The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-12-04
THE QUESTION OF VEGETABLES.
More Garden Land Wanted Near the City.
NEW YORK Nov. 30 1870.

More Garden Land Wanted Near the City.
NEW YORK, Nov. 20, 1870
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:-
The attention OF many people has been attracted
by the facts IN an article in Saturdays HERALD
headed "Cnrious Phase in Vegetable Commerce.
showing that fresh vegetables be imported
from England and sold AT cheaper rates than our
own garden truck raised in this vicinity can be
bought in the New York markets. The writer
assigns as a reason system OF specializing fore
staling by middlemen. This may in part be true;
but Is 1t not true also that we do not RAISE yegeta
bles enough for the demand2 Thousands of acres
OF land, IL must be remembered which twenty
years ago was used for the cultivation or vegetables
in this immediate vicinity, are now appropriated
10 buildings, private residences and the pleasure
grounds sf wealthy citizens. The consequence FOL
lows that fresh vegetables are scarce and bring an
etables ia market are transported distance or fifty
miles or more, and pass through the hands OF many
hucksteis-each having his profit, OF course-beiore
they reach the consumer.
Now what is the remedy for this? Clearly 1t Is to
make more iand-land suitable for raising vegeta-
bes-in the immediate vicinity or the metropolis.
This can be easily done by retaining the marsh
lanes on staten Island ana Long Island, which
would probably give Us, within a short time, mil
lion cultivabe acres fit Tor growing vegetables. 1t
weud do much more than this. 1t would remove a
nuisance IRON our doors which breeds malarous
diseases OF all kinds-feyer and ague to begin
with-and, as a terrible anlichon existing In the
neighborhood OF all the swamp lands around the
city, we need not 90 beyond that scourge. Drain
the marshes, and we Will near more complaints
OF fever ana ague; BESIDES we VIII have room to
culttyae all the vegetables we require, ana pasture
cows enough to drive swirl milk out OF the market
altogether Look at what has been done over tn o
way IN Jersey by draining and dlking the marsh
lands tract OF 5000 acres the Jersey meadows,
upon which fly could hardly walk two years ago
over which the tide flowed Twice every twenty
Jour hours, has been converted into good farm land
Thousands OF bushels OF corn l understand were
raised there last season. market gardeners have
settled down thcre experimental crops of tobacco,
fax and hemp were raised on these alluval lands
tie found fattenng food there previous to being
to the abatoirs or New York. IL is said the COM
pany who had the pluck TO do rhts has made large
fortune from 1t. so much the better for
them. Why cannot The same thing be done
with the swamp lands Oh Staten Island bordering
the 'Kills'-marshes which literally cut OF the In
habited portien OF the north side the island from
It's natural water front for many miles and from
easier connection with the cityS do not know how
many acres of salt meadow are reciamable in that
locality, but 1t Is evident that if this large OF
waste land and the marshes on Long Island were
made productive we need not complain of want OF
fresh vegetables at moderate prices: nor need we
fear the rivalry OF English gardeners who ship their
products here by steamer. The great want OF the
metropolis i5 room to spread itself. For this we
must lock to The subj RIBS; and we must avail our
selves OF every vacant spot which may be cenvsrti.
ject rises above the quest ion of vegetables.
hope, Mr., Editor that these thoughts which occur 70
me, arising from the very suggestive article in the
HERALD, may strike some OF our large capitalists
and induce them TO act in the direction here indl-
Gated.