New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-22
in the person Of Lord Cromer, Is benefaction
To the human race.
VACANT-LOT CULTIVATION.

What has come TO be known as yacant-lot
farming has reached n stage OF efficiency that
will SURPRISE those who have not carefully fol-
lowed the movement Last year it was carried
ON in the following cities: Boston Brooklyn.
Buffalo, Chicago. Dayton. Denver. Detroit, Du-
luth. Kansas City. Minneapolis, New York.
Omaha. Philadelphia. Providence, Reading
Penn: Seattle. and Springfield. Mass. OF these
cities New-York, according to THE Charities
Review" has done the most 10 spread n kn0wl-
edge of the methods and possibilities of the
work. II was begun here in 1885, under great
difficulties because Of the scarcity Of land. by
representative committee from several be-
nevolent societies. and the financial returns in
dIcated during the first two years between ~
and SO in crops fer every 81 of expense In
Brooklyn the results have been fairly success
full and the movement was helped during the
second and third years by the action of the
Brooklyn Elevated Railroad in giving the gar
deners free transportation to and from their
gardens
Detroit made the work a municipal enter
prise. managed by an expert committee APP
pointed by Mayor Pingrce, who is regarded as
the father of the scheme. The report or the
committee for 1886 states that in three years
the city was saved an amount of taxation near
" equal TO the difference between the total
amount expended, s10S93 80. and the value OF
the crops raised. ST.. 100 TO- or sci, 500 10, the
not profit. In Buffalo whore the work was
also n municipal enterprise. 1880 persons were
relieved In 1897, and the estimated saving 10
the city was nearly $4,000 Boston is the only
city that has rented all the land used from the
start On farm of sixty acres from fifty to
eighty families have been assisted In Denver
the total estimated cash value of crops has been
from six to nine times the amounts expended.
and onethird OF the gardens were allotted TO
women. The results Of the experiment III
Seattle have been most satisfactory. The out
growth Of the experiment in Chicago has been
the formation OF a society called the Peoples
Friendly Club. which meets every Saturday
evening for discussion and social enjoyment.
The Associated Charities and the Single Tax
Club started the movement in Dayton where II
has been eminently successful. The leader OF
the movement IN Duluth has been Bishop Ne
Godrick and II hns proved 10 be most efIec-
tive. Altogether. Il can be said that this meth
cd OF helping people 10 help themselves. by
enabling them to cultivate land that would be
otherwise unproductive, Is cmncntly practical,
and is destined 10 reach n large measure Of
success in the future.
Not less important IN their possibilities are
tho efforts that are being made 10 reclaim the
Grid lands Of tho United States. which need
only sufficient supply of water 10 make them
highly productive. Thus far artificial irriga-
ton has been regarded as the most available
remedy but owing TO the enormous cost OF in
| stalllng n system no general system OF irriCa-
ton Is likely To be undertaken by the Govern
mcnt. Recently the Agricultural Department
has taken hold of the problem al new way.
Without waiting for some adequate system of
irrigation II has determined 10 find out If the
arid lands cannot be made 20 grow some kinds
OF crops that can get along with very little
rain. Accordingly. II sent Professor y. +. Han
son 10 Asia and Eastern Europe 10 make
careful study of this question: and he has
brought back with him many new seeds. roots
and plants which. in his opinion. will thrive in
arid lands better than any vegetation known
in this country. He found In Asia a species
Of alfalfa whose long roots enable IT 10 live
where the American alfalfa dies. II his hopes
Of this plant are justified, IL will be a great
boon 20 the cattle growers, and viii thus add
largely 10 the Industrial wealth Of the whole
country. Such a utilization Of the arid lands
Is OF course only temporary makeshift. But
until the country Is ready to incur the expense
Of a general system Of irrigation that will
mako the arid lands available FOR all kinds Of
crops, every intelligent effort to utilize them
ought to be made. As the population of the
country Increases the question Of land cUltiya-
iIon becomes more and more important The
vacantot farming scheme and the problem Of
rcdecming the arid lands of the West ard
Southwest are two Independent movements.
But they both have the same object in view
the increase OF the countrys Industrial wealth.