Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1931-03-19
GARDENS VS.. DEPRESSION

llitO otdtCS
in a nationally broadcast radio talk on the
farm garden, stated that in every economic
crisis through which the agriculture of any
section of the country has passed the home
garden and other sources of home food sup
ply have saved the day.
When the boil weevil struck the cotton
growing sections, MIR. Beattie pointed out,
one of the first steps taken was to start a
campaign for vegetable gardens, poultry,
pigs and COWS on every farm so that the lane
would at least provide a means Of livelihood.
Things havn't changed much and the same
principles apply today. The farmer, now
ever hard times may be for him, who plants
and cultivates his own garden has a form of
insurance against privation that is denied
the city worker. In this respect he is far
better off than the thousands Of unemploy-
ed in the cities, many of whom left the farm
at the time of industrial prosperity and are
now looking wistfully back at the land.
IF everybody engaged in farming"
MIR. Beattie said in his address, will pro-
duce plenty of fruits, vegetables, milk and
butter, poultry and eggs, home grown and
cured pork, also fresh meats to some extent
they can at least nave a good living at home
and that is more than a lot of people who are
out of employment have today. But says
the pessimist, that will only increase the
difficulty and reduce the market for foods
that are grown in a large way for sale Per-
haps, provided the farmer has the money
with which to buy the food, but suppose he
does not have the money, what then2 AS a
matter of fact, it is good business and econ
omy to produce most of the living for the
farm family and the hired help right on the
farm"
In all parts of the country there are far
sighted agricultural leaders who are in ag-
reement with Mr.. Beattie in preaching the
advantages Of making the farm as much as
possible a self-suficing unit: not only in
these times of agricultural and general &C.
onomic depression, but as a permanent ag-
ricultural policy. In South Carolina, Virgin
la, Arkansas and other states, statewide
campaigns to bring about the planting of
farm gardens are being actively pushed. In
these campaigns the agricultural colleges and
the states nome demonstration agents are
taking a leading part.
A we'll planted and cared for half-acre
garden will produce more vegetables than
the average family can eat, during the period
when the crops are maturing. Carrots, late
cabbage, beets, onions, parsnips, potatoes
and turnips can be grown and stored for use
during the winter, thus cutting the winter
food bills. One acre Of garden was worth
as much as IS acres of cotton on a farm in
Texas last year whose owner figured that
the acre yielded a profit of $500.
1t is not only from the point of view Of
cutting the family food bills, however, that
the vegetable garden deserves a place on ev-
cry farm. SO much has been said and writ
ten about vitamins during the last few years
that practically everyone knows they are es-
senial to good health. Fresh, green vegeta-
bles are among the best sources of these in
valuable vitamins, but entirely to frequent
ly the farmer, busy with his money crops,
feels that he has no time to bother with a
garden ever though his wife and the older
children may easily be able to take care of it
once it is ploughed.
The result is that in many instances the
farm diet is too much restricted to meat, po-
tatoes and bread. Green vegetables, one of
natures best preventive medicines, have lit
tie place on the menu. The various defici-
ency diseases have a chance to creep in,
breaking down health and stamina. Investi-
gators have found that a large proportion of
i'll health in rural districts is traceable to the
absence of a we'll balanced diet. No diet can
be called well balanced that lacks an abund-
ance of fresh, green vegetables.
A vegetable garden planted this spring
will return ample dividends in health and
in helping to make the farm family self-suf-
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