The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-05-17

each might have the full benefit of all
that tho land could produce. 1t WAS i'm
possible i'll the short time allowcd--for
the plan WAS not in working order be-
fore tho middle of June--for tho com
mission to plow and harrow all the
ground and III such cases they furnished
the applicant with spades and other
tools, and in about 25 per cent of the
oasoS the successful applicant spaCicd hi1
own lot, and large number of them fur
nished the seed.
Tho poor applicant to whom had been
allotted section of ground was not left
nlone i'll getting the best the ground
could produce The foreman of the COM
mission visited all the gardens weekly.
Whcncvcr the occupants were able to
properly care for their piece OF ground
they were left alone, but those who
Knew nothing of farming were instruct
cd. After the crop WAS fairly started
each person was allowed to harvest
whatever he had raised.
Each occupant of the ground showed
u prodi lection for potatoes, at least two
thirds of the ground being planted with
them, and the yield was very fair. The
coan crop was good. the souashes and
pumpkins planted did exceedingly well,
Ill some cases giving an enormous yield,
and the other vegetables, such as string
beans, cucunhers, cabbaYes, green corn
and bects, We're consumed during tho
| summer and relieved many families
from dire want, at the same time reliey-
lng the poor commission from the ne
cessity of keeping them from starvation
In many cases the poor wcro obliged to
dig their potatoes early i'll order to stave
off tho panzS of hunger
Yet, with all this, tho plan proved an
enormous success, aud the result fully
| warrants all that was claimed when
Mayor PinEree first announced his altru-
istio idea of Il potato patch. Some of
the land was offered so latc that it was
| impossible to allot it to the poor for
general use, and it was sown for tur-
nipS, Of which $50 bushels were turned
| over to tho poor commission.
Outside of the good natured rivalry
between the cultivators themselves there
was the most friendly feeling between
| them all, and each seemed anxious TO
help his ncighbor in getting ready for
tho harvest and in watching each 9th
cr's crops.
The total contributions from tho char
itably inclined, the mayor and tho city
officials amounted in round numbers to
Si,392, and from this the poor wero able
to raise produce worth about $4,000.
But this is not all that the "Pingrce
potato patch" did. The products of tho
best farms were taken to the state fsir.
whore they We're shown i'll competition
with the best products of much hotter
equipped farms, and in that competition
the produce from tho "Pingreo potato
| patches received the blue ribbon of APP
prevail, which denoted the first prize.
Tho result has been moro far spreading
than this, rs 1t has raised Il large num-
bcr OF worthy poor from the plane of
mendicnncy to that of self support 1t
has taken from the rolls Of the poor
commission 045 families for tho greater
part of the time, and this number would
have been doubled had the contributions
been sufficient to supply all of the 1000
persons who applied for land to till.
Such hold has the idea taken that
even this winter the poor began to apply
| for land to raise their own produce. and
now applications are literally pouring
III at tho mayors Office. Tho contribu-
lions thus far, with four weeks to be
heard from, amount to 1870 acres. and it
Is probable that tho poor of Detroit will
have over 600 acres before Juno /.
Tho report Of the agricultural com
| mission stated: The commission be-
lieves the experiment has demonstrated
the following facts: That many poor
and unemployed persons in the city are
glad TO avail themselves of an opportu-
nifty to raise potatoes and other vogeta-
blas for their own sustenanco, provided
the land is furnished and they arc u.s.
sured that the results Of thcir labor Will
accrue to them. The report further goes
Oh To commend the plan and advises
that III the future the street swcepings
be saved for fertihaing purposes as has
been done this spring, and put upon Tho
land to enrich the soil.
In concluding its first report the con.
mission says the system which Mayo
Plngree originated. if i'll proper workin,
order, will diminish paupcrism and u
heve the poor from much suffering. II
the same time taking from tho roll 10
be supplied by city charity rlany poo
pie. The commission claims that citic,
can well afford 10 appropriate enough
money to equip all the worthy poor with
seed and put lands placed Mt their dis
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