The Wichita daily eagle., 1895-11-29
POTATO PLAN WORKS WELL.
Pinsreeism is Found to be Success by the
Bostonians.

| HAt1l dIl dA
POTATO PLAN WORKS WELL.
Pinsreelsm is Found to be a Success by tn,
Bostonians.
Boston, Mass, Nov. 2S-The following
is ftdh encouraging report of the com.
nlittee on cultivation Of vacant lots, un-
der the care of THE Industrial Aid So
ciety, that was issued yesterday:
AT the first meeting of the general
committee 1t was though advisable 70
adopt THE Detroit plan of securing for
cultivation vacant lots free Of charge
IN or near the city. The subcommittee
! appointed to secure such lots very soon
found that the conditions in Boston
were very different from Detroit At
ter canvassing in all directions, they
ware offered only small lots, remote
from each other. and most OF them un-
suitable for cultivation.
It was then deemed advisable. as tFle
season was advancing. to secure if pos
sfble a tract of land where the let's
could be cultivated as one farm. This
was found at 1.-THE corner of Canterbury
and Morton streets, between Franklin
park and Forest Hills cemetery, known
as the Norton farm. The farm contain
ed in all about sixty acres, about one
half suitable for cultivation. This was
leased for one year at a rental of $50
per year.
Mr.. George Starrat, a practical farm
er. VINO thoroughly understood all the
details of the work, and had had ex-
perience in directing others, was hired
TO oversee the work Of planting and Gull
tiva,tion, at a salary of $50 per month
for the season.
Fifteen application stations, where
applicants for lots could apply. We're
advertised in the daily papers. Eighty
five applicants for lots reported to the
central office, sent by the various char
table organizations in the clay.
On May 16 we commenced ploughing
May 20 we assigned what lots were then
ready and continued to do so until the
10th Of June. Up to that time we had
given out lots for cultivation no fifty
two men, being all the eighty-five ap-
plioants who put in an appearance at
the farm. This was owing in many
cases to their having found other ON
ploymenit- About eight lots that had
been ploughed remained unassigned.
these we planted, hiring the necessary
labor by the day.
A few men ht9d TO be reminded that
they must ATTEND TO the weeds or apply
paris green to kill the pOtaltoe bugs.
the bugs being a constant source of
trouble from the time the potaotes were
out of the ground until the vines had
died.
They commenced harvesting peas and
beans in the early part of July and
raised enough TO supply their families
during the summer besides what they
sold. some realizing enough from their
sales Of peas and beans during August
70 support heir families during that
month.
We commenced digging potatoes
about Sept. 10. The crops planted on
all the lots by the men proving excellent
the few lots planted by the committee
were not as good as II was late in the
season when they We're planted, and
the potatoes were injured by the blighk
before they ripensd
1t is difficult to give the exact value
Of the crops as the early vegetables
were gathered during the summer IN
small OTIS at different times, some real
izing nearly as much from what tbev
sold during the summer as from the
balance of the product of the lots in the
fall.
Each man was advised 10 take 10 his
home potatoes enough for winter use.
Thls. We think. was invariably done.
some even being unwilling to dispose OF
any part OF their thirty or forty bushels
OF potatoes. The number of buSels of
potatoes avested per lot varied from
twenty to fifty-five busels.
a careful account was kept by Mr..
Starraitt of each loca nd what was mo
duced. He estimates that about 500
bushels were raised by the men, and l25
huShel on the committee lots
The wives of several OF the men as
sisted in planting and in The care Of ths,
crops as well as in harvesting; in sew
eral cases the women harvested all the
potatoes, their husbands being other
wise employed. Most OF the lots were
we'll cared for.
In estimating the value OF the crons
raised il is safe 10 say that the sum
mer vegetables raised by the men var
ied froIn 70 % SIS per lot, some possibly
even more than the highest figure.
This does not include the potatoes har-
vested at the end % the season. The
amount OF dme spent n caring for A
!ot On C.e average was not rno->e than
eight OF nine tul days; some not SPEND
ans more than six days from the time
OF the planting 20 harvesting included.
Two lots were given up TO the commit
- tN GlS 10 thS men nldElE enploy-
nsnt elsewhere. The pota.tses on ore
lot were dug up by members Of che COM
msttse. the owner Of the lot beng OH
es'wlSe employed. After deSiuctin- the
expense Of digging he was given the
balance OF 'che procedes OF the Dot.
Every applicant, without exception.
WAS well pleased with the result of his
work, most OF them realizing rnyHSh
more for their labor than they arl1sci-
paoed At the beginning. and they are
anxious 10 know Il The farm viii De
carried On sDdsler year. and wish TO
make application FOR lots II the enter
PRISE : 90 be Csaceti1ued
We nave not been troubled hy tres
IslsSers as 4 was predicted bv some
We should be. There has been no jeal-
oasy among the holders of the lots: no
stumbling that one was given a better
ct12ilcle than S-utl.e-. On the contrary.
one CT ,ese n1oSt pleasing features % the
Undertaking 70 your superintendent
was she kindly feeEng on their part and
Willingness % help and assist esch OH
er, uaes tT'onger volunteering 10 help
tE-e weaker