New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-01
Minimum Prices
May Be Assured
Farmers in Fall
Houston Likely to Follow
Perkins, Plan to Give
Them Fair Profit
More Land Is Offered
City Sweepers Will Cultivate
200 Plots of Ground
in Queens

The United States Department OF
Agriculture will take steps TO obtain
LEGISLATION guaranteeing farmers mini
mum prices for their food products
next fall. according to information
George W. Perkins, chairman Of the
Mayors Food Supply Committee, re-
ceived Yesterday from Secretary hous-
ton. Mr.. Perkins made the suggestion
last week when he spoke on the 1000
problem before Congressional COM
mttee.
The minimum prices the government
will be asked to fix probably VIII be u
n bushel for potatoes, Sl.5O Tor wheaI
and So cents for corn. THESE VIII
guarantee the farmers a fair proilt ana
will not limit any larger gains tney
NAV make by obtaining a higher mar
ket price next fall.
The gardening movement IN ana
about New York. fostered by the
Mayors Food Garden Committee, MADE
substantial progress yesterday. John
F.. Weier. Park Commissioner OF
Queens. announced that he had set
aside 200 plots Of ground in Corona
near the end of the new subway, LOT
cultivation by city street cleaners.
Each will have his individual tract,
large enough to produce vegetables Tor
ore family this summer. The land
will be ploughed by the Park Depart
ment.
Has Tomato Slips
The Commissioner also announced
that he had on hand $4,000 tomato
Sins. which would be distributed Tree
in few days, when they reached the
proper stage for transplanting.
An offer Of seventy-five acres for
cultivation near Elmhurst, Queens, was
made to the Commissioner yesterday
BIZ Stuard Hirsehmsn. a member OF the
MAYORS Committee on Food Gardens.
The Jackson teinway Realty Company
also offered 200 lots in Long Island
City.
A. 7. Namm e. Son, Of Fulton Street,
Brooklyn. have placed under cultlva,
ton a large lot at Ocean Parkway ana
Lawrence Avenue, Brooklyn, for their
empioyes. each Of whom will be re-
leased for an hour each day to till the
ground. An expert gardener will be
in charge OF this model garden, which
will be made a source Of knowledge for
amateur gardeners Of the neighbor-
hood.
Borough Is Divided
The committee in charge of garden
ine in Manhattan divided the borough
into six districts yesterday, placing a
committee member in charge of each.
The committee is assigning plots 20 by
90 feet TO individuals, who must agree
to give a proportion of their crops to
the Allied hospitals. The rest is eX-
pected TO be sufficient for two families.
Several Young Mems Christian Asso-
citation branches, LenoX Settlement
House. Greenwich House. University
Settlement. East Side Settlement and
the Educational Alliance have offered
- cultivate large tracts, supplying seed
and utensils. the ground to be ploughed
ard narrowed by the Park Department
The Merchants Association yester-
day asked employers to help organize
volunteer forces TO work on farms
The appeal will be widely circulated
throughout New York, New Jersey and
Connecticut Blanks are inclosed for
the enrolment of employees. with full
Information regarding their experience
end qualifications. The employers are
asked TO give vacations with full pay
during the two to four weeks the work
ers are on the farms. They will be
transported free. Registration and as
Segment of the workers will be done
by the Merchants Association. The
farmers are to pay them a minimum
wage Of 81 a day "and found"