The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-10-15
What Was Raised on
Them During Summer.
TUBERS WERE CHIEF CROP
CabbageS, Corn, Beans and Other
Vegetables Raised.
EXPERIMENT WAS A SUCCESS.

Many citizens were wondering what
had become Of the potato patch enterprise
that was started last summer by large
number OF persons Interested in practical
charity and cogitating whether the nova
ment had come up 10 expectations and
what the product OF the tilling of tho soil
by the amateur farmers had amounted to-
According TO statistics furnished at
meeting of those most interested In the
enterprise. held in the Office Of the mayor
in City Hall today. the potato patch
movement was success right in the face
of the potato blight that went over the
country in the height OF the potato grow
ing season.
Ii was so much OF a success ana gave
so much evidence of being n movement
that will show wonderful results in the
future, that tho ladies and gentlemen at
the meeting today decided to not only
carry on tho enterprise next summer but
10 enlarge it.
Last summer the potato patches were
located in seven different parts of the
city and took in outlying land on the
East and West sides.
LOCATION OF THE FARMS
One OF five acres was located at ontario
and Brown streets, ono of five acres at
the corner of Gladstone ana River
avenues one of seven acres on Oakland
avenue, one of six acres on Duncan
avenue. one of five acres on Summit
avenue, one of seven acres at Swan
Point and one acre at the corner of Grove
and Ridge streets.
They included 80 farms in all, and they
employed 81 persons who were active in
their work, seven who were fairly in
terested and six that were negligent.
About g3l persons were benefited by the
product of the farms and the harvest was
the means of relieving the poor depart
ment of some of its burden.
With better conditions and more ex-
perience the promoters of the enterprise
expect to accomplish much greater things
next summer.
The plan now proposed Is to have two
big patches, one on the East and one on
the West side. This will concentrate the
work and be the means of creating more
interest among the workers or farmers.
The raising of produce on these patches
was not confined 90 the unemployed as
that was not the original intention. The
purpose was TO afford poor people an
opportunity to help themselves and get in
a supply of vegetables to assist them in
al nd iptn
recommended by the overseer of the poor
and the various non sectarian charitable
societies were given the preference. and
the number stated in the beginning of
this rerort availed themselves OF tho
opportunity.
THE CROPS RAISED.
Some of the product of the lots assign
ed to particular persons was sold to pur-
chase coal and other neccssaries and To
pay rent. This feature of the outcome of
the work was made possible because of
the ail-pervading potato blight. Potatoes
commanded high price md some Of
those raised on thesu free patches of
ground were sold by ths harvosters to pay
certain necessary expenses. 1t was better
to do this and have the use OF the money
than it was TO keep the potatoes for in
dividual or household consumption.
Ibe crop of potatoes form the 81 small
farms was 24SS- bushels This was about
one-third OF the amount expected, and
which would probably be realized but for
the blight
The cabbage yield was i27 hends.
There were 5SS dozen ears of corn and
ii pecks Of beans. Besides these vcgci-
ables there was good crop of turnips
and other life sustaining articles.
According 10 letter received from
Boston in reference To the outomc of
similar enterprise there, the potat, pacth
enterprise here does not suffer in COM
parison. Their potato crop w cmr-
paratively small, but they expect 10 MAXI
great improvement next season. Al
will secure more land and largo tia
scheme because they are Of tho opinion
that IL Is movement in the right direc-
tion and one that will give satisfactory
results TO poor people in the future.
no TROUBLE OCCURRED
There was no trouble OF ccnseuuor CO in
the experiment of last year. One lot was
aonhscated for and sufiiient cnuse. TWO
lots were taken on account Of negligence
and single lot was not needed. TIE
committee having the enterprise in
hand took two lots on which they raised
20 bushels Of potatoes, l5l2 pecks OF
beans. 22O dozen cars of corn, 100 heads
II cabbage and no bushels of turnips.
These were sold and tho income applied
. paying tho expense OF carrying on the
work. With tho addition of the product
OF the committees lots the total product
OF the FREQ land was:
Potatoes, 273 bushels.
Beans l67 pocks.
Corn, S0S dozen ears
Cabbage 1857 heads
The committee in charge OF the work
viii have the cxpcriencs OF the pest year