A number of commercial bodies in North Carolina have been quick to see and act upon the necessity for very greatly increasing the production of food and feed stuffs in the State and section during the present year. The commercial bodies of the State, constituted as they are by wide-awake and aggressive business and professional men, should very naturally assume a leading position in the campaign for increased production.

A vast number of our people, having always been able to buy what they have needed, are slow to realize that there may come a time when, no matter how much money they have, they may not be able to buy. If the war continues - and it seems certain that we will have close to a year of war - the food and feed stuffs which the South has been importing from other sections will absolutely not be available for this section, no matter how much money we may have to offer for it. If the war should cease within a month, every pound of surplus food and feed stuffs we can produce this year will be needed by the exhausted continent of Europe.

All authorities are agreed that the most effective means we have of bringing Germany to terms is to supply our Allies with food and military supplies. Military necessity is the first consideration of a people at war, and the armies of Europe, millions strong, must be supplied, even at the cost of hunger and suffering at home.

Local conditions and circumstances must determine what your particular organization can do. It seems to me, however, that the commercial bodies in cities and towns that have them, can do very effective work in getting under cultivation the vacant land in and adjacent to their respective towns. There are large areas of vacant lands in or adjoining almost all of our cities and towns laid off for building lots which should be put in corn, soy beans, cowpeas, potatoes or other staple food crops. In almost every town, too, there are horses and mules available for such work. Your organization can, no doubt, through a syndicate of business men or otherwise, arrange to cultivate this land and not only serve a patriotic purpose but make a good profit on the operation.

There are many other ways in which your organization can serve its community and the nation in this crisis. The Raleigh Chamber of Commerce, through the older children in the schools of the city, was instrumental in having 657 gardens planted.

The Raleigh Rotary Club furnished free seed to 100 poor families.

The Charlotte Chamber of Commerce, through its agricultural bureau, has canvassed the entire county of Mecklenburg in the interest of increased food and feed production, interviewing farmers, distributing circulars and tacking up posters.

Scores of mills and other industrial corporations in the State have plowed up free gardens for their employees, many of them furnishing seed free also.

The city of Raleigh utilized its work stock to plow up and prepare gardens for scores of people in that city.

The county commissioners of Johnston County are advancing several hundred dollars for the purchase of cans for the canning club girls.

Many counties are already planning to follow Governor Bickett’s suggestion that the county road force, including workstock and convicts, be used to cultivate idle land.

Are your city and county officials living up to their opportunities in this crisis? The members of your organization are progressive, wide-awake and patriotic men. It is up to them- as citizens of America and of your community, to do their utmost to make this tremendously important campaign for increased food production effective. This is a call for earnest, vigorous service. Do not let it be said of your organization and people that they failed to heed the call of patriotism and economic necessity.

I shall appreciate it very much if you will keep in touch with this office, keeping us informed of the activities you are engaged in along this line that others may profit by your examples.