The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1919-06-06

Mr.. Pack wishing to do a war work which was
actually necessary, which was essentially practical
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, and
Of transportation facilities which were already
inadequate to the demands made upon them.
He thereupon organized the national war garden
commission. 1t was not a federal government
body, though it was indorsed by the adminiStra-
ton, and the quartermaster generals office CO.
operated with it at soldiers camps. The commits
sion consisted Of Charles Lathrop Pack, president,
of New Jersey Luther Burbank, California p. p.
ClaxtOn. United States commissioner of education,
Washington, ID. c.; DR.. Charles w. Eliot, Massa-
chusetts DR.. Irving Fisher. Yale university, Con-
necticut; Fred III. Golf, Ohio; John Hays Ham
mond, Massachusetts Fairfax Harrison, Virginia
Myron Il. Herrick, Ohio; President John Grier Hib-
ben, Princeton university, New Jersey; Emerson
McMillin, New York; A. w. Shaw, Illinois; Mrs.
John Dickinson Sherman, chairman of the con-
servation department of the General Federation
of Women's Clubs, Illinois; Capt. j. Il. White, Mis-
souri,: Hon. James Wilson, former secretary Of ag-
riculture, Iowa Assistant Secretary of Agriculture
Carl Vrooman QOr the year 1910 Z. s. Ridsdale,
executive secretary, who was also executive secre-
tary of the American Forestry association, with
the conservation department of which the COM
emission was affiliated, and Norman G. McLoud,
associate secretary. Mrs. Sherman also was APP
pointed by the department Of the interior a 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. was the first sio-
gan of the commission. War gardens are essen
TALLY family-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 1t over both of these daylight saving
gave them all a 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
dens numbered approximately 100000, and their
food products are estimated at $3.50, OOO, 900. The
1918 reports show 5,2S5,OOO gardens and food prod
ucts of 1926, O00, 900. The first season 5OO,OOO,OOO
Quarts Of vegetables and fruits were canned In
1918 the number increased to 1.450,000,00O quarts.
This. Of course, is but a small part Of the story.
II needs such a book as this to show us how many
other things there are to the story, as, 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 new strength and refrigerated
health by handling the hoe. and getting exercise as
good as golf and tennis. more profitable than
either and more patriotic than both. The gardens
they TILED ranged from a neglected, weed-mas-
The boys at Camp Dix went over the top as gar
deDers at home before they got their opportunity
to- go over the top as crusaders In the glorious
Gauss OF human liberty abroad.