The patriot., 1919-05-30
CZ4ezE5 LHDza0oS SAcx

side. Community gardening, for instance, is prac-
tically 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
ard by which tits possible to- secure expert super
vision. But these things are material. There Is n
value beyond them. which one finds recorded here,
the value of the community spirit as it marks the
increasing solidarity of society.
A like value is also recorded iii this volume in
It's description of the gardens established by many
large corporations and Industrial and Transports
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 are reproduced in color. There are 81
fullpage 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 was selected because ii is
a war garden typical of hundreds of thousands
seen th, country over-and. let us hope. loag to
be seen.
Victory Garden Fixture.
Mr.. Pack predicts that the war garlen-now the
victory garden--is 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, apparent that the move
ment Will continue until 1t has become Il fixed
habit and firmly implanted In the lives gf 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. T. r. Ciaxton,
United States commissioner of education. APP
preached the undertaking with broad vision and
keen foresight characteristic of his administra-
tion of educational affairs for theafederal govern
ment Under his guidance there came into being
the United States school garden army mobi,ized
with effective promptness and swung into action
under the leadership of j. H. Francis as director
Doctor Francis is an educator of note who was
drafted into this important work by Commissioner
Claxton and he brought to bear on the enterprise
perception and aggreSsfveHesS which achieved re-.
suits of national Importance in comparatively brief
time President Wilson was keeny interested in
the United States school garden army. His cordial
Endorsement was expressed in letter TO Secretary
Lane which served us the corner stone OF the sruc
ture and an inspiration to the children of America.
From the beginning the commission and the
school garden army have worked in entire har-
nony The commission has furnished the army Its
publications. and has prepared special 1918 print
inrs for ifs exclusive use Director Francis in the
Introduction says the mighty army of school chill
sIren must help 10 get together the two factors OF
leisure time and patriotism and of thousands of
acres of uncultyated lands. Superintendenfs Of
schools must make their schools vital force In
giving more food to tile world and in conserving
what Is produced
Secretary Lanes special message to the school
garden army contains this f0rceful paragraph I:
.The beys and girls who have liberty gardens in
191a ihe 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
Dretl only to that OF the men who won the war :