The Washington times., 1917-04-02
COMMUNITY TILLS
YARDS PROFITABLY
Bridgeton, N. j., Demonstrates
Value of Intensive Cultivation
of Small Tracts.

In 1900 an English philosopher
named Nautilus said the population
OF the earth was growing so fast II
would not be able to feed itself after
several generations. f
Down in southwest New Jersey
there is a community of $4,000 peo-
pie who did not know three years
ago whether to believe this or not.
Now every member OF the commun-
ity thinks Thomas Nautilus was
"spoofng."
The natives of the city of Bridge
ton, in Cumberland county, believe
there VIII be plenty to feed the
world II people viii go about the
work of raising food systematically.
Put $1,000 I'm Bank.
"Any man with ambition" accord
ing to r. NJ. Moore president of the
Cumberland Trust Company there.
"can take one acre OF land, make a
living out of it and put $1,000 a year
in the bank"
The small garden fever struck
Bridgeton three years ago, and In
that time the community has learned
that soil, properly handled, will
raise vegetables; that one can raise
any quantity Of food on an acre or
half acre tract, and that any man
can learn to be a good city farmer
and produce results.
In Bridgeton the schools close at /
o'clock during the gardening season
TO give the children a chance to help
in back lot farming. so important Is
the gardening work considered.
Intensive Methods Used.
This agricultural community be-
lieves in intensive farming. Its resi-
dents select a piece of property,
smother It with fertilizer. and then
soak Ii down with water pumped
through special irrigation systems.
The land is thoroughly treated and
made ready for cultivation. and then
the farmers go in for intensive cul-
tivation.
Instead of planting onions in rows
two and a half feet apart, turned on
with a plow, they lay on the rows
with a hoe ten inches apart. The
soil has been strengthened with the
fertilizer and the farmers OF Bridge
ton have demonstrated in dozen
acre plots that a 100 per cent increase
in production can be effected by IN
tensive planting.
John P. Marts, a glassblower, who
found himself out of work two years
ago. began with an initial capital OF
$500 on a half acre OF ground IN
1918. Last summer he had o5'OOo
heads of lettuce on an acre tract ana
made S724 profit on the season. This
three
single acre tracts. After paying the
initial expense of preparing the two
new tracts he expects to clear more
than 81 500 this year.
BuIwnrk of Defense.
The leading men of Bridgeton be-
lieve intensive cultivation of the land
NJ the nation would be a great bull
wark Of national defense They think
other cities should take up the single
acre garden plan.
Jobn s Ware, one OF the most sue
cessful gardeners of the community
and a leading business man of Bridge
ton. said:
"The Government OF the United
States could do nothing more enec-
tive toward agricultural preparedness
than TO take immediate steps to de-
velop throughout the country the cul-
tivation of small plots on a scientihc
basis, as we are doing here
Ware lost $500 on his first years
He was practically the
leader OF the movement. SO strong
was his belief in the ultimate success
Of the plan that he has invested $780,
900 in forty-five acres this year. Last
wear he realized more than $1,000