than neces-
sary for transporting food. The state,
the county, or the town that feeds it.
self, will be contributing to the es
senitials for reconstruction over
there" and readjustment at home.
The home that feeds itself, at least
partially, will be helping the nation
as well as itself.
Every American home with a suit
able plat of ground will find 1t advan-
tageous to help feed itself by garden.
The garden will reduce food bills, in
ruse the freshness and quality of the
family's vegetable supply. furnish
healthful exercise, and give an insight
into the workings of nature. 1t VIII
be converting unused land and spare
time into food.
The Department of Agriculture has
made ready to give help to home gar
deners and carry out the same slogan
as last year, "a productive home gar
den on every farm and backyard
garden for every village. town and city
home" 1t will work In direct cooper
alton with the extension forces of the
State agricultural colleges, one of the
most extensive organizations of this
character ever formed in the world.
The horticulturists of the Department
have the campaign in charge, acting
for both the Bureau of Plant Industry
and the States Relations Service. In
most States are home garden special
lists representing the extension service
of the State colleges and the Depart
ment, and in addition the $500 county
agricultural agents and the 1,700 home
demonstration agents in the United
States will give active aid as part Of
their duties in encouraging food pro-
duction and conservation. State and
local organizations will receive the ac7
tive aid of the Federal agency, and
boys and girls agricultural clubs in
all States will enlist huge army for
productive.
Gardening Information.
The gardening information to be
supplied the public by the Department
of Agriculture and the cooperating
organizations represents the best
thought resulting from years of care
full Investigations by the horticultural
specialists employed by the govern
ment for this purpose. and who are
responsible to the government for the
reliability Of their conclusions. The
Department of Agriculture, the State
agricultural colleges, and the Bureau
of Education (Which is enlisting the
interest of teachers and school chill
dren in gardening) are the only Off
cial sources of information on this
subject.
The Department Is supplying infor-
nation to newspapers for publication.
1t also has ready for distribution three
important bulletins, They will be sent
free of charge TO all Americans who
ask for them. They are:
Farmers Bulletin 934, Home Gar
dening in the South; Farmers Bull
letin 1886, 1.-THE City and Suburban
Vegetable Garden; Farmers Bulletin
937, THE Farm Garden in the North"