New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-30

Brdgeton. has been one Of the prlnci-
pal factors in the success OF this IN
usual agricultural development Its
secretary and treasurer, John ). Ware,
was the first man in Bridgeton 70 cul-
tivate city lots under irrigation-and
his early trials in the face Of ridicule
and criticism and mis- ultimate success
have created in him a great sympathy
for the man OF small means who seeks
10 break away from the shackles OF a
factory or Office job and 20 back TO
the soil
Aid Ready for Changers
Almost half a dozen OF Bridgeton's
most successful "one-acre farmers"
owe their present prosperity 20 the
generous assistance accorded them ~
the early days OF their experiment by
the Cumberland Trust Company An
earnest, industrious man with 5000 can
borrow enough more 20 establish him
on a successful basis as a one-acre
farmer. The officials Of the Cumber-
land Trust Company guarantee this.
The cost Of land in Bridgeton and
vicinity is a comparatively negligible
item. Within the city limits, where
city water for irrigation can be OBJ
tanned FOR $50 a year, excellent land
may be bought for from $500 20 $500
an acre. Just outside the town an
acre may be had for s190-0ut water
must be piped from i stream or well.
A small irrigation plant can be in
stalled for approximately 5000. Manure
costs $3.50 a ton; fertilizer, $40 ton.
The labor required is approximately
one man per acre from March 20 De-
cember I. Labor can be Hired for 81
a day, making the annual cost Of labor
per acre $40.
Now, Mr.. Ware declared, IL remains
for the moneyed men Of the nation 70
provide a great fund with which 70
send men back TO the soil. A gift or
81 900, he said, would be sufficient TO
enable one industrious man TO place
under irrigation and scientifically Gull
-ivate a tract of one acre. A fund o.
81 900, 900, placing a thousand such
acres under intensive cultivation IN
the most populous centres of the East,
would work a miracle in reducing the
cost OF living and providing reserve
food supply. he asserted. And a still
greater patriotic and philanthropic
fund, enabling the cultivation OF many
thousands of such tracts throughout
the country. he believed, would solve
forever the problem of agricultural
preparedness and make great periods
of unemployment thing Of the past.
"Muiti-millionalre phllanthroplsts
have spent millions founding Libraries,
museums, schools Of agriculture and
other institutions. Then why not spend
a few millions for the immensely more
practical purpose of doubling the coun-
try's food supplies. decreasing the cost
of living and providing employment for
thousands of men out of iobs?' argued
Mr.. Ware.
Pioneer of BridgetOn
lnasmuch as Mr.. Ware was the first
of Bridgeton's one-acre farmers, a de-
tailed account of his experiments in
the irrigation and intensive cultivation
of city lots may be taken as fair ex
ample of the experience Of Bridgeton's
other scientific truck farmers.
Mr.. Ware began his experiment N
intensive cultivation three years ago.
His principal purpose at first was 20
demonstrate the truth Of a theory he
held-thst any industrious man could
make a living of one acre OF ground.
His first step was 20 hire a man with
a practical knowledge Of gardening, at
Sl2 a week the year around. This man
had been complaining Of his inability
10 obtain steady employment.
During his first year Mr.. Ware had
under cultivation less than half an
acre-a piece OF ground in the rear Of
his dwelling. lie put up irrigation
pipes, al a cost of about 5000, and COW
cred the ground very heavily with
manure. using about forty or fifty
tons Also, he used large amount Of
ether fertilizer, including about ton
of bone. His purpose was 20 get the
ground into excellent shape for raising
a big crop the next year
The first year Mr. Ware planted mis-
little tract in lettuce, celery and toma-
toes. He was rewarded with cops
above the average; but because Of the
initial expense Of installing his irri-
CATION plant and fertilizing the ground
and because his charge OF 1924 for
labor during the year was unusually
large, he faced deficit Of about $500.
Everybody around here thought /
was crazy when they learned I was
putting forty or fifty tons Of manure
on less than an acre of ground" said
Mr.. Ware In discussing his experiment
The farmers about Bridgeton declared
was throwing my money away and
that I would burn up my soil by 30
much fertilization. That would have
been true il | hadn't irrigated. The
water enabled me 20 fertilze 80 high
ly. And I found 10 paid in the end
The second year Mr. Ware extended
his little farm 20 full acre. In the
busiest seasons in spring and fall he
hired four other men By the day 70
help his gardener. His crops were more
than twice as large as theY had been
the preceding year. His total expendi-
lures for the year were approximately
s ! 200 and from his one acre he raised
and sold produce OF an equal value,
breaking even financially. These fgr
ures, however, are exclusive OF consd-
cradle quantities of produce used by
Mr.. Ware and the families OF his
friends during the year Moreover. By
being more conservative on many items
Of expenditures. ne could have made a
comfortable profit for the year, in spite
Of the failure OF his onion crop because
Ct too much rain, which cost him sew
eral hundred dollars.
Last year, cultivating one and one
Eighth acres Of ground, Mr. Ware made
q net profit Of s72A14, in spite Of extra
Expense involved in extending mis- irri-
cation system. This season he will
cultivate one and half acres and tx
pects 20 clear net profit OF az least
81 500.
Gross Receipts for 1916
Mr. Wares gross receipts for 1918
we're s2101.60. His expenses came 10
sl,37746. An itemized account Of his
expenditures during the
year Is as follows:
Manure Observation-Disclosures. $4,000
Other fertilizer. 10000
wages. 62400