Victory Garden Handbook, Hans Platenius, Ithaca, New York, 1943

During World War II when canned foods joined the list of rationed items in March, 1943, the Secretary of Agriculture called for a national effort to create 18 million Victory Gardens. Four million new gardeners answered the call and caused a buyer's panic in the seed market.

However, this widespread enthusiasm for kitchen gardening was short lived. The next year, canned goods were no longer rationed, and the number of Victory Gardens decreased accordingly.