48 THE WAR GARDEN VICTORIOUS 
Camp Dix was a success from the start. It furnished an 
inspiration and gave impetus to the work all over the 
United States; and soon similar plots growing “Food 
F. O. B. the Mess Tent Door” were under way in a 
number of other camps. Thousands of war gardeners 
redoubled their efforts because of the knowledge that the 
men in the American army were doing similar patriotic 
work. “Over the Top with the Boys at Camp Dix!” 
became a new slogan which aroused genuine enthusi- 
asm and put new spirit into the back-yard and vacant- 
lot tillage. 
After the Commission had provided the means for 
starting the project, Lieutenant-Colonel Tompkins 
placed it in the hands of Captain E. V. Champlin, con- 
servation and reclamation qfficer of the camp, and the 
latter selected as farm officer Lieutenant John F. Bon- 
ner, an energetic young officer who was a graduate of 
an agricultural college and who had also enjoyed a 
practical farming experience. 
Major-General Hugh L. Scott, commanding officer 
at Camp Dix, took a keen personal interest in the proj- 
ect. He made several trips of inspection over the 
gardens, accompanied on two of these occasions by 
Mrs. Scott, to see how the work was progressing and 
to encourage the young officers in charge. He expressed 
his appreciation to Captain Champlin and to Lieutenant 
Bonner, actively in charge of the farm enterprise, 
and to their assistants, for the excellent results they 
were obtaining. His interest caused the boys to work 
with an added will. 
