THE WAR GARDEN VICTORIOUS 49 



One hundred and forty acres were planted to pota- 

 toes, both early and late varieties; seventy acres to 

 beans; forty to corn; twelve to beets; twelve to onions; 

 eight to cucumbers; five to tomatoes; one to cabbage; 

 and other areas to a variety of vegetables. The land 

 on which the camp was located had been farms, on 

 which there were a number of orchards. These were 

 cared for and the fruit gathered. In addition, about 

 three hundred tons of hay were harvested. The garden 

 even included an acre of broom-corn, which the supply 

 officer in charge of purchasing brooms figured saved 

 many a dollar. The boys, however, maintained that 

 their reward from this particular corner of the garden 

 came from the help rendered in " sweeping on to Berlin." 



Aside from the food produced, the Camp Dix war 

 garden was of benefit in other ways. It afforded healthful 

 outdoor work for convalescents and other men who 

 were not physically fit for active military training, 

 but who after a few weeks or months of this exercise 

 were able to go back into the fighting ranks. Colonel 

 F. B. Beauchamp, inspector of the southern command 

 of the British army, who had come to the United 

 States on a tour of inspection of the camps here, pointed 

 out what this form of work was accomplishing for many 

 men in the British army, and how thousands of them 

 were being so benefited by the regular living in the 

 camps and the life in the open that they were able to 

 return to service on the battle-field. 



In addition to using convalescents and men not 

 physically capable of service overseas the camp garden 

 4 



