THE WAR GARDEN VICTORIOUS 119 



British organization soon had eight hundred branches 

 and collecting depots throughout the United Kingdom. 

 Headquarters were established in London, with Admi- 

 ral Lord Beresford as president. The patrons included 

 many prominent people, but its members ranged from 

 the owners of large estates, contributing regular sup- 

 plies weekly, to the small schoolboy with only a ten- 

 foot plot to cultivate. Not long after the work got 

 under way, 300,000 pounds of fresh vegetables and 

 fruits were being furnished weekly to the British navy. 

 In speaking of this work and its value. Rear Admiral 

 Lionel Halsey, third lord of the Admiralty, said: 



Those associated with the Vegetable Products Com- 

 mittee can happily feel that this work is of priceless 

 value, for without a vegetable food the men of the fleet 

 could not have so thoroughly performed their work in 

 the past; nor will they be able to do so in the future 

 without a continuance of this splendid work as effici- 

 ently and as generously as in the past. Its value may 

 be realized when it is stated that these supplies are an 

 invaluable factor in keeping the men in good health 

 and fitness. 



What is true in the case of the stalwart men of the 

 British navy, is true of all other members of society, of 

 high and low degree. There is need for vegetable food. 

 The body is kept in better condition if it does not de- 

 pend too largely on a meat diet. Victory gardening will 

 add greatly to the proportion of greens which will enter 

 into the diet of the American people. 



The future of gardening, therefore, is assured. It is 



