WHEN the human animal is reduced to the 

 lowest common denominator, by subtract- 

 ing his means of subsistence, he is as trUe 

 to type as any other genus in creation. 

 The trend of the times is increasingly 

 toward just this subtraction; not, through the increase in 

 the cost of commodities — that is a result, not a cause — but 

 through actual lack. And the sinister spirit of direct action, 

 which boldly defined means "might to take gives the right 

 to take," is gaining until the lowest common denominator of 

 the human animal is already discernible. And things must 

 be done about it! 



What can be done? Gardens can be made, for one thing — 

 and more and more gardens. What there is about this most 

 ancient of human occupations that accounts for its therapeu- 

 tic value, the psychiatrists have not yet revealed to us, it is 

 true; but that it has such value to a transcendent degree, es- 

 pecially in the case of mental or emotional disturbance, every- 

 one is perfectly aware; just as everyone is aware that mental 

 and emotional disturbances are shaking things to their found- 

 ations right now. 



There is an increasing number of persons whose sanity 

 is beyond question who are asking in all seriousness to-day 

 whether the complete overthrow of civilization throughout 

 the world is as impossible as it seemed a few years back. Still 

 it is difficult, to be sure, to conceive the succession of events 

 which would result in social darkness once more over the face 

 of the earth; but there are straws that show unmistakably a 

 wind blowing. 



Prices do not mount continually and consistently in every 

 country in the world, and in every part of every country, 

 without some great basic reason more vital in character than 

 the local or even the national profiteer. Attributing to the 

 latter the full deserts of his monstrous villainy does not, after 

 all, account for more than an infinitesimal portion of the 

 vast total increase. 



It is not the increase in the cost of commodities that 

 should most concern us however, but the actual lack of them. 

 The cost of everything comes back inevitably to supply and 

 demand. Here is the crux of the whole situation. And we 

 are running a greater and graver world-wide risk in not rec- 

 ognizing this, with regard to the world's food especially, and 



dealing with it frankly and positively, than any local priva- 

 tions, however acute, can as. yet possibly indicate. Because 

 as yet local privations are mainly temporary with only the 

 luxuries scandalously priced; and wages have climbed and 

 are climbing and so that few are as yet actually deprived. 

 But wage increase cannot go on indefinitely — no more can all 

 the rest. Actually supply grows less instead of more, not- 

 withstanding all the inducements to production that farmers 

 and food producers generally are supposed to have; for shorter 

 hours of labor continually shortened, reduce production — 

 food production as well as all other kinds. 



It is hardly possible that garden making is enough for us 

 to do; but garden making is something. And if, instead of a 

 land of gardenless homes such as Mrs. Wilder laments on 

 another page, the house without its garden should become 

 the notable surprise of a day's cross country journey, a great 

 big move in the right direction would have been made. 

 Gardens throughout the length and breadth of the land, 

 gardens that shall yield sustenance for the complete man — 

 food for his body and beauty for his soul — are one of the land's 

 greatest needs. And it is a need that each one of us may do 

 a little toward filling, if there is just the will (and the willing- 

 ness) to do. 



Next Month's EXTENDING into actual practice 



Features ■t-' the tnou g ht of reall y complete 



service all true gardeners at this time 

 of the year feel very much as though 

 they are approaching the end of a blind road, and but for 

 the expectancy of spring the winter is a season to be merely 

 endured. But this need not be, indeed should not be, for as 

 outdoor activities wane the activities of "under glass" open 

 up. But we have not learned generally how to use the glass 

 house to best advantage. Something of its lure and wide 

 opportunity will be featured in "All kinds of Greenhouses" 

 in our next issue. There, too, Mr. Wilson takes up specifically 

 the romantic story of one tree, the Ginkgo, which links the 

 modern garden with pre-glacial times. Of timely practical 

 interest in the November number will be articles on Moving 

 Big Trees, Preventing Winter- Killing, and a helpful practical 

 plan of carrying the growing vegetable garden into the cellar 

 for winter, etc., etc. 



1 10 



