THE WAR GARDEN VICTORIOUS 163 



cannot be obtained. Every encouragement, therefore, 

 should be given to home drying, in order that the people 

 may become familiar with the excellence of the products 

 which may be prepared by this method, and to save 

 the vast quantities of excellent food which now go to 

 waste for lack of adequate methods of conservation." 



The simple form of drying by artificial heat and by 

 heat of the sun in thousands of American homes and in 

 no less degree the science of dehydration as developed 

 on a commercial scale, has shown its economic worth. 

 The art as practiced to-day owes much to scientific 

 research. This does not mean that the methods are 

 complicated. Science has simplified them and given 

 greater assurance of successful results. It has been 

 estimated that the United States could save $19,000,000 

 annually in its transportation bills by the drying of its 

 garden products. The saving of only a portion of this 

 large sum would be worth while, and it would be not 

 alone in the saving of money but in the release of much 

 valuable freight-car space for other purposes that the 

 nation would probably receive important benefit. 



Every victory gardener or home food producer in the 

 United States can help to save part of this money and 

 freight-space. It might not be just to ask them to do 

 this if elaborate preparations and large outlay of money 

 were necessary. As these are not required every per- 

 son who has a vegetable plot should conserve some of 

 the surplus product if it would otherwise go to waste. 

 Practically all vegetables and fruits can be dried. The 

 process is simple. The cost is slight. In every home 



