The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-06-16
WAR GARDENING. VITAL BUSINESS FOR HAWAIIANS
BY ROBERT c. MILLER United Press Staff COrerspOndent)

AB4 kOVD6kSA VI N4AAASAIAO United Press Staff COrerspOndent)
 Honolulu, T. H., June 16-(UP)- The people of Hawai- are growing Victory Gardens, too, and it's no hobby with them = it's serious business.
 There is no food shortage in the Territory, but there is distinct scarcity of fresh vegetables. When the nearest market is about 2,4l5 miles away, you tend your peas and beans with infinite care and wage determined warfare upon the bugs attempting to cheat you out of your hard earned greens.
 Despite the fertility of the land there has been very little truck farming on the Islands. It was found long ago that pineapples and sugar cane were the most profitable crops and that vegetables could be obtained with reasonable economy either frozen or in cans from the Mainland.
 Communities Garden
 The war changed all that.
 The Japanese attack of Decem- Der 2 inspired immediate formation of 8 committee to foster develop ment of home gardens to insure a supply of fresh vegetables for the entire population. The results, even in six months, are amazing.
 Everyone that has a few square feet of earth has made it into 8 moxSa,a eSlaawn le Ia vrlJ1y oVa noVsf11AVa air raid shelter in town that isn't sproutipg lettuce or corn or 8 row or two of cabbage.
 The acreage devoted to school gardens alone has increased nearly 50 per cent and in all five districts of Honolulu, community gardens have been developed.
 The second crop at the Kapiolal1i community garden was harvested three months after 1t was planted by the 40 different families living in the neighborhood and the third crop has been planted. The one and three-quarters acres already have yielded sweet corn, mroccoli, beets, carrots, onions and several varieties of beans, tomatoes, turnips and let tuce.
 Dr. F. E. Armstrong, director of the Honolulu Victory Gardens, esti- mates that more than 20 acres have been put under cultivation for corn- munity gardens besides the hun dreds of home plots tended so care- fully by their developers.
 Seed Shortage Develops
 1ak a,ap AA sSl s,Ia by allowing home gardeners to take over what was once 8 frog farm and then supplied pipe for irriga- tion of the plots. Service clubs in the city were quick to grasp the idea and now each has its own gar- den. The American Legion spon- sored a Boy Scouts garden and the Junior Chamber of Commerce members grabbed hoes and laid out one of their own.
 Dr. Armstrong, professor of agri- cultural education at the University of Hawaii, arranged class in gardening to teach the fundamen- tals of agriculture to the initiates. The classes delve into the mysteries of fertilization, insect control, irri- gation and plant lore. As soon as one class Is graduated another is started. Also there is a technical advisory committee consisting of plant specialists who answer any and all questions concerning truck gardening.
 There is no way of estimating the total vegetable production in the Territory as a result of these gar- dens but Suffice to say that the two greatest shortages in Honolulu to- day are seeds and beer, in the order named.