The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-11-01
THE CROPS OF Thu POOR.
PROFIT I'M HELLTH IN CULTL-
EATING VACANT LOIS.

A Woman who Has Fed Her Family auS
Saved $500 by Farming Three-quarters
OF nn A~crc-Other Ex perlenccs showing
the nenents Of the PinSree Elan Here.
1--WE believe In putting charity work as much
as possible OH a business basis" said DR.. will
liam IL. Tolman, the General Agent OF the Asso-
citation for the Improvement of the Condition Of
tho Poor, the other day to u reporter. Now,
that scheme Of having vacant land in and near
the city cultivated by the unemployed poor ia q
profitable business venture. We put into 10
$4,000 a year and we get out OF It Sll. 1000. The
city lots used by the association are in Long
Island City on land given by William Steinway,
Mrs. John Lowry. MIR. II. +. Holllns, and the
Long Island Improvement Company. The poor
people who cultivate the land live In New York
In tenement houses and 60 over to Long Island
as often Us they can"
There was n little experience meeting in the
next room for the benefit OF Mr.. Harrison, the
associations financial agent. Mr.. Pringle. an
old, white haired man Of CHEEKY presence, was
one OF the planters; Mrs. Mueller. a young, en-
ergetic woman with a bright face. was another.
II should like to tell you a few things about
Mrs. Mueller said Mr.. Keljgaard. superlp.
tendent of the associations farm, which I
know she will he too modest TO mention herself.
Two years ago her husband was out of employ
ment and the family were in very straitened
CiISuLlSlhuCSb-bo ~ tnut tDoy ulu "
know where to look for the next meal. Mr..
Mueller had been q minister. but he had been
Ill, had lost his place, and the family had come
to the city looking for work. Mrs. Mueller np-
piled to the association for one of our vaoans
farming lots. She is now our star planter. We
haven't a better farmer. man or woman. She
took thirteen prizes at tho fair this year. I
venture to say that she has n snug little sum in
the bank now after three or four years of sue
rnaa nc .,,, IL -tt- .A NJ NH.-tl-
how much you have saved p
Mrs. Mueller blushed and saidi
About $780,"
Some have made more money" said Mr..
KeljEaard. but they have had larger farms"
II have three-ouarters of an acre inst outside
Of Long Island City," said Mrs. Mueller. 1--WE
had good luck right along. Not 60 good this
year as last, though. for the dry spring was fol-
lowed by the heavy rains. and that dreadful hot
How were your potatoes n was asked.
Last year ! raised $4,000 potatoes, this year
picked OF potato bugs enough TO ali four large
wooden bnckets, 20 you can see how We had 10
fight the pests. The rain washed of the paris
all the odds in their fight"
v. swha, success Is isSu diS S %q. have Ts.,I El.h your other
er cSh; 70 Mas fMfaiiG a B B.sSj9s to 1, sse s thIs%S;s
but It's true. You see. | sell my things directly
bunch any day II take them right to the tene-
fresh, and they're a ane product besides, SO that
those they get in the stores, So. You see. Gssa
double PROFIT by selling them directly to the
use? oh. yes. Besides getting enough from
The garden to live on al summer and saving
pn to cat. You Oupht TO tasto nv CatAun"
is the work very hard ?" asked Mr.. Har.
Not for me-" said Mrs. Mueller. with a happy
laugh. From planting the seed TO harvesting,
do 1t all. too. During his vacation. my husband
all. I used to live in the country, when | wasa
girl, and l worked IN the garden then. but when
se.d across the Ssld. Now. can do almost any
fertilizinS material, TOO"
years.. %'i he sai d. : but 5at% after en- i tsiaa to '0 Ansris.
used 70 be well paid. bot a6op, two ~ The
washed and scrubbed to keep the wolf from th.>
ladies of my church suggested that | apply to
.he as.oeia,lon for one of IL farms; took
money to lido mo over until l could get steady
work again"
work, Mr.. Pringle p
THAT ! do. II took me ont of poverty and
nut me into comfortable circumstances again.
and l know it has done the same in many other
cases. | know four people who hadn't a cent
when they took vacant lots to cultivate, and
now they are prospecting finely. There is Cor
neliu- Peterson. a sick neighbor OF mine. who
hadn't left his bed for three months. We got
the association to give him n lot. and my wife
and undertook to work it for him. Alters
while. he was able to come over and look at 1t
Gradually he became able to lend a hand him
self. and he harvested a beautiful crop. He 10
we'll now. and is working for the street pave
nent corporation"
This year we have given allotments to 141
families" said Mr.. Keljgaard. last year
there were only 81. We hope ultimately to so
interest poor people In the country that they
will want to live there instead of in the crowded
of the CITY,"