Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-06-15
Bulgarian Truck Farm
IoDa Attracts Wide Attention,

Waterloo, June 16.-Within the city
limits OF Waterloo il . truck farm
operated by five Bulgarians which
would put to shame the efforts OF some
Of Americas so-called intensive farm.
ers. The small tract OF land has been
visited by many people interested IN
gardening and promises TO become
one Of the city's chief points OF In
terest this summer.
Motorists in an interval OF five
minutes may travel from the business
district down Jefferson street and turn
to the left into the extension OF By
ron avenue Just before the Rock Island
tracks cross jefferson street and find
themselves transplanted from America
to Bulgaria without leaving Iowa soil.
This route, however, was not known
to the reporter who was assigned to
discover this wonder spot.
Near Old Paper Mill.
The seeker after news and novelty
went as far as bicycle would take
him in the direction Of the ruins Of
the old paper mill. left the machine
at the home Of an obiliging German
woman, and plunged onward thru q
jungle OF weeds waist-deep until his
quest was rewarded by q glimpse Of
the irrigated acres upon which the
tireless Bulgarians were at work with
their curious homemade mattocks dis
couraging the growth Of weeds In their
three-acre patch Of potatoes.
Thru the cultivated rows trudged
the reporter wondering il the five for.
eigners would be able to answer his
questions in English. This doubt
was quickly dispelled by the swarthy
toiler who came forward in response
to a questioning Hello" and who not
only proved his ability to speak Eng
lish, but declared that he also spoke
Russian, Roumanian and French in
addition to his native tongue.
James Roof Spokesman.
James Roof was the man who voiced
the sentiments Of the interesting Quin-
tet. It was he who, In company with
George Evanoff. conceived the plan Of
establishing a truck garden and fur
nished the $1,000 which is invested in
the enterprise Working with these
men are Stephen Bangoff. Rady Ko-
left and another George Evanoff, who
is distinguished from George the first
by the fact that the is unmarried.
The five men make their home in
a tiny shack in the shadow Of the old
mill, the married members Of the quin-
tet having left their wives in the old
country Twenty Plymouth Rock bid
dies supply them with eggs and they
cook and bake in primitive oven
which they have constructed OF brick
and cement near the shack
Koieff Fashions Implements.
Being a blacksmith. Rady Koleff was
able to fashion plow share and mat
tocks similarly to those used by their
countrymen back in the Balkans. The
mattocks, which they use instead OF
hoes, arc queer implements which bear
no slight resemblance to the steel
choppers with which our mothers cut
up mince meat They are nearly q
foot in width, and are made OF sharp
STEEL
The pillow share does not cut the SOD
at an angle as do our American plowA
but plunges straight into the ground
like a flat. spade-shaped wedge which
digs a ditch rather than . 1urrow. Ths
Bulgarians. made tho wooden handle
and pole Of the pillow from rough
hewn tfee. Their skill In woodwork
is further displayed in the willow
baskets which they have made for the
purpose Of conveying their products to
the waterloo market this summer.
They also have cut willow sapiinSs
with which they have interviewer
twiEs to form quaint and attractive
fence around the flower garden in
front OF their humble yet neat little
dwelling.
Big Pump Installed.
PM their ability IL most strongly