The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-06-16

taste for gardening and learn at hrst han
that 1t Is a profitable pursuit q lot vii
have been done toward inducing the poo
not to cling to large Cities
Mr.. Halls views on the possibilities o
making an easy and pleasant living from
the soil without the unoeasing toll popularh
associated with the farmers life have no
been changed by his association with thu
Bronx vacant lot settlement.
Il am convinced that $500 profit may b,
got outiof half an acre OF good soil, providec
one knows how he said with conviction
And any one who puts his mind to it car
learn how.
AS to The Bronx vacant lot settlement
where is the form OF b~enevolence to com.
pare with it for a like expenditure? We
are not trying TO conduct a charity. 1t ID
simply an attempt TO teach some persons
how they can help themselves to become
independent with little or no capital and
without resorting to charity.
THAT il why perhaps 80 many good, chart
table persons in the community are luke
warm as to the value OF the project. ]
sometimes think there is no very great
desire on the part Of philanthropists to nave
the lower classes, 80 called, become indie
pendent. They would rather than not
they were kept dependent.
We're l to advertise the formation OF a
society to patch garments for the poor l
venture to say good women would tumble
over n another to belong to it. Good
women are always yearning to aid the
poor. But to aid the poor to be independent
Of charity. to aid themselves. is another
story.
sNow up to date it is possible hat the
vacant lot settlement in The Bronx has not
the greatest good to the greatest mum
Der. 1t is possible that a lot has now and
then got into the hands OF persons who were
quite able to buy all the vegetables they
needed. We nave not rigidly investigated
after the quite proper manner OF the charity
organizations the income of every appli-
cant.
"We nave in fact purposely refraiped from
so. We have Disseminated and shall
TO discriminate in favor OF those
who seem to be most in need Of a helping
and especially when the family in
cludes children, but our aim is not 80 much
10 keep out any but the absolutely destitute
as it is to make popular the idea that
health, happiness and prosperity are un-
falling results Of cultivating the soil.
IF our experiment was costing 500 a
nan or something like that it would be
different. but the total cost is only a trife
more than 81 900 a year. or $40 a plot. Where
S there any system of charity which is ope-
.ated at such a low figure?
I'VE need more vacant lots within easy
each Of the city if this work is to grow,
md ] wonder In view OF the widespread
.ocialistic agitation that landlords are not
more liberal with theirunoccupied lots.
In order to facilitate the work Of the plot
another year we are having a hot
,ed built from which they can get their
aud ! have no doubt that by
leXt spring Some of our proteges will be
efficiently trained in agriculture to be
permanently to the country.
The SUCCESS of vacant lot farming has
zen demonstrated. II is far beyond the
detrimental stage. 1t is now merely a
of increasing the work to reach a
number.
I'VE need more vacant lots near the city
money to operate them"