Evening star., 1943-04-06
Flowing Is Started
For Victory Gardens
On District Tract
10-Acre Field Donated
By St. PouI's College
To Make 100 Plots

A ploWshare at last broke ground
today for Victory gardens in the
District of Columbia "A man en-
ployed by the District Victory Gar
den Committee equipped with trac-
today on a 10-acre tract donated by
ST. Pauls College, Seventh and
Hamline streets NE, for the COM
munity garden.
The 100 gardens, into which the
plot will divide, have already been
applied for, mostly by neighbors of
the institution. 1t is estimated that
it will take the rest of the week to
plow and harrow the tract.
More equipment will be contracted
for Last night the Budget Com
mittee of the Community War Fund.
custodians of the money collected
each year in the combined charity
drive, acting promptly on request
from the District Victory Garden
Committee, made available $500 from
its contingency fund for plowing.
Equipment Is Sought.
The Victory Garden Committee
offers several weeks of profitable
work for men with tractors, plows
and harroWs, that can be moved
about the city easily. The COM
mittee had about $3.50 in it's treas
ury. The $3.50 total which the COM
mittee now has on hand for plow-
ing may be spent two or three times
over, as it is revolving fund which
will be renewed by the money COL
lected by area garden leaders to get
their community gardens plowed
Owners of available equipment
should call J. Morton Franklin. Vic
tory garden supervisor, at National
5000, Extension 1885. His Office is
at 458 Indiana avenue NV.
In contrast to the situation in the
District. Montgomery County al
ready has plowed more than 500
plots at a cost of more than 81 900.
When the Government issued it's call
for Victory gardens, the Montgom-
cry county commissioners decided
they would hire the equipment and
plow, at no cost to the gardeners,
vacant blocks in the Silver Spring,
Chevy Chase and Bethesda areas
One of the men in charge of the
program said today, II don't think
the commissioners quite knew what
they were getting into. They got
more than 500 requests in the first
few days. However, they contracted
for four tractors and at least two
teams. which have been plowing
ever since, weather permitting.
In addition. the Commissioners
rented for $500 a 24-acre tract, large
enough for 400 to 500 garden plots,
and plowed and narrowed it. Roy
K. Amick, 609 Dale drive, Silver
Spring, Md, paper manufacture
ing representative, who had a little
spare time. volunteered to handle
the work in this area, and he is
busy now supervising the blowing
He reported that the preparation of
the 24-acre tract, which is at Geor-
gia avenue and Forest Glen road,
will be completed this week. More
than 300 applications have been re-
ceived for plots in this tract. Two
tractors are working in Silver
Spring. A second large tract is be-
ing prepared on Sligo Creek park
way. Mr.. Amick also has two teams
at work plowing back yards and va
cant lots. There have been 200 ap-
plications for services of the teams.
Bethesda Plans Under Way.
Edward L. Stock, jr., nurseryman,
and Mrs. Chase Donaldson, 1924
Hampton roard. Edgemoor, are ac-
tive in the Bethesda area. Two
tractors are in action. These have
finished preparation of a large
tract, about so plots, at Station
WMAL, on Cabin John road. Now
the tractors are working on two
tracts at Bradmore. of so plots each,
and smaller tract at Beach drive,
Rock Creek Park, north of the Dis
trict line, of about 20 plots.
In the District garden lots still
are available near Brentwood Park,
south of Walter Reed Hospital be-
tween Louzon avenue and Thir-
teenth street NV, near the Gal
lnger Hospital and In Anacostia
Park Sc. and at the Blue Plains
Home.
If you are ready to devote your
Sundays and two or three evenings
each week to growing vegetables fill
in the coupon on this page and mail
1t to the Garden Editor of The Star.
Your application will be given
prompt attention by the District
Victory Garden Committee.