124 THE WAR GARDEN VICTORIOUS 



industrial plants, large and small, provide land for 

 their men, prepare it for cultivation and divide it into 

 small individual plots, but they also made arrange- 

 ments for the wives of their workers to can their sur- 

 plus products in kitchens set apart for the purpose and 

 with capable instructors placed in charge to show the 

 women how to obtain the best results. 



The appeal to the women of the United States to 

 "Back Up the Cannon with the Canner" met with 

 loyal response. Testimony has been given by promi- 

 nent officials, governmental, military, and civil that the 

 war could not have been won without the aid of the 

 women. They took places left vacant by men in mu- 

 nition factories, on the farms, and in a hundred other 

 activities. It will never be possible to estimate accu- 

 rately the extent to which they made victory a cer- 

 tainty. But to no class of women is there due a greater 

 meed of praise than to the silent millions all over the 

 country who helpqd to save food. While their sisters 

 were working in munition factories, these women in 

 countless numbers were packing away "ammunition" 

 in jars so that the boys in France might always have 

 a supply. Soon after he landed in France, General 

 Pershing sent a message to America. It said: "Keep 

 the Food Coming. " The women of the country obeyed 

 the order. With ladles and spoons instead of bayonets, 

 with wash-boilers in place of tanks, and with cans and 

 jars as their weapons instead of hand-grenades and 

 bombs, they performed valiant service. 



They made a fine start in 1917 when, from the 



