THE WAR GARDEN VICTORIOUS 163 
cannot be obtained. Every encouragement, therefore, 
should be given to home drying, in order that the people 
may become familiar with the excellence of the products 
which may be prepared by this method, and to save 
the vast quantities of excellent food which now go to 
waste for lack of adequate methods of conservation. ” 
The simple form of drying by artificial heat and by 
heat of the sun in thousands of American homes and in 
no less degree the science of dehydration as developed 
on a commercial scale, has shown its economic worth. 
The art as practiced to-day owes much to scientific 
research. This does not mean that the methods are 
complicated. Science has simplified them and given 
greater assurance of successful results. It has been 
estimated that the United States could save $19,000,000 
annually in its transportation bills by the drying of its 
garden products. The saving of only a portion of this 
large sum would be worth while, and it would be not 
alone in the saving of money but in the release of much 
valuable freight-car space for other purposes that the 
nation would probably receive important benefit. 
Every victory gardener or home food producer in the 
United States can help to save part of this money and 
freight-space. It might not be just to ask them to do 
this if elaborate preparations and large outlay of money 
were necessary. As these are not required every per- 
son who has a vegetable plot should conserve some of 
the surplus product if it would otherwise go to waste. 
Practically all vegetables and fruits can be dried. The 
process is simple. The cost is slight. In every home 
