REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON VEGETABLES 

 FOR THE YEAR 1917. 



By John L. Smith, Chairman. 



The year 1917 in some respects has not been a successful one; 

 the shortage of labor, due to conditions arising from the war, is 

 largely responsible for this. The vegetables exhibited during the 

 year were of the same high quality as in former years. No new 

 vegetable was exhibited during the year 1917. 



Our vegetable shows during the year, oh the whole, were con- 

 sidered far behind other years. The gratifying feature of the year 

 has been the revival of interest on the part of the people in general 

 in agricultural matters. The people have manifested the desire 

 to acquire knowledge concerning agriculture and to apply the same 

 in the cultivation of any land owned or hired by them. This 

 interest should be kept alive and everything should be done to 

 assist those who desire to become interested in the cultivation of the 

 soil. 



The year that has just closed has been a remarkable one in many 

 respects. It has witnessed the entry of our country into the great 

 World War. It has also seen an awakening of interest among the 

 people in agriculture. The pressing needs of the War have directed 

 our attention to the study of the soil and its products. We are 

 beginning to realize that the progress of a nation depends largely 

 upon agriculture. 



A generation ago, every family had its garden plot, with hens, 

 pigs, and cows. The cost of living was small because it was not 

 necessary for such a family to go into the market to buy its food 

 products. This condition for some years has ceased. A man's 

 time has been regarded as too valuable to devote to such work. 

 We have been gradually divorcing ourselves from the soil, leaving 

 its cultivation in the hands of men who do it merely for profit. 



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