A MILLION AND MORE FOOD GARDENS 



265 



MAKING CITY SOIL PERFORM 



Not a large patch, but look how it grows. This boy took first prize in his class (children over 13 years of age) in the city-wide gardening contest conducted 

 by Portland, Oregon. Productivity per square yard rather than gross produce or profits was the test. Rich soil and an exceptionally good location — on a 

 well-drained southern slope — aided his success, but what he did can be approximated by the amateur gardener anywhere in the United States. In the distance 

 can be seen another contestant on a bottom-land garden. 



considerable mone}', and are proving of inestimable value 

 to the Government. The good the movement thus far has 

 accomjjlished cannot be measured adequately, for those 

 who have embraced the opportunities offered by the Com- 

 mission are perhaps enthusiastically over - indulgent in 

 their praise, while others report they cannot conceive 

 how the city millions could 

 have met food conditions 

 had not the garden idea been 

 implanted in the hearts 

 and brains of the people. 



When the White House 

 issued the garden plea the 

 employes of the Executive 

 Mansion immediately began 

 plans for a garden. The 

 Department of Justice gave 

 permission to till a plot of 

 ground opposite the White 

 House, and President Pack 

 sent to Nelson Webster, ex- 



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I PLANT A GARDEN NOW | 



I '* 1V7"AR has now made the planting of food gardens an | 



1 W imperative obligation upon every American citizen 1 



1 who has access to land, no matter how restricted its 1 



i area. The man, woman, or child who allows any soil fertility or | 



i available labor to go to waste this year deserves the oppro- | 



I brium that goes to the military slacker. We are perhaps j 



i approaching the time when we must adopt meatless days | 



I either voluntarily or by governmental fiat. Let us see to it | 



1 that the food substitutes for meat are produced independently 1 



I of the farms by a great host of home gardeners. Because it j 



I is late in the season, do not neglect to plant a garden for that | 



1 reason; prolific gardens may be seeded imtil July. Plant a | 



I garden now and help win the war." — CharlbsLathrop Pack, j 



ecutive officer at the White House, $100 worth of seeds. 

 Mrs. Wilson, and members of social Washington, announced 

 that only a three-course meal would in the future be 

 served at formal functions. Garden clubs throughout the 

 city of Washington began a systematic recruiting of boys 

 and girls and men and women who were able to shoulder 



a hoe and rake. Prizes 

 have been offered for the 

 most productive garden, 

 and this phase also is being 

 given much consideration in 

 other cities. In Washington 

 the campaign receives en- 

 thusiastic support, for it is 

 realized, perhaps, that all 

 governmental or nation- 

 wide campaigns of any char- 

 acter inust at least have 

 some connection with the 

 capital of the nation. 



But the work of the Com- 



