116 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [P. D. 4. 



Washington vvhich came both from the Department of Agri- 

 culture and from the Food Administration urged a united 

 people to a common activity in the production and the con- 

 servation of food. 



The enthusiasm for seed planting, then, was followed by the 

 preserving of all surplus perishable foods so far as this was 

 possible. The canning movement was named the ^'conserva- 

 tion movement," and to many minds the two names meant the 

 same thing. The movement for drying foods and vegetables 

 followed, and although this was less widely extended, it clearly 

 increased the preservation of perishable foods. 



The canning groups brought women together and gave them 

 a sense of the common purpose. This was of vital importance. 

 The shelf upon shelf of canned goods tucked away for the 

 winter gave the housewife a sense of protection for the coming 

 season. This, too, was good. Grocers reported that the accu- 

 mulation of canned goods thus prepared has made a wide differ- 

 ence in the available surplus which can be sold and shipped, 

 and has doubtless made a more economical provision for the 

 year's feeding of the family. 



Out of the many discussions that attended the canning and 

 drying, certain things became clearly evident. First, that the 

 home provider of food must practice two sorts of food conserva- 

 tion. She must be able to provide her family with essential 

 foods at the lowest possible price, and she must, so far as 

 possible, choose these essential foods from those supplies 

 within reach which are not needed for our Allies and our boys 

 at the front. 



Much confusion in our thinking has come from the fact that 

 we have not distinguished between these two forms of food 

 economy. Food saving may help the Allies and it may not. 

 Ever\'thing depends upon the good sense with which it is ad- 

 ministered. To let alone, so far as we can, those precious food- 

 stuffs which can be shipped, and svhich are in compact form, 

 occupying the least possible space, — this is a prime patriotic 

 duty. This is sometimes called '' patriotic economy." This 

 may not be personal or individual economy. To choose for 

 our own use from our abundant foodstuffs those which are 

 least needed by our Allies or are least available for them, this 



