

Never before in the history of the city has there been such an abundance of vege- 

 tables, and never before has the cost of living been so low. For the first time Medicine 

 Hat has exported potatoes. Previously a great many carloads of potatoes have been 

 brought in, but this year several carloads have been shipped out, and there are more 

 to follow. 



A great deal of garden truck was grown on acreage, and many who entered in this 

 way got their inspiration from the Vacant Lot Garden club campaign in the local papers, 

 and distribution of literature, so that it created a sentiment in favour of gardening which 

 produced wonderfully gratifying results. 



CALGARY 



The second year of the Calgary Vacant Lots Garden club proved a great advance 

 upon the first. Last year the total number of lots under cultivation was 243; this 

 year it was 976, an increase of 733. This would represent about 100 acres devoted to 

 vegetables that were brought directly under control of the club. In his report the 

 Secretary-Treasurer, Mr. H. G. Burrows, says: 



"We cannot begin to estimate the value of this work to the community. Every 

 family in this city has been benefited directly or indirectly through the work of this 

 organization and what has been accomplished cannot be weighed by dollars and cents." 



THE BACKYARD GARDEN 



The war still goes on; the need for food stuff is becoming more urgent as the time 

 passes; therefore, it is important that, not only should the farming communities be 

 encouraged to furnish more produce, but all persons in the cities, towns, and villages 

 who have sufficient ground for a garden should grow something and thus do what they 

 can to assist production. In many of the cities of the United States, and in a few in 

 Canada, Garden Clubs have been organized. 



We have in Canada an untouched force, throbbing with vitality and anxious to 

 help — the boys and girls — many of whom have received training in gardening along 

 with other subjects taught in the schools. Organized into clubs, enlisted possibly 

 through the aid of the schools, they would prove no small factor in solving the diffi- 

 culties that may arise through shortage of labour. The food produced through 

 these agencies would be at the doors of those who most require it. It would be fresh 

 and crisp every day, and the quantity consumed would probably increase 100 per cent, 

 or more, thus effecting a considerable saving in the expenditure for meat and bread. 

 The outlay would be small, and the saving to the people as a whole would be great. 



A campaign for more production, conducted along the lines above mentioned, 

 would cheapen the cost of living for those taking part, would increase materially the sup- 

 plies for export, and would mean more food for the warring nations of Europe. 



— Milton J. Tinline. 



The Home Vegetable Garden and a Patriotic Gardening Competition 

 — Pamphlet No. 13 by W. T. Macoun, Dominion Horticulturist. 



Additional information on vegetable growing, the use of hot beds and cold frames, 

 etc., will be found in pamphlets issued by the Publication Branch, Dept. of Agriculture, 

 Ottawa, Ont. Free on application. 



187 



