GROW YOUR OWN FOOD.
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—I read Mr. J. W. Scott's letter, " Grow Your Own Food," with'sympathetic interest. I tried to do this during the War, with my own work, on about a half acre of good garden land, in order to raise food for my household (myself and two servants), sparing no expense in manure and fertilizers. I am elderly and did several hours' war work daily, the rest of the time I worked in my garden. The result was each year we had a sufficiency of vegetables, and from thirty-five hundred-
weight to two tons of potatoes. We lived much on these,
and on the surplus potatoes and about £12 worth of meal. I yearly fattened a large pig, which we also consumed. We certainly used a great deal less than our rations of bread, and for some time after the pig's death no meat, but for two years afterwards I suffered from acute dyspepsia in con- sequence.
Regarding the ideal boy, I have had many fourteen-year-old boys, but never one who would work hard for more than ten minutes by himself. Any boy who was " familiar with " how to produce eggs, milk, fruits, vegetables and .meat sufficient for an average family from a third of an acre (less buildings) plot would be a world-famed conjuror. The present country girls refuse to learn cooking, and when they marry raise their families upon food in tins and packages, which involve little trouble.
The climate and conditions in America are quite different from those in England. Green corn, pumpkins, melons and many other products grow freely, as well as what we raise, the profits are higher, and the saving in home production is greater than it is here. Even in Utah or California I have never seen a third of an acre patch which would maintain a family to the extent indicated by Mr. Scott. In England a third of an acre would not begin to keep a cow, and necessary manure would have to be bought. Chickens in confinement need about three ounces of corn and other food daily if they are to lay eggs.
At the same time, an industrious man earning £2 10s. or more wages weekly, whose wife can and will cook vegetables properly, can improve his position greatly with a garden of the size named. If after paying out-of-pocket expenses he can diminish his expenses by 2s. 6d. per week, he would do well. This and the self-rospect, satisfaction and health he would gain by raising his own fresh food would be his reward. I do not think I am wrong in saying that the average cottager in the country has a garden of at least a third of an acre.
- KYNMON.
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