The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1919-05-30

Mr.. Pack wishing to do 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 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 federal government
body, though 1t was indorsed by the adminstra-
ton and the quarternaster 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 d. 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 4. 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. b. White, Mis-
souri, Hon James Wilson, former secretary of ag
rculture. Iowa; Assistant Secretary of Agriculture
Carl Vrooman (for the year 1910 p. s. Rdsdale,
executive secretary. who also executive secre
tary of the American Forestry association. with
the conservation department of which the COM
mission affiliated, and Norman G. McIoud,
associate secretary. Mrs. Sherman also was APP
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 coopera-
ton.
put the Stacker land to work" the first slo-
gan Of the commission. War gardens
TALLY famy-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 IL and worked by its employees. The railroads
went big business one better the children of the
nation put it 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 t'Ae fruits of the national
endeayor.
Results Are Amazing.
The results were amazing. The 1917 war gar
dens numbered approximately 100000 and their
food products estimated at S350.0O0O0O. The
1913 reports show 600 gardens and food prod
ucts Of S525,0O0.0O0 The first season 5OO,OOOOOO
1913 the number increased to 145O.000O00 quarts.
This of course, is but small part of the story.
1t needs such book as this to show us how many
other things there to the story as for instance
the releasing of many kinds of labor and the
essening of railroad congestion The book gives
an interesting picture of 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 ard more patriotic than both The gardens
they titled ranged from neglected. weed-mas-
tered rubbrsh-litfered vacant lot to city park.
The bows at Camp Dix went over the top as gar
deners at home before they got their opportunity
to- go over the top crusaders in the glorious
cause of human liberty abroad