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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (March 17, 1918)
OKEGOMAX, PORTLAND, MARCH 17. 1918. - ii - - , , ., ... , I GOVERNMENT BEGINS ITS DRIVE FOR GREAT INCREASE IN FOOD PRODUCTION IN 1918 Ma With Ho !( Help Feed Milium Aaericaa Soldier Tnia Year City War Gardens May Well Hold Key to Situation. -... .v " - - I $ vj - k - . ' - r sU 7f V V --- : - .rrt --..-.. J r-; a-. -.v. :-. TV A fcfexmi " a Vr" A jSw , f acidity; (tibia refuiie and aurh product are In reach of the individual par dener muvt b used to enrich the soil. Jamci if. Beattle. avsistant hortlcul turlvt of the AKricultural Department, uraea not only more gardens, but bette onea The aotl mult be more carefully prepared. Mr. Beattiea says. lay ou jut as jnuch of a plot as you can do luMtlce to and always with the Idea of conserving such articles of food best can be used foe the armies as well as to supply - the individual table and save transportation. This expert of the department ex plained at aome-lentrth the wonderful use of desstcated vegetables were to by the European armies, and expressed the hope that the need might be seen for their use In the American Army, as it might aid In solving transportation problems. Holding up a 15-pound con tatner of dried vegetables. Mr. Beattie explained that there was enough in that tin to make soup for a company of soldiers. He emphasized the point that vegetables for drying must be in good condition In order to have satis factory results, and that one ounce of dried vegetables, one ounce of soup meat, with one to one and a half pints of water, would make a delicious soup. Since the beginning of the war the I'nited Ftates haa seait to the armies in Europe 50.V00.O00 pounds of desiccated vegetables. The French and British armies at the outbreaJc of the war used dried stuffs kept over from the Boer war. These vegetablas were found to be in good condition and were a great help in provisioning the armies. The American Army ration calls for two vegetables, potatoes And onions and these two are used fresh. A farmer's bulletin issued by the Agricultural Department in February explains that vegetables and fruits furnish a large part or the essential salts absolutely necessary to the well being of the human system, so that the value of vegetables in the diet is a great deal more than, the mere food or money value. The need of tonics and other medicines in the Spring is due largely to the lack of vegetables and fruit in the Winter cfiet. If more suc culent food were available less money would be spent In doctors' fees and for medicines. Attention is also called to the fact that fresh vegetables from the home garden have not been subjected to ex Dosure on the market and are not liable to infection. It has also been shown by the food experts of the department that the pro portion of vegetables In the average person's diet can b Increased consid erably and the amount of meat and wheat consumed can be reduced with out decreasing heaJtn or strength. Every pound of potatoes, every bunch of beets, every head of cabbage, every leaf of lettuce that a home gardener grows this year releases a certain quan tity of beer, mutton or riour lor tne boys "over there." The National war garden commission. which is affiliated with the conserva tion department of the American For estry Association, Is doing an intensive work this spring to neip pui me na tion on a city farming basis, believing this will come nearest to solving the food problem. . The commission, whose head is Charles Lathrop Pack, is composed of men of National reputation, among them Luther Burbank, Dr. Charles W. Eliot. John Hays Hammond, Myron T. Herrick. Dr. John Grler Hibben. presi dent of Princeton; James Wilson, for mer Secretary of Agriculture, and Mrs. John Dickinson Sherman, of Illinois. The commission has not only aone good work in the United States, but has extended Its activities to many an- ferent parts of the world as may be aDDreciated by a recent letter received from L'rotata, Tembuland. Africa, ask- lng for war garden primers on plant ing canning and drying which the commission is sending throughout the world In Its food-saving campaign. mi- Park Is not counted among me dollar-a-year men who are so unself ishly giving their time to tne jovern- ment. yet he is spenaing more u" $100,000 a year of his private lortune In conducting this campaign for inten sive cultivation of the soil, which be calls "crnwlni war munitions at home. The aim of the war garden commission is to help the city farmer and show him how to -cultivate-his back lot. be lieving that the home gardens of the I'nited States this year should be able to save enough meat to feed an Ameri can Army of 1.000.000 men for 802 days and enough bread to. feed the same Army for 24 days. "Suddenly becoming a nation at war.' Mr. Pack says. "America found herself confronted with a food problem as vital as that of the battle-torn countries of Europe. Over night the American home garden became a war garden. The ex pansion of the military establishment and the draft on laborers by munition and kindred factories resulted in de creasing the production of foodstuffs through the normal professional chan nels and thus emphasized the impor tance of the amateur's garden in the bark yard or vacant lot. This importance is vastly magnified for the coming season of 1918. Not only does the arrowing need of Europe in crease that continent's demands upon our food reservoir, but our own future farm production Is threatened with shrinkage. Government figures indicate that not less than 600.000 men, trained and experienced in farm work, have been taken from the farms of America since the beginning of this country's participation in the war. With this number of farm workers suddenly shifted into the class of non-producers, it requires no imagination to foresee that 1918 will show a more grievous shortage of farm labor than did 1917. Iast year the war garden commis sion estimated ' from reports received from all parts of the country that there were Dlanted about 3.000.000 war gar dtiR. From the enormous increase in corresoondence this year, it is esti mated that the gardens should number at least 5,000,000 this Spring and Sum mer. Chambers of commerce all over tho I'nited states have taken the mat ter up and are encouraging this patri otic movement. v omen s ciuds are en- hiiKijmtlrallv interesting themselves, and women in parts or tne Lnuea States are learning to operate farm tractors. One sueh class of 15 women h recentlv been organized by Mrs. Florence Kinir. of Chicago, a prominent woman lawyer and president or tne Women's Association of Commerce of the United States. Mrs. it-ing saw women daily driving big automobiles through the crowded districts of Chi cago, and said there was no more rea son why a woman could not handle a tractor than a car under such circumstances. Mra. John Dickinson Sherman, cnair- mnn of the conservation aepanmeni. Ceneral Federation of Women's Clubs, and a member of the National war gar den commission, in an appeal to the women of America, says: -ThpA tiever wan before a war in nrhlrh women had a recognized place outside of hospitals, but they now nave a place so Important and responsible that this war cannot be won without th.ir win There is no more vital fac tor In winning the war than food." Industrial concerns are preparing land for their employes, wnicn can oe divided up into individual plots for each of the workmen, and furnishing seeds and fertilizer for them. As an i.nirtinn to do their utmost to help Uncle Sam in his food problem, a large rolling mill company of Middletown, O divided the Individual garden plots for each workman oy a niauuam d.- ng an American nag. worains nuuc. v,. Ktra and stripes, me men um splendid work planting several hundred acres as a war garden. Banks and business houses are lenu- It.o- hand: real estate companies are making a feature of the home garden Idea in connection with their own-a- home campaigns. Public schools aia an enormous amount of good last year and expect to do more this year. Pro fessor Richardson, principal of the Lwton Public School of Seattle, Wash, last year grew in his war garden, prac tically without irrigation, potatoes which averaged 11 inches long and weighed -three and a half pounds each. A New Fertilizing Product for the City and Market Gardener Fertilize; in Other Words, "Feed" Your Growing Crops if: You Expect to Harvest a Large, Profitable Crop. WINDOW BOXES OF VALUE IN GIVING CROPS EARLY START Home Table May Have "Garden Sass" Weeks Earlier if Seeds Are Planted Indoors One Way to Cheat Late Spring. . By Ralph K. Routlrdge. " To raise beautiful flowers or large, choice vegetables, the soil must be in good condition. You cannot be success ful with heavy clay or barren soli un less you improve it. The latest product for soil improve ment Is kiln-dried, pulverized cow manure we call it "C. M." for short. "C. M." supplies the "Humna lack ing in chemical fertilizers and the an alysis Fhows it to be quite rich in nitro gen potash and phosphoric acid. It will not burn or harm the most tender seeds or plants. This is a new product prepared espe cially for us, and this year our output Will be doubled. This product is made of green cow manure by putting it through a dry kiln with heat enough to evaporate the water and kill all weed seed without burning the compost or destroying the fertilizing elements. It is then ground finely and sacked. EIGHT TO O.NK You can get a good Idea of the value of this concentrated product when we state that It takea 8 to 10 tons, in the green or natural state, to make 1 ton ready to sack. If you stop and think a minute, you will real ize that we are. really offering In a most convenient dry state a fertilizer and compost that' heretofore you have bought by the wagon load, in a most dirty, foul and disagreeable form. SUPPLIES THE HCHl'9. This new product supplies all the humus and fer tilizing value of the old fortn, without the disagreeable odor, coarse straw, chaff and weed aeedM to get scattered over the garden or lawn. In fact, you get everything In an Ideal form except the live weed seed and moisture. You do not want the weeds and can easily apply water when needed. There is no use of paying dray, freight or handling charges for dirty, foul,' water-soaked manure when this product can be had. CHEAPER AND MORE 'tO.VVEX- IEMT. The old form cow manure costs about 3 a load delivered and about ii more to get it placed and spaded under. Three sacks of our Dry Klin C. M., which is practically odorless and can be spread around by anyone at lf.isure, will cost less and give better results. USES AND DIRECTIONS FOR "C. M." For Flower Boxea or Repotting-. This Dry Kiln Cow Manure will be found very valuable to mix with ordi nary garden soil for repotting plants, filling window or porch boxes or the benches in the greenhouse, the top soil of coldframes, hotbeds, etc. Use from one-fourth to one-third "C. M.," accord ing to the soil. For Seed Beds. As a top dressing over seed beds, where small flower or vegetable seeds are to be started, noth ing else could be better, as it is full of "humus" (like leaf mold), which keeps the top soli loose and open. Hake "C. M." into the top soil and after seeding sprinkle "C. M." over the surface. For Vegetables and Flowers. Use "C. M. on any soil that needs loosening up and enriching. To raise choice vege tables and large, beautiful flowers, the soil must be well worked, rich and ' loamy. For Lan. "C. M." is just what has been wanted for years by amateur and professional lawnmakers. Heretofore on account of heavy soils that would bake and crack, the best cow manure obtainable was used to open up and keep the soil loose. It was not the plant food needed, as that could easily be applied in the form of Chemical Fer tilizer, but it was the "hamus" In the table manure that was wanted, but NOW. with this Dry Kiln, weed free, "C. M." the lawnmaker's troubles are greatly reduced. How to i'se. After the lawn has been graded, raked, seeded and rolled, spread "C. M." broadcast over the seed, cover ing it welL If it is dry weather, sprin- , kle, but sprinkle lightly, so as not to wash it off until it has settled, after It It Is once wet it becomes part of the., surface soil and will remain. Another Way. Providing you will ' use "C. M." in a liberal amount, it would be better raked Into the surface soil, then seed, rake lightly and roll. For Liquid Manure. Empty half a sack of "C. M." into a 60-gallon barrel and fill with water. Use this liquid straight or diluted form, for watering. The Increased vigor and irrowth of the plants will almost Immediately be no ticed. Prices of Dry-Kiln "V. M." Large sacks, J1.76; 3 .sacks, $5.00; 5 sacks. J8.00; 10 sacks, 115.00; small lots 2...; lbs., 15c; 5 lbs.. 25c; 10 lbs., 40c; 25 lbs. to 50 lbs., 3c lb. TVi ros sapVr "CV Af " and olio OKIK Alr "Wnnripr" ttht famnilS odOT- . less chemical fertilizer), mixed togeth- -er, will make a very rich combination . fertilizer that will prove highly satis factory for all uses as It would be very . rich In plant food and supply the neces urr human for heavy soils. Descriptive . .. booklet tells more. The above fertilizers, as well as ground lime, the greatest soil conditV- ,' er, are sold by Routledge Seed & Floral Co., 145-147 Second St., between Mor-' dison and Alder, Portland. WAJ'HINirro.V. March 1J. i Special Correspondence To arms with th bi' Be a city litmrr and pUnt a war gar- 'ti lt poldler of the soil. These ar the t.'i-in hUI) the Pe trliDrnt of Aaru-utlure anil the Na tional War ;rJn CommlKlon are caotntf t e-h through the land as Pprtnjr apprichr, catling: the men. uRi'n an,! rhiMrrn of Atnrlt- to en 1 t with the hi and hrlp f'd l.')tf.i l'nttr.1 ltta poldVr. The l'nltr.1 Statrs. tt!l xarrely a twelve-month p-l im-e be'.ns: IhruM Into the Bir. has Aftfonlnhrd the world tv th Kianlu tnd- tti-d toward rt-hina a war Nt and materially aaalncina; tn aUtvm. Hut there is a rira from th Kol .V!mlnltratun that irrtaur effrt b p"'llr mail to In trw t ft f"d fuiilr nt onlv for the arm, but for horn consumption. w -.thin the ril n-. r.rh it u rati PAtl at th l nilrj tatra Treasury that In first ten montna of tha war roal the I n!t! M it a.vwvt h ;na" Ilka ;.4 . or l'J " . a month, or f : av a la The i-t of the ftrat ar i aafimat-.l at a.txtit Jl. av . . 'f tt :... i.. !! that haa Nn prut mora than n.ilf. or l.i:i '. la tne frm cf loan the all:, hil the rrtainlrr rap raaaats what tha I'mtaJ tatr haa am sanded on tha oma'iilion of tha Army, tno InrrraM of tha a. tha rh pp.r. )UarJ and othar war preparations. I'f tha total of ! '').". whUh It Is estimated will b spanl durlnc lua first year, up to April 4. It Is empacted that steal half ul bo la loon and tha yoroatn.lar for war praparatlona. Notwlthstandna: Treasury statlsth-a eaow that tha I'mlsd eltatr Is mtln war eipansoa In tho proportion of four fifths from loans ami one-fifth from Itlrs loan catrtpaisjns tip to Krbrnary T havtna- ralu-d li.::.'. ". and taaao had broucnt In ll.IS'i tao area! sMt-ninrv of war Reads con stant ollinc. and Mr. Hoover la calllns for largsr results, (raster and mora systematic s.Acrlfi and greater ef forts before the ta-k is finished. siir William Goode. who occupies the important post of liaison officer between the tiritlsh Food Ministry and the I'nited flat Food Administration, in discussing the present food situation in London aald: "Few pofiple hava yet grasped the fundamental fart that Great Britain still rail's on the I'nited State and Canada for $ per cent of her easenunl foodstuffs, t'nless we can get this food, or nearly all of It. we shall peter out. As to how we get It. the popular Idea seems to be that tha I'nited State is an up-to-date combination of miracle loaves and fishes and widow s crust. "What I want you to realize I the amastna way In which the energies and sentiments of the American people have rHm;.lRPi:Tin TH1HK OF TIHI'. A good bonfire clear tha gar den atmosphar. Any low spots in your srarden? I'll : ins; in or a litt! d'tchinr micht help Your f'n.a ataln' 1 It really chukenpnoof ? bean harnessed to a great National movement of organised self-sacrlfire so that the all's can have food enough to rarry on. F.arly last month I January) received from Mr. Hoover a cable gram saytnar he found that a a rrult of the American conservation campaign he had ISO.),?") pounds of bacon and Zi.voe.ooa) pounds of frosen meat mora than the ilrtttsh representatives In the I'nited Stales had estimated as likely to b available." Facts recently made public show that whit tha Vnitsd State ha been get ting her man por ready, she has otherwise been of Inestimable assist ance) to her allies In 11 the exports from the I'nited State amounted to I2.ia.lttl. Xa 11T. Ilia first year of America's participation In the war. they amounted to 1S.231.244.97S. or nearly three times the normal exports. Foodstuffs exported from the United States In 117 were valued at J1.31j. U4.577. an increase of I24s.00u.000 over 1 1 values, according to figures made public by the Department of Commerce, During February last It was estimat ed that about $50,000 tons of food would be shipped to Europe. With traffic so regulated that all shipments must be subservient to those of food stuffs, officials on both sides or the water express themselves a optimistic tomard future demands. However, the allies are not waiting for America to strain herself to the utmost. The women of France are do ing yeoman service, harnesseil to the plow while they give the farm horses for the use of the army. They are go ing to do Intensive farming, causing many a little garden spot to blossom In the midst of the ruin of their former homes. These tiny farms are culti vated with the strength engendered by such heroic patriotism as the world has seldom seen. Great Krltain is doing her part in intensive gardening. Word came over last month that during the week of February 9. under the order placing unused lands under cultivation. 10,000 new plots of ground were put under the plow and that the entire empire was awake .to the needs. Dundee. Scotland, and many other citle showed wonderful results In city farming last year, and American Con sul abroad are sending by each mall cheering new of greater effort being made this year. Thar must be no slacker land in the Vnlted States this Spring and Summer, the Agricultural Departmert warn. There I a shortage In the aupply of seeds and tb planting of staple foods must hava precedence over the more perishable. Such vegetables as can be conserved for Winter use should have the right of way In every city garden. Commercial fertilising product must not be wasted because limited, but hardwood ashes, lima to neutralize Vnor that TAII have decided to have ,H.n vnn should at once make a window box and aow seeds of cabbage. cauliflower, collard, tomato, vvv". eggplaJht, celery and lettuce, if you want to grow these crops, and give . ...I. . , rr In the SDring. tnem a ij j ,- --- - , says today s bulletin from the National n ar uarotii "" . . i n flv weeks can be r i u i ii mica " - - - gained getting these crops ready for l I1C ISUIB w c, - comes and planting the seeds outdoors. To make a window box take strips about 4 inches wide and half or three- qUHILCI H I V. la lllivn " ends. Nail these togetner ana mil bottom to them. A gooa sio . - o. ; wlrle and 18 to 24 inches long. This box can be easily handled. - Put in the box an incn 01 uoo or gravel and then nil It with fine, rich . -. i v. .roeHori anil. with composi oi i"- 0 . - . manure or rotting vegetable matter mixed In. uooa potting o i- - .v.. -ik anil helnw a decaying piau IB Ol ma ...... ww.- - - log is fine for this purpose. Press down the soil wltn a smaii pie-o i " - make it smooth and level. You are ready now to sow the seeds, w t. twk Inches anart and one-fourth to one-half Inch deep one fourth for very small seeds and one half for larger ones. Scatter the seeds in the row, using eight or ten to the Inch. Cover with fine sand or rich soil and press down the soil again with the board. Now water carefully, so there will be no leaking, and set the box in .i.H ii moat he watered often enough to keep the ground slight ly moist, ii a piece w si over the box to hold In the moisture, the aoll will not need so much water ing, and the plants will grow very rap idlv. When the seeds begin to sprout set the box in a window in the sun shine. When the plants are an men or two Li.h hAW BhAolri ha thinned out to stand two Inches apart, so they will grow stocky, mose imnncu ouv uj be planted two inches apart in other window boxes. About two or three weeks before the i .- k. teananinnted to the gar den set the box outdoors part of the day to harden them off. so they will be able to stand tne oooi nitm nnomi Injury. Water the box well before the plants are taken out to make the earth stick to their roots In transplanting. Now is the time to get busy! Write to' the National War Garden Commis sion, 210 Maryland building, Washing ton, for a free garden primer and or ganization suggestions. This paper has arranged for you to get these by send ing a 2-cent stamp for postage. Now Is Time to Plant Seed for Early Produce. Plants Should Be Started In Boxes In Sunny Windows. Gardens in War Time Never was a time when the garden meant so much to the individual and the world. Patriotism and common sense alike direct your attention to the vacant lot, the back yard, the bit of unused ground. "The Vegetable Garden" 75c "The Potato" .?2-00 By Ida D. Bennett. "Garden Making" f 1.60 By R. L. Bailey. f. "The Backyard Farmer" .'..fl.OO By J. W. Bolte. "Around the Year in the Garden" $1.75 By F. F. Rockwell. By Grubb. "The New Onion Culture". .50c By Greiner. "A, B, C of Vegetable Gar dening" 50c By Rexford. "Vegetable Growing for Amateurs" 60c H. H. Thomas. Our stock of practical books for the gardener, farmer and poul try raiser covers nearly all phases of these industries. YOUR INSPECTION IS INVITED Gill 9 The J. K. Gill Co., Booksellers, Stationers, Office Outfitters. Third and Alder Streets. IT IS high time the seeds for future blossoming were started In boxes in a sunny window of kitchen or livtng- room. Plants raised from seedlings sprouted Indoors In March will be far ahead of those started in the garden May 1 or later. Prepare several boxes for the seedlings, for as soon as they are well up they must be transplanted and given so to speak elbow room. Have shallow wooden boxes and line them first with several layers of news paper to keep the soil from sifting through cracks if the boxes are kept in the living-room. Put ashes in the bot tom of the box, then good soil mixed with a very little artificial fertilizer. Sow the seeds thickly in shallow drills, or on the surface, pressing them down with a ruler or small, flat board. Keep the soil moist and dark, but do not flood with water. As soon as .the seedlings appear shade partially from a strong sun, and when the second leaves have appeared transplant Into another box, allowing two Inches be tween seedlings, each way. Another transplanting, with four inches be tween seedlings, will probably be nec essary before the plants go into the open garden in. May. By that time they should be three or four inches high and strongly started. To transplant your seedling's you must have a dlbbier or something of the sort. The unpointed end of a pencil will do very well, or a wooden man! cure stick. Before -taking up the ten EED THE KIND THAT GROW! "YOU CAN'T KEEP THEM IN THE GROUND." J. J. BUTZER 188-190 Front Street Portland, Or. der seedlings have the new home ready for them, for they will quickly if allowed to lie, uprooted. In the freshly prepared box of soli, punch holes with your dlbbier, two Inches apart and about two inches deep (to accommodate the delicate, attenuated roots of the seedlings).. Now take up the seedlings, as many as you have punched new holes for. Use the handle end of a kitchen teaspoon if you have nothing else. Thrust the handle into the soil near the seedling, press the spoon out ward, and soli and seedling will come up together. Set the tiny seedling into the dibbler hole, press the soil firmly about its root but do not plant it any deeper than it grew in the original soil. Shade , the box of seedlings carefully for two days, then when they are well started, let them have the sunshine. Set out on the porch during warm or rainy days but cover with glass at night. Potato Yield to Increase. ABERDEEN, Wash., March 16. (Special.) At a meeting of 20 potato growers of Satsop Valley Monday night each man in attendance agreed to raise 100 acres of spuds during the coming season. Only standard varieties will bo grown. THE GREATEST GARDEN DRIVE in the history of America is on this year. Millions of patriots plan to do their "bit." Vacant ground to be used to the utmost Rose- ' lawn Fertilizer will play an important part In speeding up vege table production. It is a highly concentrated plant food for gar dens, lawns. iVisag &mK-yf, M .ttNfi shrubbery, etc. Convenient, A An nm i .t iiW8""""- Sold by grocers eosgmfi sh-bbe isa V:7 H In 10-pound, odorproof palls. In 2f 60and liffirMl H 100-pound sacks for larger users. Al'! !N8fi!WL- 1 joi)fs UNION MEAT CO. Kfi?'' -