New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-07-26
THE VACANT LOT FARMS.
HOW THE WORK IS ADVANCING IN LONG
ISLAND CITY.


ISLAND CITY.
A VISIT OF INSPECTION by OFFICERS OF THE
ASSOCIATION FOR IMPROVING THE coNDT-
TON OF THE POOR
The people who CHANGED to walk along Twenty
sscond-st. past the big Charities Building Tuesday
were surprised to Fifth-ave. stage waiting
before the door, and In all probability there were
various conjectures as to what 1t was to De used
for. 1t brought up visions OF picnic grounds ana
crowds Of fresh children and the rattle and DIN
Of nail factory. and lots OF other things. but none
Of the curious could guess what 1t was really
standing there for and what was to be its use The
truth the matter Is that the Association for I'M
proving the Condition Of the Poor has for the last
two years been spending considerable time ana
energy on the farms laid out vacant lots In Long
Island CITY, where the poor who arc out or WORK
may have a chance to better their condition ana
raise vegetables for themselves and the market
The plan has been a good one. and many poor
family or old man who Is out or tho nara race Oh
account OF his age has been benefited and MADE
rad when tho harvest came and the fruits OF The
toll and trouble have been gathered In A number
of people who are interested In the Organization
and the work wanted TO see just how things were
getting along on the farms. and the Fifth-aVe.
stage was waiting to take them there
MEMBERS OF THE PARTY.
No mora eppropriate vehicle could have been
found for such a purpose than the one that was
secured. Standing there with It's biack ana ye'io"
coat 1t looked like huge potatobus that hau
crawled away from some gigantic farn ana iouhu
its way into the metropolis, where a living IL not
the easiest thing In the world to make. Nine O'Clock
WAS the hour set for the start. but 1t was half-
hour later before the stage started on Its somewhat
unsteady and altogether noisy trip team oil horses
owned by the association furnished the motive
power and q sunburned individual or uncertain
nationality who is employed by tho association
acted as whip. Within were DR.. William Howe
Tolman tho general agent OF the association, and
Mrs Tolrnan Dr. William l. Hull the superinten-
dent of the fresh-ar department OF the aSsocia-
ton; John Harrison the financial secretary: Mrs
w. r. Fullerton. the superintendent or the renei
department; j. w. Kelgaard, the superintendent OF
the vacant-ot farms; George w. Hcboerd, the
Superintendent of the Charity Organization Society;
Mrs Opdyke, of Plainheld y. j., who IS interested
In vacant-lot farming there; Mrs. Forwood Mrs.
Scudamore and two newspaper men.
The driver evidently not man of many
parts for he made number Of mistakes and
seriously disturbed the frame of mind Of the
In the party. This explained by Mr.. Kegaard,
who said that the man had always been accustomed
to driving wagon whose wheels tracked
and that tho wheels of the Fifth-ave stages did
not track" at all. He ran into a cable-car and a
dray. lie the big rails Of the bridge at
the ferryhousc and nearly upset the stage, and no
ran into tho wheel Of ashcart or the ferryboat.
At the last misbap there what promised to be
by no means a pleasant war OF words between
the two drivers; but this fortunately avoided.
and the ferry rde was peaceful ore These
trfing mishaps seemed TO convince the driver
that he must look to his machine. and thero were
of them in the course of the morning.
AS the stage was driven through Long Island
.itv a led SENS at
unable to determine whether the party was com
posed Of members OF the upper ten as the name
Fifth Avenue seemed to imply Ohese people
had evidently never walked very far In that
thoroughfar), whether It was picnic
party bound for Bowery Bay, whether
1t small and select party bound on
an extended tour for Amityve. The kids" on
the street caught to the step and cast furtive
glances at the driver. when In reality tho driver
was not thinking Of them at all. But they had
the fun Of thinking that they were getting the best
OF some one and every else was satisfied ana
there peace all around.
BANANAS ON POTATO VINES.
While the youngsters having all this fun
outside those inside were having good time too
One Of the stories that told was OF a young
man named Peter He not man of profound
learning, his disposition cast In cynical
mould. He accustomed TO take people at
their word. and the general opinion was that he
was inclined 70 be credulous. But he had vacant
lot farm which he cultivated with great care and
his potatoes were his special pride. He watched
them with the tenderest care, and one day he was
treated to a surprise. Some Of his more mischiev-
GUS co-laborers put up Job on him. When he
was ready to gather In his Irish lemons they
pulled out the tubers from some Of the vines and
in their places they put some bananas. Peter was
perplexcd when he found them. He didn't know
what TO make of it. lie had planted potatoes and
he was harvesting bananas Had there been q
miracle? In 4 rather unsettled state Of mind he
betook himself to the superintendent and showed
him tho first fruits OF his labor, and explained his
wanted potatoes Hadn't he been faithful in his
work? What was the matter? II was some time
before the superintendent could undecevc the for
lorr youth ard convince him that II was only the
work o. some Of his fellows Even when ne went
away Peter was little doubtful, and It is not
certified fact that to this day he does not believe
that under certain conditions potatoes Will turn 10
good yellow luscious bananas.
The first farm that was reached was near Astoria
land .lu has been assigned There We're not many OF
the farmers there yesterday because the rain had
were few. and those who were there We're busy and
cortened Most Of the plots were we'll cared for
gray hair and beard. whose regular occupation IS
that Of longshorenan was hoeing away as though w
and the superintendent said that last year ne made
$50 and the c ana maj that hs s
he would probably make twice that sum Another
old chap Susy ns Sg oa snr WIN he green
and selling them. One Of the best farmers Of the
away for dear hfe. and evidently enjoying the work
as she had never enjoyed the sitting heat and the
dirt and the poverty OF the city tenements. Among
the crops one could find cabbage. beets. radishes,
corn, turnips. carrots parsnips, potatoes and
number OF other vegetables.
THE ASSOCIATION FARM.
This first farm was visited sample Of tho
farms that are worked by the men and women for
their own benefit. After the rumbling, Jolting
structure known a stage left this farm the
occupants In various degrees OF discomfort. were
carried to what is known as the Association Farm:
Bay Hero 1t Is that the men and women work
for a certain number Of days to pay for the tools
and the seed that is furnished them by the assoc