CHAPTER XIX 



COOPERATION OF THE PRESS 



VITAL HELP GIVEN BY THE NEWSPAPERS AND PERIODICALS OF AMERICA 



THE printed word, the most powerful force known 

 to civilization, made war gardens possible. In 

 no other way could they have been made to 

 multiply so rapidly in all parts of the land. From 

 printer's ink to parsnips and parsley is a long jump; 

 but the newspapers and magazines made that jump 

 along with the others which they made for Liberty 

 Loans, the Red Cross, and various other war-work 

 campaigns. When the shadow of war fell across 

 America, and before 

 the actual declaration 

 of war, the National 

 War Garden Commis- 

 sion sent out the first 

 rallying call to the 

 home food producers. 

 The newspapers and 

 magazines spread the 

 call freely. General 

 Pershing later said, "Keep the Food Coming"; and 

 the publications heard that call, too, and relayed it to 

 their readers. 



The "Soldiers of the Soil " wanted instruction and they 

 wanted it quickly. Prompt action was necessary that 



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