The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-06-24
new YORK HAS A
TINY FARM AMONG
ITS SKY SCRAPERS
~ a4- - a-L-1ref sT
,as4 9ll1 D5X4tq aBn
Garden Spot of Nature Whic h
the Wave of Building, Has
Swept Around and Left
Untouched.


NEW YORK, June 23.-Right in the
heart of one of the most fashionable
residential sections of New York. is
a farm that is probably the most ex-
pensive one in the world in proportion
to it's size. 1t is iless1 than an acre in
extent, and the land is worth $780,
600. Daily the wealthy women of the
neighborhood can be. SEEM driving up
to the gate in vfctofias and -automo-
biles. Here they yaAghtg and walk
through the green rows Of vegetables
to make selections for their household.
Fresh beds of crisp lettuce and green
topped radiSheS- are there for them
to choose from, and peas and beans
can be plucked from the vines.
No matter how exclusive a grand
dame the resident of this quarter of
New York may be, she drops her haul
teur and becomes as democratic as
child when she enters the precincts of
this farm. She might scOrn the sug-
gestfon of going to the green grocer's,
but she considers it a privilege to be
permitted to pluck a head of lettuce
or indicate her choice of sweet corn
grown on this little plot Of land.
Thanked by lofty and expensive
apartment houses, in the center of the
homes of the ultra wealthy, this little
farm on West End avenue, between
Ninety-fourth and Ninety fifth streets,
is a bit of country left by the ever
encrOaching demands of urban build
ing. For twenty-four years it has been
cultivated by it's present lessee. Long
before downtown began to move up
town cabbages, peas, corn and pota-
toes were grown on this spot. The
great building wave swept toward it
beyond it-but left it untouched in all
it's quaint, bucolic simplicity. Apart
ment houses costing hundreds of thou
sands of dollars were erected on all
sides, but the sun overleaped the bar
riers of brick and stone and contin-
ued to shed it's grateful rays on the
carefully titled crops.
With the wealthy housewives Of
West End avenue this farm is more
than landmark. 1t is an institution
closely identified with their domestic
establishments. They were glad to
give it their. patronage Mrs. Alfred
Corning Clark, now the wife of Bishop
Henry G. Potter, was one of the dis
tinguished customers. She was partic-
ularly fond of the corn grown on the
plot, and usually tried to buy up the
whole crop. But the farmer is a man
who tries to be impartial toward all
his patrons, and the most any one can
get is dozen ears at a time.
Surrounded by fence of irregular
palings the ground rises in a gentle
nue. TO the rear of the incloSure reach
ing it's highest point on the northwest
corner where, at an elevation of about
twenty feet, stands the long, low cot
.tage of Henry Wesby, the farmer. Two
paths run to the cottage, one leading
from wooden gate on the Ninety
fourth street side and winding in and
out among small plots planted in cab
bages, lettuce, peas and beans. On the
farm the corn is now two feet high.
and those who come to the farm for
their marketing are counting the DAYS
when the green stalks will be laden
with ears for the table. The sec
ond path runs to the cottage from
Ninety-f1fth street and ends in little
terrace in front of the porch, This
terrace is bright with flowers such as
are the pride Of every farmers wife.
The northeast corner of the farm is a
little meadow carpeted with the green
est of green grass, and on the border of
this emerald patch, where the farm
proper begins, stands maple tree
AS IL to complete this picture Of agri-
cultural life, under the tree is a pillow.
Near by is a low shed, open in front.
in which are stored the wagons and
other farming implements. The wag-
ons are used to bring fertilizer for
the ground. None are needed to carry,
the produce away. 1t is too eagerly
sought by the customers in the neigh
borhood. In fact, Mr.. Wesby has a
waiting list OF persons anxious to be
his patrons, and every ear OF corn and
measure of peas is bespoken before the
vegetables &c Scr the market.
Judging from the class of vehicles
at the front gate, Mr.. Wesby has as
fashionable a clientele as Fifth ave-
nue. milliner. 1t is like witnessing a
social parade to see the farmers Gus.