158 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 



We have been accustomed too long to buy the necessaries of life 

 at the store, and have lost all interest in the cultivation of the small 

 plot of ground, a custom which, only a few years ago, was universal. 

 A wonderful educational campaign, however, has been waged 

 during the past year, directing the attention of the people to the 

 necessity of utilizing all spare land for the purpose of raising crops, 

 no matter how small in amount. This should be continued with 

 intensified effort until the head of every family can say that a large 

 percentage of the necessaries consumed by his family are pro- 

 duced by their joint personal efforts. 



There is a wonderful opportunity to assist the people in this 

 work for many are unfamiliar with the care necessary to secure 

 proper results. This community is fortunate in having a society 

 similar to ours. It should be our purpose to give freely information 

 and advice to every person seeking it, so that there may be an 

 intelligent application of effort to the raising of produce. We should 

 assist, as a society and as individuals, in stimulating the people to 

 take an interest in agricultural matters. The governmental depart- 

 ments are ably advising people as to the conservation of food 

 for the purpose of eliminating all waste; let us, as an organization, 

 do our part to increase the amount of the supply. The handling 

 of the matter should be arranged in an orderly manner. 



I can make no better suggestion than to have a committee, 

 known as the "Committee, or Bureau, of Information." This 

 committee should be prepared to furnish all information concerning 

 the proper planting and care of the various vegetables, including, 

 of course, the preparation of the soil for the planting of the seed. 

 The whole resources of the Society, if necessary, should be pledged 

 to this work. This does not mean that its activities in other 

 branches should cease, but that they should be subject to the more 

 pressing one of assisting in furnishing an adequate food supply for 

 the Nation. 



If our efforts do anything towards a revival of interest on the 

 part of the people in the cultivation of the soil, we will have ac- 

 complished much. Our work along these lines will be as important 

 to the Government and to the Nation as if we were actively engaged 

 with the Army in matters more intimately connected with the 

 prosecution of the War. It is a work to which we may well bend 



