CHAPTER XIX 
COOPERATION OF THE PRESS 
Vital Help Given by the Newspapers and Periodicals of America 
T 
"'MdE printed word, the most powerful force known 
to civilization, made war gardens possible. In 
no other way could they have been made to 
multiply so rapidly in all parts of the land. From 
printer’s ink to parsnips and parsley is a long jump; 
but the newspapers and magazines made that jump 
along with the others which they made for Liberty 
Loans, the Red Cross, and various other war-work 
campaigns. When the shadow of war fell across 
America, and before 
the actual declaration 
of war, the National 
War Garden Commis- 
sion sent out the first 
rallying call to the 
home food producers. 
The newspapers and 
magazines spread the 
call freely. General 
Pershing later said, “Keep the Food Coming”; and 
the publications heard that call, too, and relayed it to 
their readers. 
The “ Soldiers of the Soil ” wanted instruction and they 
wanted it quickly. Prompt action was necessary that 
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