The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-03-01


have more food In q period OF
shortages, and q natural necessity
TO keep down the increasingly higp
cost OF eating,
In honest appraisal, therefore, the
success Of Victory Gardening can be
attributed TO no higher psychology
ieal motive than enlightened self
interest. Call 1t just plain SELFISH
ness II you must, but anyway. more
people today are interested In main
tanning their own full bellies than
there are In the visit Of Nine, Chang
KNi-Shek and tho lend leasing OF
old to China, North Africa, or so.
Wet Russia,
When the Department Of Agri-
culture began It's campaign, o little
"Vietory Gardens" pamphlet was
prepared as o guide for local com.
lnittees and beginners, The normal
press run on one OF these leaflets Is
100, 900 copies, but In q great rush Of
optimistic enthusiasm, o brave bu-
reaucrNt In tho Department Of Az
rteulturQ decided to go all-out on
this thing and ordered o half NAL
lion copies, which the Government
Printing Office said II could deliver
by Feb, /,
Popular Literature
So heavy was the initial demand
for this pamphlet that By mid-Feb-
ruary the order had been raised TO
q total OF three million copies, and
II Is doubtful II this will satisfy the
demand. "Vietory Gardens" Mis-.
eellaneouS Publication No, 483 OF the
u, s, Department OF Agriculture,
therefore promises TO become the
hest-seller of l94S and Its circulation
will probably break oil records for
government publications,
And by tho way, just to keep I'm
Gle sam from being plowed under by
requests for free eor:es, this "Victo.
~ Gardens" pamphlet sells for 3
cents, and should be ordered direct
" from the Superintendent OF Do
cuments, Washington, D, Q.
What the Department OF ARrioul-
ture experts emphasize, however, Is
that their pamphlet Is general, and
that II Is impossible to prepare any
gardening guide that Ia applicable 10
the entire United States, All COR
respondenee school, beginning gard
eners who want real information on
what should be grown In their state
when II should DO planted and what
should DO done about ", should write
10 their state agricultural colleges,
county agents, extension services
and the experiment stations, or con.
suit local gardening experts,
VITAMIN GARDENS
The Victory Garden idea can Of
course 40 sour and defeat Its own
good intentions, A primary fear IL
that too many home gardeners will
20 In for corn-on -the -cob and pota-
toes, OF which there Is apparently
an adequate normal supply. The
Victory Garden idea Is oil tied UP
with the nutrition idea, and the
things tho guvm ent experts say you
should grow are high-vitamin crops
like tomatoes, beans, carrots, and
leafy vegetables like cabbage chard,
spinach.
But the way various communities
and private companies are getting
behind the Victory Garden campaign
at this early stage seems TO indicate
that tho Idea will be handled not
only In quantity but with typical
American good sense.
In Atlanta, 1900 lots on which
there are delinquent taxes will be
plowed up for Victory gardeners.
In Des Moines, q public utility Is
planting q model, small Victory
Garden indoors, IN the lobby Of Its
office building. Soil will be hauled
In, and moisture and sunshine will
be artificially supplied, but there
will be a gardening expert In at
tendance to give free advice on how
to obtain the same results with the
help Of strong back and Mother
Nature.