Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-03-18

were ueL Uy JObcpA T cAo, oAC oA tAC most active directors of the association, and were driven to the Bingham House. says the Philadelphia Press.
 My object in coming to Philadel- phia," Mir. Haggard said, Ifs to learn about the work of your Vacant Lots Cultivation association. I came to America to inquire into the conditions and character of the industrial colonies organized in this country by the Salva- tion Army with a view of applying the scheme to South Africa. The greatest possibilities for colonization have been opened in South Africa. In England there is much congestion. especially among the poor. One of the greatest problems which civilization has had to face is how to help men and women on the land and prevent them from con- gregating in the city, where the condi- tions are so much harder and unhealth- fer in every respect. Men and women born into this wide world can only find the best that is in life who live out their lives amid the sights and sounds of nature, and he who can show the way to turn the flow back to the land will do a great service to humanity. For years I have realized the impor- tance of this.
 "The allurements of city life-dance halls, theaters and the hope of making fortunes-cause the young people to flock from the country to the city. To check this flow it will be necessary to create a counter attraction in the coun- try to give the people an interest that comes from ownership in the land. Those who come to the city from the country usually make their condition worse. While they are still young they may not realize this, but when they grow older they find their posi- tions filled by younger people, and they Become dependent upon public charity. There were 113,000 persons on the poor rates in London last year."
 Later in the afternoon MT. Haggard was the guest of Franklin B. Kirk bride at his home in Spruce street. where the author met the directors Of the Philadelphia Vacant Lots Cultiva- tion association and listened with deep interest to an account which Superin- tendent Powell gave of its work among the poor of Philadelphia.
 Superintendent Powell's recital was illustrated by a number of stereopti- con pictures, showing vacant lots un- der cultivation in Philadelphia, views of men, women and children at work in the vegetable gardens, etc. One of the pictures shown was that of a twelve year-old girl who had been giv- en a quarter acre lot to cultivate and sold S155 worth of vegetables, besides supplying her family. Her invalid fa- ther, who assisted her. was so i'm. proved in health by outdoor life that he was able to return to work. An other picture showed part of a nine acre farm which had been leased by eighteen families who were graduates of the vacant lot cultivation and who disposed of $3,OOO worth of vegetablea in one season.
 Mir. Haggard asked number of ques tions during Superintendent Powelri remarks. He wanted to know where the fertilizing material was procured and Mir. Powell told him that much oi it came from the street sweepings
 which the street cleaners brought 1T carts for that purpose.
 "The fertilizing, the blowing and pre-
 paring the land are always done by thu
 association" said Mir. Powell.
 "where do the gardeners get theil
 hoes and rakes and the like?' asked
 Mir Haggard.
 The buying of tools and the care Q
 them, he was told. devolved on the cul
 tivators.
 "The tendency which this work ha
 had to bring people back to the lan'
 has been more apparent in the las
 year of our work" said the superin
 tendent. when more than 10 per cen took ground on their own account" "How many families does this 10 pc cent represent?" asked the author.
 "Eighty-fve families" replied Nil Powell.
 .'what was the method of marketin
 the products? was Mir. Haggard'
 next query regarding particular farr which the superintendent had d scribed.
 Tt was done principally by childre from nine to twelve years of age Tn children receive 9 per cent pay on sales. They did this work after scho' ! hours and on Saturdays. 50 it did nt interfere with their going to school" 'ewhat did their earnings amour , tor
 ~From s to e and @ . week"
 -Supposing you doubled your outpu . would there still be . marketf" aske . the author.
 "Yes. if it were increased fifty tim' over." replied Joseph Fels. |, Do you get better prices than tho which are obtained from other sem efsr-
 .yes- ansxerei the superintender : The gardeners of the small lots usue
 ly get from 10 to . per cent more tha r the hucksterS--
 Mir. Haggard seemed astonishe : when told that $4o.o00 worth of veget
 bles had been raised last year on u
 vacant lots of Philadelphia He VI
 also surprised to leap that there we' ! $500 acres of vacant lots in Philade 2 phia and that the association he'd be- able to secure the uDe sf oaly 2