REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON VEGETABLES 

 FOR THE YEAR 1918. 



By John L. Smith, Chaikman. 



The results of the vegetable exhibitions for the year 1918 have 

 been less satisfactory than in former years. This was due largely 

 to the scarcity of labor caused by conditions resulting from the 

 war. Quantity of production has been emphasized rather than 

 quality because the needs of the country have been so pressing. 



It is only when the people are free from stress that they devote 

 their time to the improvement of the quality of an article. At 

 such times there is ample labor available, plenty of time, and the 

 people are psychologically in a condition to give their attention 

 to the production of goods from the standpoint of excellence. 

 During the past year, however, the result sought for was an in- 

 crease in production, and we are sure this has been accom- 

 plished. 



Efforts have been made to stimulate the people to raise vegetables 

 sufficient for their own needs, and much work of a very encouraging 

 nature has been done in this direction. If persons who have become 

 interested during the past year will persevere, a little later they 

 will see their efforts rewarded, and will then desire to give more 

 attention to improving the quality of their products. 



Exhibitions during the past year have been poorly attended, 

 and for reasons indicated above the competition has been poor. 

 The attention of the exhibitors was absorbed in other matters. 

 They were interested in winning the war and had little time for 

 attending exhibitions of any kind. 



During the year, demonstrations were given at Horticultural 

 Hall by experts in the matter of planting and growing vegetables. 

 There was much interest in this new plan. It gave a great deal 

 of expert knowledge to those who were anxious to learn and desir- 

 ous of putting their knowledge into practice. This is a plan that 

 we recommend and sincerely hope will be continued. 



123 



