THE WAR GARDEN VICTORIOUS 129 



vegetables as it was desired to can, and the transpor- 

 tation committee conveyed these products, in motor- 

 cars lent for the purpose, to the schoolhouse cannery, 

 where the women of the town did the canning. Thus 

 Roselle did with its might what its hands found to do — 

 and did it with what was available. 



In similar spirit of determination the women of 

 Williamsport, Pennsylvania, secured the use of a church 

 kitchen for the summer of 1917 and there began the 

 conservation of community surplus. Under the lead- 

 ership of Mrs. John G. Reading and Mrs. H. C. 

 McCormick, and with the assistance of Mrs. R. F. Allen 

 and many other able women, this task so humbly begun 

 grew in size and importance until the canning system 

 embraced the entire county. In 19 18 adequate quar- 

 ters were secured in the business district. Here can- 

 ning outfits were installed, and the women of the city 

 came day after day to put up the surplus from the 

 market and the excess products brought in by farmers. 

 A substantial fund had been voted by the local Com- 

 mittee of Safety to finance this work. Thus the women 

 were able to buy whatever products were brought in. 

 In seven other districts in the county similar work was 

 going on. All the canning centers were run on identical 

 lines and all were affiliated with the central cannery at 

 Williamsport. In this way scores of women throughout 

 the entire county were drawn into the work. Beyond 

 any question this conservation movement had much 

 to do with the remarkable community spirit exhibited 

 throughout the county. 



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