Item 58: Internment camp diary, October 1916-October 1917 - Page 71

<p>[Page 71]</p><p>were completely halted in the war, and so they have planted sunflowers and other oil-rich plants in all public spaces in Germany. Kids are being ordered to collect seeds and fruit pits that previously were discarded, and within a year 8 billion seeds were thus amassed and converted into oil. But still the lack of fats is enormous. &nbsp;The lack of copper led to the melting of monuments and bells, and even to the confiscation of any copper and brass fixtures and receptacles in private homes. The disappearance of many monuments, especially the uglier ones, is not a bad thing and should be welcomed. The craze of monuments had become rather a nuisance anyway, and in their place it would be much better to have flowers or tree groups.</p><p>To compensate for the lack of cotton and linen, they are now supposedly using a fibre gained from the stinging nettle. For that purpose,</p>