The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1910-08-20
.LAB0RERS' GARDENS
Plan proposed by Rev. J. Mcdonnell
! to Bring Irish People Back
to the Land.
Already Successfully Tried in France
and in Parts of
es> America.

. one in considering the economic con-
ditions of Ireland at the present time
is that in the proper use of the land
there are abundant means Of support
ing not merely our existing population
but many times it's present number,
writes Rev. ]. Mcdonnell, S. j., in the
Weekly Freeman Oublin).
About this l think there can be no
manner of doubt. Yet instead of utii.
= f"ing these opportunities, the people,
for one reason or another, are crowd
ing into the large towns, in too many
instances only to starve and to swell
the ranks of the vast army of the I'M
employed. The result is that the soil
of Ireland is lying comparatively waste,
not worked up to third or fourth Of
Its working power. l do not propose
now to enter into the reasons for this
wholesale emigration from the coun-
try into the large centers of popula-
ton. I merely state what is the ac-
knowledged fact.
this problem of unemployment in Ire
land, and endeavor to apply a perma-
nent remedy, it must be largely by en-
deavoring to win the people back to
culture. Say what you will. Ireland is,
or ought to be, mainly all agricultural
country. Back to the land!" must be
the warcry of those who would ef1ica.
ciously do battle with the economic
evils that surround US.
With these facts and principles be-
fore our minds, venture now to offer
what l think will, if tried, afford at
least partial solution of this difficult
and complex problem. But before do
ing so, permit me to remark that one
of the chief objections l have to find
With our existing methods of reliev-
ing the poor and destitute is their
Very transitory character. The peo-
pie of Ireland are wonderfully chari-
table. l doubt if there is country
in the world in which, for it's size and
weather. rather poverty-there is
more money spent in charity than here
In Ireland. Yet. l am afraid it must
be admitted that the results achieved
are not commensurate with the ex-
penditure. A great deal of money is
spent. without any permanent allevia-
ton OF the poverty it is sought to
hoIn ha;
ought, | think, to choose those forms
OF charitable relief that give largest
and most permanent results.
Workingmen's Gardens in France.
Now, scheme for giving relief to
the unemployed, and, besides this. of
,affordng them a lasting means of live
lihood, was initiated in France some
JIG years ago.
., In 1894 priest in the college of st.
Michael. at st. Etienne, conceived the
idea of establishing among the poor
iof the district what afterwards came
ito be known as Jardins Ouvriers, or
lWorkmens Gardens. He rented
pilot of waste ground for els. An
other plot was given him by neigh
boring landowner-the whole amount
ing to about 12 acres. He divided this
among SO families, comprising COS
persons Fencing tools, fertilizers
water, seeds and incidentals brought
the cost up to G175, representing
money aid to each family of about
Sac. In spite of very dry summer
the yield Of potatoes and vegetables
amounted to C 300 or little over s3
q family. In reality it was more, as
I the initial cost of the gardens was
heavy for the first year, and repre-
al scented assets that could be carried
forward each season
]5;$9ss In 1895 and 1895 three new tracts
81 were added to his other holdings The
II expenses were E101 los Cd, with sales
from crops amounting to E521 IS,
Z while it was estimated that each fam
lily had consumed G5 worth of vege-
tables. In 1867 more fields were
added, the harvest yielding $500 for
81 that season.
Gradually the father rented or got
S@3 gifts of other bits of land until at
/ length he was able to support 375 fam
fs lies, or about $3.50 persons in all
Later still, he had 900 little gardens
which, on the same scale of calcula-
s.tion, would support about $500 per-
sons.
ss:s This movement has made remark
iSS able progress in America. 1t was
Started in Detroit in 1894, under the
H, name of Potato Patch Farms. New
3SSl York adopted it later on in what were
Hi Termed Vacant Lot Farms, and it is
NOW for about ten years in existence
Philadelphia. Last year it was
Il tsSlStAken up in London and a little late,