New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-03
INTENSIVE PRODUCTION
French Methods That Would Solve the High
Cost of Living Problem

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: There is much talk about the high cost
Of living, but fail 20 see what is being
done about it. While all this talk is going
en- the people are suffering under an almos.
intolerable burden. Everybody knows that
lot of INSCRIPTIONS men have got control
of the necessities Of life, and apparently
there is no one big enough or brave enough
20 Dry them loose Our government would
not dare impose direct taxation equivalent 70
the indirect taxation imposed by these men.
To make matters worse, We are the victims
of the most extravagant and inefficient trans
portation and distribution system in the
world. and this system is robbing the pro-
Queer at one end and the consume AZ the
other
Now. if there is one person who wants 70
DO something besides talk, and DO IL now,
want to suggest remedy that will go long
way toward solving the high cost OF living
problem in the United States.
A little over fifty years ago the people OF
France were facing vital problems very SINH
lar TO the problems facing the American pec-
pie to-day.
The necessities Of life were coming into
the towns and cities from widely separated
parts of the country Prices were climbing
and the people were suffering. Just as they
settled vital national problem so they set
tied the problem Of procuring the necessities
Of the table-by prompt, vigorous, resource
/ full action. They figured that il produce could
/ be grown in or near the towns and cities and
delivered direct from the gardens to the con-
sumer they could knock out transportation
charges, commission men, middlemen and
retailers at one blow. They figured that II
they could grow necessities, such as yegets-
bles, fruits, salads and flowers, every day IN
the year, regardless of climatic conditions.
they would be independent OF the distant
southern zones They not only figured 1t all
out, but they worked it out, and the result is
the wonderful gardening methods known as
French inter 5ive gardening. BY these meth
eds the French gardener is able 20 produce
the best and tenderest varieties, which could
not be grown for long distance shipment and
sell direct from the gardens TO the consumer
at price far below market prices under any
other conditions
The French gardener Is able TO produce an
abundance from a very small plot Of land,
and by applying the same protective methods
to poultry raising he gets a prolific supply OK
eggs the year round, which can be marketed
at fair prices. What does America propose
TO do about it? Does it propose TO wait until
the nation first gets hungry and then fighting
mad or does IL propose 20 do something new!
am only one, but stand ready 20 do my part
Will any one else take hand? II we put the
French methods into practice we can socn
have fine lot of skilled, earnest intensive
gardeners and poultry raisers that we can
distribute all over the country in and near
towns and cities. They, in their turn, will
train and distribute others. The work is pro-
gressive and cannot fail to add 70 the nations
assets in health and happiness.
A s. GREENE.
New York Nov. 20, 1915.