New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-29
Volunteers to Give Halt
Their Vacation to Garden
ing on Long Island
P. S. c. Clerks to Farm
Will Cultivate Tract Near
Freeport; Schoolboys
Seek Plots

The Architectural League Of New
York and the Public Service Commits
sion Joined yesterday in the campaign
for increased food production in and
around New York
Members of the league and their de-
signers, craftsmen. engineers, land
scape gardeners. clerks and stenogra-
pliers have joined in cultivating forty
acres at Forest Hills Gardens. Long ISL
and. Use Of the land has been do
mated by the Sage Foundation, which
will give forty or fifty acres more If
desired.
The Architectural League called for
gardening volunteers yesterday and 100
responded. It is believed that by Tues
dav night. when the lists are closed,
an additional 100 will have offered their
service
Each volunteer agrees TO give one
half Of his two weeks vacation. Those
who cannot work in the gardens are
asked to do their bit" by donating S2l
i'm lieu Of services. This money will
be used to buy seed. fertilizer and
tools. The administrative Office work
will be handled b. the women en-
ployes.
The volunteers will he organized on
a scmi-military basis into squads OF
eight with a corporal" in charge Of
each squad There will be a relief
squad TO fiji vacancies caused by lll-
ness.
Actual Work Started
The actual work Of cultivation began
Yesterday When Park Commissioner
F John L. Weier Of Queens plouehed par,
Of the Architectural Leagues plot with
one Of the big tractors given by Mrs.
+ ". K. Vanderbilt The marketing OF
the leagues produce will be done
through the Mayors Committee on
Food Gardens. Half Of the net profits
will be given TO the volunteer workers
Z and the rest donated to war charity
/ The work of cultivation will be under
/ the suDcrvision of Hal p. Fullerton
agricultural expert of the Long Island
4 Railroad
The idea originated with Grosvenor
Atterbury. president Of the league. Mr.
Attorbury said yesterday he would on.
deavor to have similar plan carried
out by the leagues allied organizations
Of sculptors and painters.
George T. Daggett, assistant secre'
( tary Of the Public Service Commission
announced Yesterday that a similar
plan will be put into operation by Zoe
employees OF the commission. They
will cultivate thirty-fve acres near
PASSPORT. Long Island, each employc
giving up one weeks vacation.
Twenty acres have been donated by
Ezra 4. futile and fifteen acres have
been leased. The use Of house on the
property has been granted the amateur
farmers.
More than $1,000 has been raised TO
finance the work. and the use OF a
team of mules for the entire summer
has been given. The Public Service
Commission has made substantial do
nations.
The first squad Of eight or ten will
leave for the farm in few days Va
cation schedules have been arranged
4 so there will be ten or twelve men at
the farm throughout the summer. The
proceeds of the crops will be used to
repay those making donations. il any
thing remains il will 90 to the volun-
tecr workers. Each worker will pay
/ his own expenses.
/ The ploughing Of the tract will be
gin next week. There will be six acres
each Of potatoes and carrots and the
rest of the land will be planted with
beans, onions and corn
Schoolboys in the Williamsbridge An
mex of the Eyander Childs High School
have organized to raise a school garden
but they have no land. Miss Anna S.
Thompson. principal. wrote to the May
ors Committee on Food Gardens yes
terday asking land for the boys.
The American Bank Note Company
announced yesterday that it had
ploughed up all the lawns about its
factory sites in The Bronx and would
plant potatoes.
Frank L. Bowling, President of the
Board Of Aldermen and chairman of
the committee on coordination of the
Mayors Committee on Food Gardens.
yesterday appealed TO all citizens 20
donate to the committee the money
they would ordinarily spend on fire
works TO celebrate the Fourth Of July.
n IL II L..