THE WAR GARDEN VICTORIOUS 63 
in another direction than the manufacturers and their 
employes. This was in the saving effected in trans- 
portation facilities. These men knew better than any 
others the urgent demand which essential war shipping 
was making on freight-cars. They saw and handled 
daily the vast quantities of raw materials and finished 
products which had to be hauled. They knew there 
was a shortage which could not be made up entirely. 
They were cognizant also that gardening would result 
in a considerable conservation of carrier space which 
could help to fill the demand. If hundreds of thousands 
of workmen in all parts of the United States were grow- 
ing much of their own food right near their homes, it 
required no argument to prove that long lines of cars 
would be released for other service. 
The industrial promotion of the war-garden move- 
ment was not confined to manufacturers. Railroads, 
large insurance companies, public utilities in many 
sections, banks, and those engaged in numerous other 
lines of industrial and commercial activity, were 
equally enthusiastic and active in forwarding the move- 
ment. Gas companies opened demonstration kitchens 
and gave out thousands of books and other printed 
matter. Water companies in many places throughout 
the West, where the land required irrigation for culti- 
vation, furnished water free to all those who announced 
their intention of planting war gardens. Banks which 
helped so unselfishly and patriotically in other cam- 
paigns, urged home food production upon their patrons 
by handing to them leaflets pointing out the national 
