THE WAR GARDEN VICTORIOUS 87 
tilizer which was going to waste. This was enough 
to provide four tons for each acre. The survey com- 
pleted, arrangements were speedily made with the 
owners whereby the unused lands could be put to work. 
The county agent’s survey also revealed things other 
than land and fertilizer. He discovered that many 1917 
gardens had been failures because the gardeners were 
ignorant of agricultural principles. They had tried to 
raise vegetables in soil not suited to them, and they 
did not understand cultural methods. Among the 
residents of Marshalltown were a number of retired 
farmers. Like Cincinnatus, called from his plow to 
become a public servant, these farmers were called 
from their retirement by the Mayor and drafted for 
public service. They were made garden supervisors 
for the city. Each was appointed to oversee the work 
in several blocks and to make sure that the gardens 
were properly planted and well cared for. In order that 
seeds might be assured to rich and poor alike, a public 
subscription was taken to provide money for their 
purchase. Thus Marshalltown’s gardens, like Mrs. 
Fuzziwig’s smile, were both vast and substantial. 
To organized community effort was due a large part 
of the success of the war-garden movement in the United 
States. Without such help it is certain that the city 
farming plan never could have attained the overwhelm- 
ing success with which it has met. The generous thanks 
of the nation are due the loyal and self-sacrificing local 
committees and associations which gave of their time 
and their energy to carrying through the plans which 
