Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-17
HOME GARDEN IDEA
Firemen of the District Pho
neers in Movement.
PLEASING AS RECREATION
Profitable Also to Those Who Raise
Vegetables.
FINE EXHIBIT OF FLOWERS
Membsrs of the Companies Proud
Of Their showing-Work Be-
gun Years Ago.
PLEASING AS RECREATION
FINE EXHIBIT OF FLOWERS

The firemen OF the District are proving
themselves good farmers as we'll as fire
fighters. it is declared and in the side
yards and vacant lots adjoining the en-
CINE and truck houses they are raising
not only flowers, but also truck calu-
lated to make any farmer of the neigh
boring states envious
OF course the fire companies which have
an opportunity to take to farming are
not to be found in the most populous
parts OF the city. for. the simple reason
that the ground for planting flowers and
vegetables is not available. but truck
company No. 8. in Park road, east OF
18th street. has a remarkable exhibit
both Of flowers and truck In Bright
wood engine company No. 20 has a
garden as large in area. II not larger,
than No: 9. but It's garden is located on
the next block to that in which the en-
CINE house STANDS. Another fire company
which takes pride in it's garden is No. L.
chemical In Benning. Engine company
No. II, on North Capitol street, year
ago had large truck garden, but the
land on which the garden was located
Is now covered with buildings and the
firenaen have been compelled to give their
attention to flowers In their own front
yard. The fremen Of engine company
No I, on New York avenue. also have
fine garden,
Not New IDEA.
Gardening with the firemen in the Dis
tract Is not a new occupation. They
have had gardens for half dozen years
or more. The garden at No. truck in
Park road has existed for at least six
years. and judging from the large amount
Of interest taken In it by the men of the
company. it will be continued until some
enterprsfng builder has erected houses
or stores upon the large vacant lot next
to the truck house. They have been the
forerunners Of the home garden asso-
citation. in way, although the, associa-
ton is paying. more attention. to the
establishment of flower gardens in the
yards of the citizens than to raising veg
etables.
The firenren's gardens accomplish a
double purpose. They give the men
something TODD when they are not busy
putting out fires. and they provide enough
vegetables to carry the families of the
men through the summer with very few
visits to the markets.
Working In the garden helps to. keep
the men hard, for it's no easy job keep
ing the weeds down and cultivating the
vegetables" said Lieut.. A. l.. Walter at
No. truck company. And 1t is only
necessary to see the ten or a dozen men
working in the fields next to the truck
house to realize the truth of this.
It's the work of the married men,"
continued Lieut.. Walker with smile.
The bachelors don't have to think of
feeding families and for the most part
they do not take much interest in the
gardens. Sometimes they look after
the flower beds, for bachelor can
use flowers, you know"
More Than They Need.
At No. s truck company they say
that last year they raised enough
vegetables to supply all the families
Of the men during the entire season
and even had enough to sell to the
stores nearby. The tomato crop was
so large that bushels of them were
never used and allowed to hang on
the vines till they fell off.
The owners Of the property upon
which the gardens are located are glad
enough to have the hremen use the
land. Instead OF vacant lots covered
with weeds and tin cans. as land might
be, the lots present an attractive ap-
pearance, laid out as they are in we'll
kept gardens. To prospective pur-