|
|
|
page 2
MAKE YOUR WAR GARDEN
A GARDEN OF VICTORY
|
By CHARLES LATHROP PACK,
President
National War Garden Commission |
America's
responsibility for the world's food supply did not stop with the ending of
the war. In peace, as in conflict, this country must carry the burden of
Europe's food problems. With the advent of peace these problems have become
intensified. America is now expected to furnish the solution and this can be
done only through the continued application of high pressure food production
and unwavering food conservation.
For two years of war the War Gardens of America
produced foodstuffs which helped establish the balance of power between
starvation and abundance. In the spring of 1918, General Haig declared, "We
stand with our backs to the wall." Of that call to the civilized world no
phase was more vital than its interpretation and answer in terms of food.
During that year the answer was given by the American people with true
American spirit. The war gardeners of the United States responded with a
vigor which carried the War Gardens over the top to victory. By the addition
of more than five hundred million dollars of crop value to this country's
food production they made it easier for America to feed her own people and
the people of France and Belgium. |
The Victory Garden is now as vital
as the War Garden. Peace brings new food needs. In reclaiming territory from
the enemy France and Belgium have greatly increased the number of their
people who must be fed. By restoring these former expatriates to citizenship
these countries have also assumed the burden of feeding them. This will mean
a vast increase in the demands on America as the source of Europe's food
supply in 1919. Europe cannot feed herself during the first year of
reconstruction; Russia faced famine conditions in the winter of 1918-1919,
and Mr. Hoover says that the world's food shortage will last for another
seven years.
The war gardener's responsibility, therefore, did not
end with the coming of peace. His War Garden must now be made a Victory
Garden in the full sense of the words. It must help solve the problem of
feeding people rendered helpless by years of ruthless and terrible war.
The garden crop of 1919 must be even greater than that
of 1918, and there must be more canning and drying for winter use. The
people of America have a real duty to perform in this respect and the nation
counts confidently on full measure of individual response. |
previous /
next |
