312 .lournal of Agriculture, Victoria. | 10 May. 1919. 



I 



ARMY AGRICULTURE. 



The following extracts from an article contributed to the Journal of 

 the Board of Agriculture (England) by the Army Agricultural Com- 

 mittee will, doubtless, be of interest to Australian readers, particularly 

 as Australian soldiers took part in the work referred to. The article 

 was published last Novemher, and was, of course, written before the 

 cessation of hostilities :— 



Speaking generally, three years ago there was no such thing as Army 

 Agriculture. In 1915 a little flower garden was to be found here and 

 there, and white wash helped to smarten a camp. A year later the- 

 growth of small vegetables and relishes was begim ; one officer boasts that 

 he has grown his own mustard and cress for two years I It was not until 

 1917, when a national shortage of food was threatened, that the Army 

 hegan to bestir itself; then, too, it was gradually recognised what a lai'ge 

 quantity of good land had been appropriated for military purposes. 

 Through the wanter of 1917 many units proceeded to break up plots, 

 small and large, with the co-operation of the Director-General pf Lands. 

 At the same time, encouraged by the Director of Supplies and Transport, 

 seheiues Avere initiated for cultivations in France, Egypt, Salonica, and 

 Mesopotamia. 



By January, 1918, Army cultivations had assumed such large pro- 

 portions that the Army Council decided to appoint a Committee to 

 co-ordinate and help with the work. On 16th March, 1918, an Army 

 Council Instruction was issued impressing upon all ranks the need of 

 increasing the supply of food and of growing it where it will be con- 

 sumed, thereby reducing transport. Every opportunity should be 

 taken, the order said, to cultivate lands in and adjacent to barracks, 

 camps, command depots, and hospitals. The War Office has provided 

 money for initial expenses where required, and Army manure free Avheu 

 locally available. Some additional labour, to supplement the Avork 

 done by men in their spare time, has been found, from the Labour Corps. 

 N^on-combatant Corps, and prisoners of war. 



The two main objects of the Army Agricultural Committee at Home 

 are to prevent the waste of the large acreage of agriculturally valuable 

 land now in the occupation of troops, and as far as possible to make the 

 Army self-supporting in potatoes and other vegetables. With regard 

 to the prevention of waste, just over 6,500 acres are to-day being culti- 

 vated by the Army in Great Britain and Ireland; this is largely made 

 up of plots of from 2 or 3 to 30 yards square. In some camps every 

 available corner has been tilled between and round the huts; in others, 

 an old parade ground has been dug up by hand, manured, and planted. 



Ill sj)ite of the remarkable results which have been achieved, the 

 aim of Army cultivation to make His Majesty's Forces self-su})porting 

 in potatoes and other vegetables is as yet far from being realized. 

 Allowing an average production of horticultural cultivation of 10 tons to 

 the acre, the produce of the 6,500 acres now under cultivation will 

 suffice to supply not more than 300,000 men witli the full Army ration 

 of fresh vegetables. In this connexion it is interesting to note "that the 

 Armies in France arc producing more than half tlie (puintity of i)Otatoes 



