THE WAR GARDEN VICTORIOUS 81 



saving. One implement will often serve for two or more 

 gardeners, the gardeners arranging to use it at different 

 times. Employes of factories who have worked to- 

 gether in this way have found the community sys- 

 tem of much benefit. Other groups too have found it 

 equally helpful. 



Community gardening also makes it possible for 

 expert supervision to be provided. A group of scat- 

 tered individuals would probably find it difficult to 

 engage the services of a skilled gardener to help them 

 in their planting and cultivating. At slight expense to 

 each person involved, a community group of gardeners 

 can employ some expert to look over their gardens once 

 or twice a week, or as often as is found necessary, and 

 t guide them in all problems of cultivation. 



Some groups of community gardeners may be for- 

 tunate enough to have among them a man trained in 

 gardening, who is willing to give them the benefit of 

 his experience without charge. In other cases it may be 

 necessary to pay the supervisor in some way for his 

 instruction. In any event, whether the community 

 group possesses a trained gardener or not, all the mem- 

 bers will be able to gain a certain amount of benefit from 

 the experiences of their fellows. Each will possess some 

 bit of information which will be helpful to the others. 



Another gain to the community workers is the friendly 

 rivalry which is aroused by close contact with fellow 

 food producers. Each acts as a pacemaker to the 

 others. Each strives to make his plot "the best." He 

 begins by aiming to keep his garden freer from weeds 



