82 THE WAR GARDEN VICTORIOUS 



than his neighbor's. This means that he gives it better 

 and more intensive cultivation and in so doing he is 

 certain to increase his yield. 



"Well, John, how many bushels of potatoes do you 

 expect to get off your lot.'' " is the question which one 

 gardener asks of his side-partner. 



"Oh, I think I'll have five bushels," is the reply. 



"Well, I'll bet you a good cigar that I beat you by a 

 bushel," is the friendly banter. 



"You're on!" And so it goes. 



Each of them turns to and digs a little harder than 

 he did before. Then darkness overtaking them, they 

 walk home together discussing the ways of bugs and 

 the wherefore of wilt and blight. 



The value of such good-natured encouragement and 

 cheer is not to be taken lightly. Always this marching 

 forward together, with a brother's hand on the shoulder, 

 has made the work of life easier and has added to the 

 output of the workers. 



In community gardening the question of organiza- 

 tion is always an important one to be considered. 

 This is true no matter what the size of the undertaking, 

 whether it includes the working out of plans for an 

 entire city or for a single group of workers in one large 

 plot. In starting a new enterprise of this sort it must 

 be known how much land is available for cultivation, 

 the location and character of the land, the kind and 

 quantity of manures and fertilizers readily procurable, 

 what skilled directors can be secured, and the probable 

 number of gardeners. 



