THE WAR GARDEN VICTORIOUS 47 



only great in size, but in the consequences that were 

 to come from it. This important innovation in methods 

 of supplying the quartermaster's store with part of the 

 food needed, not only had the backing of the officers in 

 charge, but also received the hearty commendation of 

 the Secretary of War. It proved of value in many ways. 



At practically all the army camps, there were con- 

 siderable amounts of land not required for actual mil- 

 itary purposes. These plots varied from a few hundred 

 to several thousand acres. There was, however, no 

 fund available under the War Department or army 

 appropriations which could be used for the purpose of 

 placing this land under cultivation and carrying on 

 the work. 



At Camp Dix there were 400 acres inside the reser- 

 vation which could be immediately utilized for food 

 production. Colonel J. S. Fair, assistant to the Acting 

 Quatermaster-General, and head of the conservation 

 and reclamation division, helped to work out and gave 

 his active support to the plan of planting a garden at 

 this place. When it was found that the land could be 

 used and that Lieutenant-Colonel Edmond Tompkins, 

 then Camp Quartermaster, had the men available, the 

 National War Garden Commission secured nine big 

 motor-trucks and rushed over from Philadelphia, thirty 

 miles distant, thirty plows and other garden tools, 

 seeds, fertilizer, and other needed material. The final 

 arrangements were completed on one day, and on the 

 following day the supplies were on hand. 



The Commission's demonstration war garden at 



