NATION'S FOOD SUPPLY

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2953, 13 December 1916, Page 8

NATION'S FOOD SUPPLY

GROW VEGETABLES WHERE ENGLAND C6IJLD LEARN FROM GERMANY A few days ago tho -firm of F. Cooper and Co., Lid., 60ed growers, offered to present the .New Zealand Government with a hundred guineas' worth of vegetable seeds for the uso of the soldiers at the front, and this the Minister of Defence accepted. They also offered as an inducement for companies which are able to do so to compete in ,tho cultivation of kitchen garden plots behind the ; lino. Mr. Cooper is in earnest, and belioves that wo here in New Zealand, the people of England, and tho soldiers who are "at rest" behind the lines, could do a great deal to help the nation and themselves by utilising tho resources at their command by adding to the supply of fresh foods by a systcmatisod and general sehemo of growing vegetables.

"While we hate the Germans, we should try to benefit the nation by adopting their measures that have proved 'successful. At one time we talked a lot about starving tho Germans out — we were going to blockade the seas and prevent anything in tho way of foodstuffs and munitions' reaching them. What actually did happenwwass s that Germany, well: prepared for a blockade at sea, seized all the vegetable seed in Belgium and bought up "pretty well all in Holland, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, and later the Government, acting on the advico of the Food Dictator, made it an offence for people not to cultivate their land by growing grain or vegetables.

"As against this," said Mr. Cooper, "we read articles in our papers of England's unused lands, meaning, I land that could be put to some gbocl purpose by growing foodstuffs of one sort or another, I wish I was_ .in England to help to organise a scheme that would mean fresh vegetables, at a reasonablo'cost for the people, and what, from a. health point of view is of infinite importance, tresh vegetables for our men in France."

No doubt th© military work is extremely hard, and at present the ground is mud or snowcovered, but with every little push forward a certain area of devastated country is.loft back of the lines, and as soldiers wero released'to help to harvest the crops last autumn in Franco there seems no reason why the soldiers in the reserves could not in the little time at their disposal seek to make the greatest use of the land won back from the enemy by making it produco for them good fresh vegetables. The idea ,ma"y seem a bit far-fetched to some people, but if they saw how tho peasantry of Belgium, France, Holland, and Denmark utilised every yard of ground, they would appreciate the value of a few miles of territory, won back from the Huns. It ma/ be that the Army authorities may not sanction any such idea, but I sincerely believe that something of the sort could bo >dono, and tho pleasure and relaxation it would be to the men to do a bit of gardening m a spare'hour or so, they might have, would be very restful and .beneficial: If it should bo found that soldiers cither on relief work or temporarily incapacitated cannot do this work, it is quite possible that volunteers could be found to do it, or to assist. — ; •

"The larger question, of course, is England s food stipply. It was reported the other day that German submarines had sunk fifty-one steamers in tour days. It was not stated how many of those vessels wore British, but lf A sb *j fort y °«t of the fifty-one were ours—how long could England stand such a strain on her mercantile fleet without her food supplies being affected. Now, I see the Germans promise a special strafe at the New Year. . In this case, what is England doing to •ensure an ample food supply. Much may- bo doing in that direction, but if there is I have not hoard of it." "The position here is not so acute Our experiences teaches us that vegetables can be grown in New Zealand by adequately-paid labour for from Id. to M. per lb. Surely it would be to the advantage -of the many to cat more vegetables at, say, 2d. per lb., than so much meat at Is. per lb. There is a great deal talked of the I increased cost of living, but a visit to the suburbs any day will convince anyone that many people do not try to help themselves. You will see lots oi good big back-yards that would grow quantities of vegetables over-run with weeds, and used for nothing else than drying the clothes over. .Now, if ever, was the time when the nation should rouse itself over the matter. It is quite possiblo the matter will be a vital one in England before very long, and public interest should bo taken in the matter.

• "It is singular that in thevfirsfc year of war school children and Boy Scouts' were engaged in raising crops of potatoes all oyer the country, from reserve lands and waste spaces, and a vorv considerable amount of money for patriotic purposes was so raised. Now m the third year, when the need is even more urgent, and prices are J gl i? r ' h haven ' t heard, of anything of tho kind being done. It was a great idea to interest tho young ppople Hi growing foodstuffs, and should be cout.mued.

. Regarding the gift which the Minister has accepted, wo are sending about seven thousand packets of each vegetable and flower seeds, together with books giving instructions for sowing and cultivation. These seeds are done up into one hundred and sixty parcels or collections, each containing a _ selection of varieties'so that they will bo all ready to hand over to those appointed to receive them, whether they be our men in France or in England, or French peasants at the back of the lines at or near where our men have their periods of rest. "We have ,sent the flower seeds so that if possible they may be used for planting on and near the graves of our men. in France or elsewhere, and wo hope that it may he possible to utilise them for this purpose.

With regard to the simple tools required, it is probable that spades and shovels are already available; if so, only rakes, forks, and trowels will be necessary, and wc have no doubt that some patriotic firm here or in England would be glad to have the opportunity of helping to secure what may be necessary. They could be sent cither from here or from England."