VICTORY GARDENS 
* 
Edwin S. Webster, President, Massachusetts Horticultural Society - in “Horticulture”, 
May 15, 1941 - “If there is any one thing which demoralizes a people and makes them 
amenable to suggestions of discouragement and despair, it is the lack of morale... 
That being true, it is imperative that people should be able to turn to some interest 
which will absorb their attention, at least for a short time, and thus help them to main- 
tain a balanced equilibrium. I believe with all my heart, that this can be accomplished 
in no better way than through the medium of gardens, flower shows, and gatherings 
of garden-minded persons.” 
Prof. B. S. Pickett, Head, Department of Horticulture, Iowa College of Agriculture: 
“I think the aesthetic and sentimental values of home fruit plantings are really of 
enormous importance in making agriculture attractive as a way of life; second, I am 
convinced from both surveys and personal experience that farmers will absolutely not 
get into the habit of buying sufficient fruits and their only chance to have enough is 
to grow them; third, modern knowledge of fruit growing has progressed to the point 
where the operations of bringing fruit trees into bearing are simplified and more certain 
than they were a few years ago.” 
Prof. T. J. Talbert, Chairman, Department of Horticulture, University of Missouri, 
Columbia, Missouri - “In this National Emergency, we will all agree, it is of paramount 
importance that our farm and suburban people become as nearly self-supporting through 
the growing of fruits and vegetables for home use as possible.” 
National Association of Gardeners - Boost Your Community Campaign: “Gardening 
is an economic, moral and spiritual force. It is a bulwark, a defensive measure against 
war and depression. It inculcates a moral force, for people who live close to the soil 
have a real sense of duty and justice, and possess the high morale and courage found 
in a free people. It strengthens the spiritual force through living in beautiful surroundings 
which compel wonder and worship - man does not live by bread alone.” 
“Organized Labor”: Editorial; - Nov. 22, 1941: “The present war is going to be won 
by morale and material, not by material alone” ... “Morale is six times as important 
as material’... ‘Morale, however, does not just happen; it is built.” 
