mis.] PLACE OF Till-: FARMKK IX THE BODY POLITIC. 81 



some of them shuuM nut be revived after tlie war. 'Ihe sim- 

 plification of the hi .me scheme is capable of releasing; woman 

 labor for factories and fur food production. 



{'']) We must grt)w more food in home gardens in city 

 and town and suburb. Inasmuch as this jjroduction does not 

 make the man and his family its sujjporl. it is not farming; 

 yet it may cuntril)Ute tu the food supplies in such a way as to 

 release much of the bread-stuffs and the red meats for other 

 uses and for export, r^luch of our experience in home gar- 

 dens has not been reassuring, but I hope that we have learned 

 enough to encourage us for the years to come. These home 

 gardens should not hire labor that can be used for the more 

 serious food production, for the making of munitions, for 

 transportation, and other uses. These gardens should be 

 cared for by members of the family and the ordinary house- 

 hold establishment. It is doubtful wdiether municipal gar- 

 dens, that must hire labor in competition with war work are 

 jtistified in this crisis. 



(4) We must directly increase production on the farms of 

 the country. This is one of the great problems now before 

 us. The major w^ar strategy of the nation having been deter- 

 mined and agreed on, we must then organize food production 

 into this strategy as an essential part of it. If by oversight, 

 stimulation and regulation, the food production cannot be 

 sufficiently increased, then men must be assigned to farms 

 although assigned or conscripted labor is mostly unwilling 

 labor and to be avoided. North x\merica is the last defense 

 in the food support of the war, on the side of the Allies. 



In all this discussion, which I have presented to you tonight, 

 I am not seeking to excuse the farmer or to ''take the part" of 

 the producer. I am merely trying to state the situation. It 

 is my eitort to try to put before the public the necessary rela- 

 tion of the farmer to the body politic, to the end that the farm- 

 er may be placed in such position that he can operate his 

 business to the best advantage, not only in the producing of 

 supplies but also in the selling of them. I am interested that 

 he shall be able to lead an attractive and resourceful life. 

 This really places more responsibility on the farmer, how- 

 ever, and this responsibility I wish to emphasize. The or- 



