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

Then there is the social we'll the domestic
side Community gardening, for instance, is prac
dcally the only method by which all available
garden space may be put to work. by which labor
may be most efficiently employed by which econ
Omy in purchasing power may be best exercised
and by which it is possible to secure expert super
vision. But these things material There is
value beyond them, which one finds recorded here
the value of the community spirit it marks the
increasing solidarity of society.
like value is also recorded in this volume in
its description of the gardens established by many
large corporations and Industrial and transporta-
ton concerns for their employees, resulting in
feeling of fellowship not previously existing be-
tween capital and labor.
The Illustrations really illustrate the text The
series of striking posters used in the publicity
campaign reproduced in color There are 81
full-page illustrations in half tone many Of which
are exceedingly interesting. The small home gar
den in Marion which is shown herewith. is not
especially pictorial but selected because it is
war garden typical of hundreds Of thousands
seen the country overland, let hope, long to
be SEEN
Victory Garden a Fixture
Mr.. Pack predicts that the war garden-now the
victory gardens a fixture. The food conditions
of the world will make it necessary for many
years and during that time the value Of garden
ing will have become so apparent that the move
ment will continue until it has become a fixed
habit and firmly implanted in the lives OF the peo-
pie.
Herein lies the tremendous Importance of the
United States school garden army, which already
has a membership of nearly 100000. For the
mobilization of the school children the logical
agency was the United States bureau of education
of the department of the interior P P. ClaxtOn,
United States commissioner of education ap-
preached the undertaking with broad vision and
keen foresight characteristic of his eltministra-
ton of educational affairs for the federal govern
ment. Under his guidance there came i2tO being
the United States school garden army, llObilized
with effective prOmptnCss and swung inc action
load lin Of Fran iS 5iroofO
Doctor Francis is educator of note who was
drafted into this important work by Commissioner
Claxton, and he brought to bear on the enterprise
perception and aggressiveness which achieved re-
suits national Importance in comparatively brief
time. President Wilson keenly interested in
the United States school garden army. His cordial
Endorsement expressed in a letter to Secretary
Lane which served the corner stone of the Struc-
ture and inspiration to the children of America.
From the beginning the commission and the
school garden army have worked in entire har-
mony. The commission has furnished the army its
publications, and has prepared special 1919 print
ings for its exclusive use Director Francis; in the
introduction says the mighty army of school chill
dren must help to get together the two factors of
leisure time and patriotism and of thousands of
acres of uncultivated lands. Superintendent of
schools must make their schools vital force in
giving food to the world and in conserving
what is produced
Secretary Lanes special message to the school
garden army contains this fOTceful paragraph
THE boys and girls who have liberty gardens in
1919, the garden army officers who assist in keep
ing the army efficient, and the teachers who direct
the work will render patriotic service to be COM
pared only to that of the who won the war
Mrs. Sherman says: In the opinion of the 1000,
eco members of the General Federation of Won
ems Clubs there is other subject that will
give the physical, mental and moral development
to the child that may from learning to pro
duce food from the SOIL We also believe that gar
dening for children is part of the school educa
ton OF a child; that it ranks in importance with
reading writing and arithmetic, and that the
schools the only agency equipped to handle the
subject in a comprehensive and adequate manner
The National Council of Women with % nationa
organizations is unanimous in its support OF gar
dening for children under school erection