The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-04-16
CITY FARMING TO CUT LIVING
COST.
Transform Yards Into Gardens-TeTs
What to Plant.

stutfs Is advocated by John II. Cur
ran, State Immigration Commissioners.
Curran's idea Is to have all families
In st. Louis convert their back yards
into truck farms. The addition of
this quantity of garden truck to the
ordinary supply would Immediately
reduce the price on every other
source Of production and would solve,
Curran says, as far as vegetables are
concerned, the high cost Of living in
st. Louis.
A yard 25 feet square is sufficiently
large the commissioner declared. II
larger, so much the better. That the
plan is entirely feasible Curran is 60
ing to prove by converting his own
yard on Ridge avenue into such a
garden. The latter Is 3S 40 feet.
He has already sent to his congress
man for sufficient seed (not potatoes,
thought All who intend to follow
the suggestion can get them from
the same source.
The commissioner has figured out
that with little intelligence, at least
$50 worth of truck can be raised by
each family on even as small a tract
as 40 square feet. This would mean
over $2.000000 worth Of vegetables
from the garden for the table, thus
supplanting the decayed or diseased
garden truck with everything crisp,
palatable and healthful.
Curran Discusses Plan.
There are about 10000 families In
the city. according to Curran, averag-
ing five people per family. He estl-
mates that $4,000 of these are tene-
ment dwellers ard upper fiat dwellers
without any back yards, and $4,000
living in suburban towns leaving ap-
proximately $4,000 families which
could engage in farming on a small
scale within the city limits.
Speaking Of the plan Wednesday,
Curran declared:
IL would not confine these gardens
to those Of the poorer classes. nor to
the middle classes but would have
even the richest have their truck gar
dens. just as they now have their
flower gardens and landscape effects.
The men who are languishing for lack
Of adequate exercise, as we'll as those
who need to train off superfluous
flesh, will find garden work not only
beneficial. but very remunerative, and
wili notice the difference in their gro
Gerry bills. Women with nervous tenn
peraments. fearing breakdown, can
absolutely cure themselves by getting
up early In the morning and using a
hoe and garden rake, while at the
same time enjoying one of the great
est pleasures God has given to man.
that of nurturing plants and watching
their interesting growth.
"I estimate that the cost of equip
ment will not exceed IS, both for
tools and seeds, and In many cases
this can be cut in half. 1 would ad-
wise those desiring to engage in gar
dening to write their congressman
Immediately for a package of garden
seed. This will give each one some
thing to which they are entitled un-
der the government, and will also
keep their congressman busy.
What to Plant and How.
Regarding what to plant. it is al
together a matter of choice. / would
suggest that the plot be thoroughly
spaded up deeply and the soil thor
oughly pulverized after a mixture OF
certain quantity of manure. the more
the better. Beds may then be made
to suit. with paths FAR enough apart
SO that all parts of the beds can be
easily reached by hoe and rake.
Lettuce. of course, should be plant
ed. A 3x6-foot plot is plenty large.
Lettuce should be planted as used, so
that II will not get too old. Radish
beds should be 3x12, and onions about
the same. Plant sets, not seeds, of
onions. A bed of dwarf beans should
also be planted, about 6x12. The old
beans should be picked first, the
young beans will then come on, and
In ordinary rich ground, an enormous
yield many be had. Don't plant peas
They take up too much room and
don't pay. A bed of cucumbers con-
tanning six hills will yield a goodly
supply If properly tended. One
should get tomato plants and put
about 20 plants in a bed 6x15.
About four hills OF summer squash
VIII make all the squash needed for
the family. Plant little bed OF pors-
ley at the corner of the lot and a root
OF horse radish to another corner. A