The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1942-04-03

HUME GAhOENo
II you are figuring on digging up
your lawn and planting It TO war
tine vegetable garden the Depart
msnt Of Agriculture advises against
II.
This advice may appear contra
dictory. particularly If your con-
templated sacrifice is inspired by
the nationwide campaign for more
home gardens. but the reason is
that the officials question the grow
ing ability of the would.be city gar
dener They don't want seeds vast
ed.--funny as it may sound.
Thousands Of letters have poured
in from cities asking for garden
Ing information. These are being
answered with information and
warning which the Department
hopes will lead many OF the would
be gardeners to stick by their
lawns, flower gardens and back
yards, and leave the vegetable
growing TO those who know how
OF who have expert guidance.
The Department realizes that
many extra million pounds OF vita
min.rich vegetables can be pro-
duced in home gardens. This real
ization prompted it recently to sum
mon farm. educational. club. seed
trade. and government leaders TO a
national garden confer snce, but
this program is not aimed at turn.
ing city tracts. par DIS. or
flower gardens to Tn wing OF
Yegeta bles. In fact .-. urging
that they not be used.
It's not that the Department is
80 esthetically.minded that it wants
TO preserve the beauty Of your
grass, shrubs or flowers. Il has
other reasons. The Department
feels that few city people are good
gardeners.
Not many city sites make good
vegetable gardens. Too many
yards contain gummy clay soil
taken from basement excavations,
or are poorly drained and overly
shaded. Vegeta bles demand deep.
rich, loamy soil. and much sun
shine
The most important reason IS
that the nations supplies of seeds.
fertilizers, insecticides and tools
are not large. In the past a large
portion OF the vegetable seeds we're
imported from Europe The war
has shut of this supply Many
Of the raw materials ued in making
fertilizers, insecticides and garden
tools are needed now in making
munitions and war equipment.
The Department argues that gar
den supplies should not be wasted
on gardens that are doomed 70 fail
ure because OF inept gardening or
a poor garden site.
Who, then, should grow a vsgeta-
pie garden?
Every family living on a farm
or country place should have a gar
den.
Most people in small cities and
villages either have suitable ga.
den spots Of their own or can OBJ
tain the use Of conveniently located
small plots OF reasonably good soil
that are not too steep, too wet, or
too shady.
This classification includes the
many good gardeners in Ypsilanti,
so get ready and don't waste seeds.
There are many advantages in
having large percentage OF fam.
HES producing their own vegeta-
bles. They will eat more. will
have better health and more energy
and will be able to work harder
and longer. Producing vegeta-
bles at home puts the food supply
right where 1t is used. II doesn't
take any freight cars or trucks TO
nave the food to those families
and transportation is needed bad
~ for other things these days.
Home gardens on the farms re-
lease more Of the commercial vege-
table production for other uses.
such as feeding urban Americans
the armed forces and America g
allies. They also help save tin
containers.