THE WAR GARDEN VICTORIOUS 51 



Shortly after the Camp Dix war garden was started, 

 Secretary Baker gave the undertaking his hearty en- 

 dorsement in the following letter addressed to the 

 National War Garden Commission: 



The War Department finds much satisfaction in the 

 creation of war gardens at various army camps by the 

 Conservation and Reclamation Division of the Quarter- 

 master-General's office. Food production at these 

 camps has been the subject of some concern with the 

 Department. The large areas of tillable land within 

 many of the military reservations have been regarded 

 as offering potential food production on a large scale, 

 and I feel that the army is to be congratulated that the 

 utilization of this space has now taken concrete form. 



Camp war gardens will serve more than one useful 

 purpose. The production of food at the mess door is 

 of great importance in that it not only lessens the army's 

 demand on the usual sources of supply but eliminates 

 transportation as well. 



To the National War Garden Commission I extend 

 the thanks of the Department for its quick response to 

 the appeal of the Quartermaster-General's office for 

 cooperation. Not confining itself to mere compliance 

 with the letter of the request, the Commission entered 

 fully into its spirit. At a time when funds were not 

 available through Government channels the Commis- 

 sion voluntarily provided seed, fertilizers, and equip- 

 ment which made possible the establishment of a war 

 garden of 300 acres or more at Camp Dix. For this 

 generous contribution and for swift action to overcome 

 the handicap of a late start I take pleasure in making 

 this acknowledgment and in expressing the hope that 

 the Camp Dix war garden of the National War Garden 

 Commission will prove an unqualified success. 



