The Washington times., 1917-03-10
At Least Five Engine Companies
Will Attack the High
Cost of Living.
WILL TILL VACANT TRACTS
With Food Prices Soaring, Po-
tatoes, cabbages, and Smaller
Vegetables Will Be Grown.

The fremen Of at least five engine
houses are planning to start the home
gardening movement on a broad scale
in the District this year.
Although the firemen in some Of the
suburban houses have engaged in truck
gardening several years. they said to-
. day that with food prices soaring, they
are planning to go in for vegetable gar
dening in earnest this summer.
Persons interested in the home garden
movement express the belief that the
work Of the firemen will prove an excel
lent example to other residents Of what
they might do TO reduce the high cost Of
living by utilizing vacant ground sur
rounding or bordering on their homes.
Get Use Of Two. Acres
The men OF Engine Company No. 20.
Wisconsin avenue and Warren street
northwest. have obtained the use Of two
acres surrounding their quarters, on
which they propose TO grow potatoes,
onions and other vegetables this sum-
mer.
Sergt. jeremiah Sullivan is the leading
farmer at No. 20. with Assistant Driver
Harry James, Capt. William Garner.
Driver George Warren. Assistant Driver
Evart Lusby, and Private p. Copeland
able assistants.
The men at Engine Company, No.
-, Georgia avenue and Rock Creek
Church road, also are getting out
their rakes and shovels, waiting for
the first sign of spring to start turn
ing up two acres of soil, owned by
Mrs. A. Loffler, who has given per
mission to the firemen to use the
ground. At this house potatoes, to-
matoes, beans, and cabbages will be
the principal productions.
Captain w. J. Seitz claims to be
the best tomato grower in the house,
and promises TO prove 1t this year.
Others at No. "a interested in gar
dening are Assistant Engineer c. E.
ATcAulliffe, Sergt Harry Swami,
Lieut.. Albert Haight, and Private
Marshall Long.
Only Half Acre At No. -.
The fire laddies at Engine Com
pany, No. %, Evsrt and Franklin
streets northeast, are lamenting the
fact that their half acre of available
land will hardly be big enough to
allow potato growing this year, with
the price of that staple soaring.
They expect to raise a crop of to-
matoes, beans and other smaller vege-
tables. Privates S. E. Colvin and ].
T. w. Clement are the most enthus-
isstic farmers in the house, with
capt Edward H. Nohe watching over
them.
At Engine Company, No. %. Forty
second street and Hunt place north
east, the home gardening project has
created keen rivalry among the men.
Assistant Engineer James Creamer
claims to be a wizard at potato grow
ing, but Private Albert Greiner dis.
putes his claim. They are planning
to fight it out on the acre of ground
adjoining their quarters this year.
Driver Anthony Malone and EngI-
neer S. N. Rollins intend to specialize
on beans Private John S. Farley, As
.sistant Driver Harry A. Orrison, and
Private A w. Upperman also ex-
IN the tilIing OF the garden this year.
Potatoes and CabbaEes.
The men at Engine Company No.
il, Brookland, have decided TO de
vote their entire plot, which is so by
800 feet, to potatoes and cabbages
this year, in view OF the high cost of
living.
Lieut. ]. w. Meyers is one Of the
busiest gardeners at No. IL, with As
sistant Engineer Z. G. Saur, Private
J. w. Hefiin, Private c. b. EIlicott.
and Driver w. l.. Mullikin ready to
help him this year.
Capt H. w Wright said he was
strong for botanical gardening, and
probably would have an attractive
flower bed in front of the engine
house this summer