THE WAR GARDEN VICTORIOUS 87 



tilizer which was going to waste. This was enough 

 to provide four tons for each acre. The survey com- 

 pleted, arrangements were speedily made with the 

 owners whereby the unused lands could be put to work. 



The county agent's survey also revealed things other 

 than land and fertilizer. He discovered that many 1917 

 gardens had been failures because the gardeners were 

 ignorant of agricultural principles. They had tried to 

 raise vegetables in soil not suited to them, and they 

 did not understand cultural methods. Among the 

 residents of Marshalltown were a number of retired 

 farmers. Like Cincinnatus, called from his plow to 

 become a public servant, these farmers were called 

 from their retirement by the Mayor and drafted for 

 public service. They were made garden supervisors 

 for the city. Each was appointed to oversee the work 

 in several blocks and to make sure that the gardens 

 were properly planted and well cared for. In order that 

 seeds might be assured to rich and poor alike, a public 

 subscription was taken to provide money for their 

 purchase. Thus Marshalltown's gardens, like Mrs. 

 Fuzziwig's smile, were both vast and substantial. 



To organized community effort was due a large part 

 of the success of the war-garden movement in the United 

 States. Without such help it is certain that the city 

 farming plan never could have attained the overwhelm- 

 ing success with which it has met. The generous thanks 

 of the nation are due the loyal and self-sacrificing local 

 committees and associations which gave of their time 

 and their energy to carrying through the plans which 



