New-York tribune., 1901-08-25

acreage has been cut into building lots Street
signs are TO be seen in the midst of growing
fields of corn; others hold out their painted arms
far above patches of lowly eggplant
I'm quitting the business" said Larry Suy-
dam. He is one of the Oldest truck farmers in
the Floral Park district and his neighbors say
he has put a snug fortune in the bank.
What is the matter?' he was asked. II
there no money in it?'
Money Well I should say there is" he 70
Piled, getting down from a wagon which he was
filing with potatoes. We've all made good
money, and this is a bang up year"
Don't understand. then, why you are quitting
a good thing"
We'll, you see, I've made my pile. I've got
enough and enough is enough. I'm just goin'
to work enough TO keep from gettin' rusty.
There's no reason why 7 shouldn't take
good long rest. I came here nineteen years ago
with 50 in my pocket and I've worked early and
late ever since. You are almost sure 10 make
money farmin vegetables on Long Island. II is
terrible bad year we don't make at least so
an acre clear gain. I mean by that that If
man farms one hundred acres he should have
$1,000 in the bank at the end Of the year. and
everything, including the living expenses OF
the family and ordinary repairs on buildings,
paid up. In good years we make as much as 500
end OF the year. The farms average from 80
10 80 acres. and some men have two three
farms
our women folk don't have hard time
farmers wives usually do. We don't board our
help. Men can be hired at 81 a day. and they
keep themselves. Polish women and children
DO most of the harvesting. They pick beans
and peas by the bushel, gettin 121a cents for
large peas and Il cents for small ones. Some Of
~ A. Tg.-V.
Just photographed Will make 81 20 for their
days work in the beans. There are a few
German farmers on the island who hire their
help by the month and board and lodge them"
The afternoon is the busiest time with the
Long Island truCksters. Right after dinner they
begin TO load the big wagons which carly
their vegetables 10 the markets in this city
Son etimes the wagons are loaded with one sort
OF vegetable but usually they are piled high
with a miscellaneous assortment, including
everything from roasting ears TO string beans
The average wagon viii carry from thirty-hve
TO forty barrels of truck. making load OF SIX
thousand pounds.
At o'clock in the afternoon the horses. spank
ing big ones with broad chests and stocky legs,
are hitched to the wagons and the drivers start
to market II takes four hours 10 drive from
Floral Fark The wagons usually go direct 20
one az the several markets where they buy
permit for - cents. which gives them right
TO their stand until morning. The driver usually
sleeps on top II his load from until o'clock.
Then The pushcart men AID buyers for small
groceries begin 20 arrive. As soon as The load
is sold the wagons STARE home. The horses know
every foot OF the road. and many a minutes
sleep can be- stolen on The way.
great deal less meat would be eaten IN
summer II more people would take time 10 visit
Long Island truck farms. one comes home con-
WINGED that The vegetarian is not SO much Of
crank after all There is something healthy
about the very looks OF the farm, and it carries
with it the assurance that the vegetables them
selves are health giving