New-York tribune., 1906-07-19
MONEY In THE SOIL.
Prosperous Farmers of Phitadel-
pilaS Vacant Lots.

r. f. Powell. superintendent OF the Phila-
delphia Vacant Lots Society. told the Summer
School OF Philanthropy yesterday about the
wonderful success hts organization has met with
not only in providing the poor with a means OF
livelihood. but in teaching them the lucrative
calling OF gardening.
I'VE started in nine years ago with twenty
seven acres and one hundred families" said Air
Powell. "of those who applied for gardens 90
Per cent were over forty years Of age. and many
were slow or shortsighted or deaf. or had some
other defect which kept them out OF the Ordi-
nary channels Of labor.
I'VE had only two rules: Any one taking
lot must cultivate It well throughout the sea
son or forfeit it, and there must be no trespass-
sng on anothers lot. The first year we dis
missed - per cent under the first rule: last
year OF 500 families only two were dismissed.
and this year out OF $50 only has been dis
missed"
Mr.. Powell had lot Of stereOpticOn pictures
fy which he transported his audience TO the
pleasant cabbage patches and bean fields Of
philadelphia.
sssSov. this he said as a middle-aged woman
ana three or four children working in a tropical
i3ungle of sweet corn were disclosed, ''is wash
lrvoulan with a few of her eight children She
fused to spend six days a week at the washtub
hut when she took a garden she decided to give
.ssp one day week to that When she began TO
AseaIize from the garden she found she got much
more from the day a week than from the
iother five put together. and that first season she
cleared SO by her vegetables. not counting
those the family used and those they put in for
fsyinter-"
A new picture came onto the screen showing
lseveral old men pottering away among the
straight lines Of beets and lettuce-one between
Sing
an the middle distance a third sharpening hoe.
and back in the clear perspective of pieplant
and cucumber vines. fourth picking peas into
big market basket
This man" went on Mr.. Powell, singing out
the man with the plough. is over sixty-flve
years Of age. He had been the foreman IN rail-
lroad shop. but lost five fingers in ap accident
took TO drink and drank up everything he had
To-day he is one Of the best gardeners in the
.three-quarters Of an acre so successfully tnat
last year he made $500. not counting the Vege-
tables he kept for his family
The old fellow picking peas Is over seventy
years old He owned a brick factory, failed IN
7fhe panic Of 1892 and drifted from bad to worse
ain all he had the house in which he lived
half-aere he produced 500 worth OF vegetables
one OF the pYettiest OF the slides showed a tiny
bungalow situated among the beanpoles and
cornstalks OF a flourishing garden. with mother
ana several children eating supper under a little
one OF the little girls had her tea cup raised to
her lips, a boy was feeding himself with bread
and butter, while the mother was standing az
the head OF the table pouring tea out OF boun-
ieous enamel ware teapot.
They built that little cabin" explained Mr..
Powell and spend the four summer months
there each year, rent free. They all work in the
garden. which last year yielded $3.50 worth OF
Vegetables. These the younger children sold to a,
line OF regular customers. going each morning TO
take orders and then delivering the vegetables
tn the afternoon"
When the withdrawal Of several acres threw
thirty families out OF gardens cooperative
farming company was Immediately formed.
which rented nine acres and produced $4,000
worth Of vegetables the first year This group
now includes forty-tw0 families who cultivate
tWenty-four ecres-a fine demonstration Of the
fHoundness Of the societys position. And the cost
last year OF running the entire vacant lots sys-
TEN was only $3.50. according TO Mr.. Powell.