LIBERTY GARDENS. 355 



Liberty Gardens. 



R. S. MACKINTOSH, AGRICULTURAL DIVISION, UNIVERSITY FARM, ST. PAUL. 



Everywhere we go we find small and large plots of land 

 planted for the first time in vegetables. In the past these emer- 

 gency gardens have been called "War gardens." We now propose 

 the name Liberty Gardens. We have entered this war to pro- 

 tect our own liberty and to assist all others to enjoy the same 

 privilege. If the vegetables produced in these gardens are prop- 

 erly used and conserved it means that the food supply of America 

 and the world has been increased. The plea is going out in every 

 way possible for the use of vegetables in place of wheat and meat. 

 These two products are needed for war purposes. It is stated 

 that Americans do not use as large a percentage of fruits and 

 vegetables as they should. The proportion of vegetables is only 

 about fourteen per cent, of the food used. The food administra- 

 tion authorities urge that the amount be increased to thirty per 

 cent. 



As horticulturists — the largest horticultural society in 

 America — we are deeply interested in all that pertains to fruit, 

 vegetables and flowers. If the people are to use more vegetables 

 we should do everything that lies within our power to stimulate 

 and support this change. How can we do it? We can set the 

 example by doing it ourselves. Can and dry more vegetables. 

 Use more vegetables every day of the year. As we are "setting 

 the pace" then we can urge others to do the same thing. As Mr. 

 Latham wrote earlier in the year, we are interested and the ones 

 who know how to grow the vegetables and fruits, therefore we 

 should assist all others who need help. Secretary Cranefield, of 

 the Wisconsin Society, has urged that every member be a com- 

 mittee of one to look after the work in his own community. Do 

 this by growing, eating, and talking about how to grow, how to 

 cultivate, how to use, how to can, how to store, and the other 

 how s that come up. 



How many quarts of canned vegetables and fruits can you 

 use? Do you not believe that every family should have at least 

 twenty-five quarts of canned vegetables for every person in the 

 family? This has been suggested as the minimum amount. The 

 more used the better. If each person saves a little wheat and 

 meat it means a big saving when it is multiplied by 125,000,000 — 

 the number of persons in America. 



