New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-09-22
PROSPEROUS CITY FAR
SUCCESSFUL SEASON OF THE "POTATo-
PATCH" EXPERIMENT.
e,.ccrsrIoN THAT THE CHARITIES DEPART
MENT GET SOME RETURN FOR THE MoNE'
.NvEsTED-HOw THE CROPS

ARE COMING OK.
The experiment of giving out plots OF 'a"' 'o'
farming purposes to poor and unemployed WI
Ing people at East NewYork has been SUCCESSFUL
so far as demonstrating the fact that such iarm-
ing could be made to pay fair return lo' '"e
labor and care devoted to the work
The Idea was first started by Mayor Pinsree u
Detroit Mich two years ago. and last year the
subject was taken up here. The Association TOT
Improving the Condition OF the Poor Of New-York
took up lot OF land AT Astoria for similar puI-
pose In May 1895. Mayor Charles \. Schiorcn D..
w Errcger c. y. Stafford. H. f. Gunnison' FRED
orlck a. Bartlett. George e. Bracket James Nc
Mahon. A. d. Wheclock. Albert A. Day, Colonel
Willis l.. Ogden e. F. Linton. Justice Charles
Nacher Colonel a. D. Baird. Aeero }. Newton,
Williamson Rapelye and Major p. II. McNulty
were formed into a committee take charge OF
the work in this city
The German-American Improvement Company
gave the of part OF it's large tract OF unoccu-
pied land. bounded by Pennsylvania and Van Siclen
avcs.. Ncw-Lots Road and Eastern Parkway. and
200 was subscribed 10 carry out the idea
The superintendent OF the work was placed in
the hands of Charles Masee. a farmer on the New
Lots Road who poughed the land. distributed the
seed and implements and aided the farmers with
advice. The land divided into plots OF 25x200
feet, and thIrty-one OF them were taken up. Two
of the farmers got Jobs and gave up their farms.
but the others stuck to their little sections and
raised fairly good crops OF potatoes beans peas
tomatoes. corn. carrots bcets, parsnips and other
vegetables
This year there were thirty-four applicants for
plots. most Of which were well worked and pro-
duccd good crops. especially Of potatoes. couple
gave up their plots this year also and some grew
cold in their attention the novelty OF the pur-
suit wore away.
Tribune reporter visited the farms" yesterday
no of no
Many OF the plots bore luxuriant patches Of beans
tomatoes. turnips. carrots parsnips and corn
This latter proved too much Of temptation for
the small boys OF the Twenty sixth Ward and the
corn patches were robbed several times The pota-
toes have been all raised and stored away. but the
other crops were in full growth the parsnips APP
pearing to the best advantage The cabbages had
suffered badly from the ravages OF the caterp-
lars. and the turniDs in many showed q
tendency to run to leaves without corresponding
growth OF bulbs. In sthis due to
the feet that turnips had been sown in the same
ground the previous year. In spite OF the warnings
OF Mr. Magee that rotation OF crops needed
for success
Many OF the farmers at work on the crops
yesterday. some OF them accompanied by their
children, and nearly all the plots were kept clean
and free from weeds. not an easy task considering
that all tho untitled blocks are covered with great
masses OF burrs. go.denrod. docks. charlock and
couch grass. enough weeds to poison thousands of
Speaking OF the experiment MIR Magec said
There is reason why these farms should not sue
ceed but the Bureau OF Charities could make some
thing out Of them well. Il is my opinion that a
better way would be TO employ the poor people and
pay them for the time given on the land. They get
other jobs now and then and drift away from the
crops. Some are enthusiastic al first ana then get
tired and neglect their plots. Others come from A
long distance some from Gowanus even. as they
get free transportation on the Brooklyn elevated road
Strange t. may seem. no Hebrews from the
Brownsville district. which is near us. made applica-
ton plots. They evidently prefer to stick 10 the
sweat shops. We have several Italians who attend
closely their little farms Some Of the people took
twelve barrels Of potatoes from their plots this
crop did best but nearly all the crops did welln fact
nearly as well as my own The farmers got all the
seed. compost and implements they required free Of
cost. The Bureau gets nothing this year and II could
get return under the other plan The trouble here
IL that the land Is far away. but 1t could he sue
cessfIlly tried nearer the heart OF the city in the
fats around Greenwood for example. We had only
five farmers of the Twenty sixth Ward: the lal-
ians were the most eager for the land and We had
good many applicants from Williamsburg. Last year
the committee planted five acres OF potatoes ana two
and a half of turnIps which did well, but TINS
year il was unable To obtain any land for seeding
DurpOSes.'