Three Acres and Liberty by Hall, Bolton, 1854-1938

8/14/2019 Three Acres and Liberty by Hall, Bolton, 1854-1938

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THREEACRES

AND

LIBERTY

BY

BOLTONHALL

AUTHOROF

"THINGSASTHEYARE,""THRIFT,"ETC.

REVISEDEDITION

_"Asowerwentouttosowandhesowedthatwhichwasinhisheart--forwhatcanamansowelse!"_From"THEGAMEOFLIFE."

_Or,astheVulgatehasit,--

"Exittquiseminatseminaresemensuum."_

NEWYORK

THEMACMILLANCOMPANY

1918

Allrightsreserved._

Copyright1907and1918

ByTHEMACMILLANCOMPANY

Setupandelectrotyped.PublishedMarch,1907.

ReprintedApril,July,1907;March,1908;June,

September,1910;April,1912;April1914.

Newedition,revisedFebruary,1918.

FOREWORD


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Wearenottiedtoadeskortoabench;westaythereonlybecausewethinkwearetied.

InMontanaIhadahorse,whichwashobbledeverynighttokeephimfromwandering;thatis,strapsjoinedbyashortchainwereputaroundhisforefeet,sothathecouldonlyhop.Thehobblesweretakenoffinthemorning,buthewouldstillhopuntilhesawhismatetrottingoff.

Thisbookisintendedtoshowhowanyonecantrotoffifhewill.

Itisnotatextbook;thereareplentyofgoodtextbooks,whicharereferredtoherein.Intensivecultivationcannotbecomprisedinanyonebook.

Itshowswhatisneededforacitymanorwomantosupportafamilyontheproceedsofalittlebitofland;itshowshowintruth,astheoldBookprophesied,theearthbringsforthabundantlyafteritskindtosatisfythedesireofeverylivingthing.Itisnot

necessarytoburyoneselfinthecountry,nor,withthenewfacilitiesoftransportation,needwe,unlesswewishto,paytheextravagantrentsandenormouscostoflivinginthecity.Alittlebitoflandnearthetownorthecitycanberentedorboughtoneasyterms;andmerchandisingwillbringonetothecityoftenenough.Neitherishardlaborneeded;butitistoworkalonethattheearthyieldsherincrease,andif,althoughunskilled,wewouldsucceedingardening,wemustattendconstantlyandintelligentlytothehomeacres.

Everychapterofthisbookhasbeenrevisedbyaspecialist,andtheauthorswishtoexpresstheirappreciationoftheaidgiventhem,particularlybyMr.E.H.Moore,ArboriculturistintheBrooklyn

DepartmentofParks;Mr.CollingwoodoftheRuralNewYorkerandMr.GeorgeT.Powell;andtothankMrs.MabelOsgoodWright,andalsoMr.JosephMorwitz,formanyvaluablesuggestions;alsoallthosefromwhomwehavequoteddirectlyorinsubstance.

Wehaveendeavoredinthetexttogivefullacknowledgmenttoall,butinsomecasesithasbeenimpossibletocredittotheoriginatoreveryparagraphorthought,sincethesehavebeenselectedandplacedasneeded,believingthatalltrueteachersandgardenersaremoreanxioustohavetheirmessagesentthantobeseendeliveringit.

Intruth,teachingisbutanotherdepartmentofgardening.

Practicalpointsandcriticismsfrompracticalmenandwomen,especiallyfromthoseexperiencesintryingtogettotheland,willbewelcomedbytheauthors.Addressincareofthepublishers.

TheReportoftheCountryLifeCommission,withSpecialMessagefromthePresidentoftheUnitedStates,isespeciallyimportantasshowingtheconnectionofIntensiveCultivationwithThriftforwartime.


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Ittellsusthat:

"Thehandicaps(ongettingoutoftown)thatwenowhavespeciallyinmindmaybestatedunderfourheads:Speculativeholdingoflands;monopolisticcontrolofstreams;wastageandmonopolisticcontrolofforests;restraintoftrade.

"Certainlandownersprocurelargeareasofagriculturallandinthemostavailablelocation,sometimesbyquestionablemethods,andholditforspeculativepurposes.Thisnotonlywithdrawsthelanditselffromsettlement,butinmanycasespreventsthedevelopmentofanagriculturalcommunity.Thesmallerlandownersareisolatedandunabletoestablishtheirnecessaryinstitutionsortoreachthemarket.Theholdingoflargeareasbyonepartytendstodevelopasystemoftenantryandabsenteefarming.Thewholedevelopmentmaybeinthedirectionofsocialandeconomicineffectiveness.

"Asimilarproblemarisesintheutilizationofswamplands.AccordingtothereportsoftheGeologicalSurvey,therearemorethan75,000,000acresofswamplandinthiscountry,thegreaterpartofwhicharecapableofreclamationatprobablyanominalcostascomparedtotheirvalue.Itisimportanttothedevelopmentofthebesttypeofcountrylifethatthereclamationproceedunderconditionsinsuringsubdivisionintosmallfarmsandsettlementby

menwhowouldbothownthemandtillthem.

"Someoftheselandsarenearthecentersofpopulation.Theybecomeamenacetohealth,andtheyoftenpreventthedevelopmentofgoodsocialconditionsinverylargeareas.Asaruletheyareextremelyfertile.Theyarecapableofsustaininganagriculturalpopulationnumberingmanymillions,andtheconditionsunderwhichthesemillionsmustliveareamatterofnationalconcern.TheFederalGovernmentshouldacttothefullestextentofitsconstitutionalpowersinthereclamationoftheselandsunderpropersafeguardsagainstspeculativeholdingandlandlordism.

"Theriversarevaluabletothefarmersasdrainagelines,as

irrigationsupply,ascarriersandequalizersoftransportationrates,asareadilyavailablepowerresource,andforraisingfoodfish.Thewisedevelopmentoftheseandotherusesisimportanttobothagriculturalandotherinterests;theirprotectionfrommonopolyisoneofthefirstresponsibilitiesofgovernment.Thestreamsbelongtothepeople;underapropersystemofdevelopmenttheirresourceswouldremainanestateofallthepeople,andbecomeavailableasneeded.

"Rivertransportationisnotusuallyantagonistictorailwayinterests.Populationandproductionareincreasingrapidly,withcorrespondingincreaseinthedemandsmadeontransportationfacilities.Itmaybereasonablyexpectedthattheriverwill

eventuallycarryalargepartofthefreightthatdoesnotrequirepromptdelivery,whiletherailwaywillcarrythatrequiringexpedition.Thisisalreadyforeseenbyleadingrailwaymen;anditsimportancetothefarmerissuchthatheshouldencourageandaid,byeverymeansinhispower,thelargeuseoftherivers.Thecountrywillproduceenoughbusinesstotaxbothstreamsandrailroadstotheirutmost.

"Inmanyregionsthestreamsaffordfacilitiesforpower,which,sincetheinaugurationofelectricaltransmission,isavailablefor


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localraillinesandoffersthebestsolutionoflocaltransportationproblems.Inmanypartsofthecountrylocalandinterurbanlinesareprovidingtransportationtofarmareas,therebyincreasingfacilitiesformovingcropsandaddingtotheprofitandconvenienceoffarmlife.However,thereseemstobeaverygenerallackofappreciationofthepossibilitiesofthiswater-powerresourceasgoverningtransportationcosts.

"Thestreamsmaybealsousedassmallwaterpoweronthousandsoffarms.Thisisparticularlytrueofsmallstreams.Muchofthelaboraboutthehouseandbarncanbeperformedbytransmissionofpowerfromsmallwaterwheelsrunningonthefarmsthemselvesorintheneighborhood.Thispowercouldbeusedforelectriclightingandforsmallmanufacture.ItismoreimportantthatsmallpowerbedevelopedonthefarmsoftheUnitedStatesthanthatweharnessNiagara.

"Unfortunately,thetendencyofthepresentlawsistoencouragetheacquisitionoftheseresourcesoneasyterms,orontheirownterms,bythefirstapplicants,andthepowerofthestreamsisrapidlybeingacquiredunderconditionsthatleadtotheconcentrationofownershipinthehandsofthemonopolies.Thisconstitutesarealandimmediatedanger,nottothecountry-lifeinterestsalone,buttotheentirenation,anditistimethatthewholepeoplebecome

arousedtoit.

"Theforestshavebeenexploitedforprivategainnotonlyuntilthetimberhasbeenseriouslyreduced,butuntilstreamshavebeenruinedfornavigation,power,irrigation,andcommonwatersupplies,andwholeregionshavebeenexposedtofloodsanddisastroussoilerosion.Probablytherehasneveroccurredamorerecklessdestructionofpropertythatofrightshouldbelongtoallthepeople.

"Thewood-lotpropertyofthecountryneedstobesavedandincreased.Wood-lotyieldisoneofthemostimportantcropsofthefarms,andisofgreatvaluetothepublicincontrollingstreams,

savingtherun-off,checkingwinds,andaddingtotheattractivenessoftheregion.[Takenupinaspecialchapterofthisbook.]

"Inmanyregionswherepoorandhillylandsprevail,thetownorcountycouldwellaffordtopurchaseforestland,expectingtherebytoaddtothevalueofthepropertyandtomaketheforestsasourceofrevenue.SuchcommunalforestsinEuropeyieldrevenuetothecitiesandtownsbywhichtheyareownedandmanaged."

Theserevenueswouldfurnishgoodroadseveninthepoorestandmostsparselysettleddistricts.

Thereareanumberofotherreasonswhypeopledonotliketolive

outsideofcities--ordonotsucceedinfarmwork.Thereisthedifficultyoffindinghelp.This,how.ever,rejoicestheheartofthemodernsociologist.Consider--wefirstteachourchildrenindependenceandtrainthemforeverythingbutfarmhelporhouseholdservices.Thenwedegradethe"help"belowamill"hand"sothatpeoplewillnotevensitattablewiththematanhotel.Nextwefixatheoryofconductforthemthatkeepsthemconstantlyunderordersandpaythemwagesthatmakeithardlypossibleforthemtoriseabovethestationtowhichwehaveappointedthem.


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Finally,whenwemoveawayfromthehauntsofmenouttoSandtown-by-the-Puddleweblamethemthattheydonotrushtojoinus.Mostofthemwouldbehappierinpenalservitudethaninthecountry.Theworkisashardandrequiresasmuchskillasamechanic'swork,besidespersonalqualitiesthataredemandedofnomechanic,andcommandshalfitswages.

Thosewho,likeHenryFord,canaffordtopaymechanics'wagesforhelpcangetalltheywant.

Manypeoplegotothecountrywithoutplan,preparation,orvocation,tomakealiving.Theyusuallystarttobuildabungalowbutseldomgetfurtherthanthebungle.Don'tbuildanythingwithoutplan.Getacomfortablehouseproofagainstcoldandheatassoonaspossibleand,aboveall,wellventilated.Atpresenttheairinthecountryisgood,becausethefarmersshutallthebadairupintheirbedrooms.

Theysay

"ThefarmerworksfromsuntosunForthesummer'sworkisneverdone."

Wemightadd,it'sneverevenhalfdone--naturally.Adonkeyengine

canworklikethat,butthenithasn'tanybrains.Nomancanworkfromsuntosunallsummerandthinkatallorbegoodforanythingattheendofit.

Aboveallthingsdon'tworklonghours,eveninlearning,withtheideaofsavingthatway.Allup-to-dateemployersareagreedthataneight-hourdayproducesmoreandbetterresultsthanaten-hourdayandthatatwelve-hourdaybringssheriffsandsuicidesinsteadofprofits.

That'sjustastrueoftheindividualworkerasitisofthefactory"hand."Yetmostmenandafewwomenproudlysaythatthey"worklikeahorse"(it'susuallynottrue).Theydon't;ahorsewon't

workandcan'tworkovereighthoursadaysteadily.Neithercanyou:youmaykeepbuzzingaroundmuchlonger--butthebestworkrequiresthebestconditionsandthebesthours.Youthink,oryouflatteryourselfthatyouthink,thatitisnecessary;butnothingisnecessarythatisstupidandwrong.Itishardlytoomuchtosaythatwhenwearetiredoutorilleitherwehavebeendoingthewrongthingordoingitwrong.

Thereisbesides,asananti-rusticant,railroaddiscriminationinfavoroflonghauls,butthemainreasonthatthesmallfarmsoftheEasternCoastarelesssettledthanthosefartherwestisthegreatdifficultyingettingfarmloansorloansonfarmbuildings.NewYorkcompaniesandothersinthegreatcitieswillloanonfarms

westoftheAlleghenies,buteventheotherwiseexcellenteasternBuildingLoanAssociationsusuallyrestrictthemselvestoplaceswithintwenty-fivemilesofacity.TheJewishAgriculturalandIndustrialAidSocietywillhelpapprovedJewishfarmerstobuyandbuild:andthereisaFederalLandBankinSpringfield,Mass.,whichlendstosomeFarmers'Associations,ofwhichsomefourthousandarealreadyformed.ItishopedthattheStateLandBankofNewYorkCitymayimprovethesituationinNewYorkforFarmers'Organizations,but"generallynearlyallavailablefundsofthelocalbanksseemtobedrawnoffforinvestmentsinWallStreet."


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However,itisnottobeforgottenthatthisdifficultyisreflectedinthelowerpricesofeasternLand.

Onemorethingthatkeepsmanypeoplefromthecountryanddrivessomepeoplebacktothecityisthemosquito(ofcoursetherearemosquitoesintown,butwearenotoutasmuch,sowenoticethemless).Mosquitoesbreedorratherwebreedthem,instillwaterinwhichtherearenofish,inpools,hollowsintrees,wells,etc.,andaboveallinoldtincans.Theycannomorebreedwithoutwaterthansharkscould.

Mosquitoesdonotbreedingrass,butrankgrowthsofweedsorgrassmayconcealsmallbreedingpuddles,andformafavoritenurseryforMammaSkeet.Ateacupfulofwaterstandingtendaysisenoughfor250wrigglers;theirneedsaremodest.

Differentspeciesofmosquitoeshaveaswell-definedhabitsasotherbirdsandareclassifiedasfollows:Domestic,Migratory,andWoodland.

Thecommondomesticorpetspeciesbreedinfreshwater,usuallyinthehouseyard,flycomparativelyshortdistances,andhabituallyenterhouses.Theywinterincellars,barns,andouthouses.Someof

themareconveyorsofmalaria.

TheMigratorySpeciesbreedonthesaltmarshes,flylongdistances,donothabituallyenterhouses,andarenotcarriersofdiseasessofarasknown.

CertainvarietiesofWoodlandMosquitoesbreedonlyinwoodlandpools,appearingintheearlyspring,andtravelagreaterdistancethanthedomesticspecies.Theyarenotusuallytroublesomeindoors.

IthasbeenprovedthatmalariaistransmittedonlybycertainspeciesofAnopheles,oneofwhichisthedomesticmosquito.Eliminatethisonespeciesofmosquitoandthediseasewill

disappearasadirectconsequence.Soifyouhearthatprettylittlesonginthehouse,don'tswear,thanktheLordthateffectsalwaysfollowcauses.YouneedneverbewithoutabiteinthehouseifyouhaveanicecesspoolhandyforSisMosquito,foreachonewillhaveafirst-classfeedwithyoueverysecondorthirdday.

Theyareneedlessanddangerouspestsorpets.Theirpropagationcanbepreventedbydrainingorfillingwetareas,byemptyingorscreeningwaterreceptacles,andbysprayingwithoilwherebettermeasuresarenotavailable.Oilshouldbesprinkledinanycesspools,sewers,andcatchbasins,rainbarrels,watertroughs,roofgutters,marshes,swamps,andpuddlesthatcannotbedoneawaywith.Allpondsandlargebodiesofwatershouldhavecleansharp

edges,becauseinshallow,grassyedgeslarvaeofthemalarialspeciesarecommonlyfound.Largepondswithcleanedges,inhabitedbyfishorpredatoryinsects,aresafe;smallerponds,ifwindswept,andallpondsinthe"ripplearea"aresafe.Allrainpools,stagnantgutters,overgrownedgesoflargeponds,andallreceptaclesholdingwaternotconstantlyrenewed,aredangerous.Youraisemostofyourownmosquitoes.

Nowawordspeciallyconcerningthisrevisededition.


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Thefarmpapersaresupportedmainlybymenwithlargeacreage,itistheriseinvalueoftheseacresmorethantheriseinfarmproductsthathaspulledtheland-owningfarmersoutoftheholethattheywereinuptoabouttheyear1900.Farmers'knowledge,liking,andequipmentwasforbigfields,halfcultivated,andatfirsttheydidnotliketohearthattheyhadbeenwastingsomuchofthelaborthathadbenttheirbacks.Nordidtheywanttohearthatitwouldhavebeenfarmoreprofitabletothemtohavecultivatedafewacresandleftthegoatsandhogsorsheeptoattendtotherestaswildlanduntilthelong-expectedsettlerscamealongtobuythelandatdreamlandprices.

Consequently,allthefaultsinthebooktherewere,andsomemorebesides,havebeenpickedoutbythesecritics.Itissurprisingaswellasanotablecomplimenttotheagriculturalexpertswhorevisedthefirsteditionthat,withoneexception,nomaterialerrororomissionhasbeenpointedout.

Themoresobecausethereisabsolutelynolimittotheadvancesinmethodsandresultsindoingthings,andingrowingthings,allbornofintelligenttoil.Yoursuggestionsmayhelptheworldtobetterandbiggerthings.Ifyouwilllistenatthe'phoneyoumaysometimehearaconversationlikethis:

"Hello,thisisMrs.Wise,sendmetwostrawberries,please.""You'dbettertakethree,Madam,I'venonelargerthanpeachesto-day.""Allright;good-bye."

YoumaysometimeseethatkindofstrawberryinNewJerseyatKevitt'sAthenia,orHenryJoralamon's,orintheberryknownbyvariousnames,suchasGiantanddifferentJoe's.Butlotsofpeoplehavefailedintheirwargardenworkevenoncommonthings;lotsmoreoughttohavefailedbuthaven't--yet.Yearsago,we,thebookanditshelpers,startedtheforward-to-the-landmovementwhichhasresultedinprobablytwomillionextragardenpatchesthiswaryear.Ihavehadcarloadsofletters,atleasthandcarloads,aboutthebook,butnotoneworkerwhoeventriedtofollowitscounselshas

reportedfailure.

Sodon'tletushaveawailfromyoubecauseyour"gardenstuffnevercomesup."Ofcourseitdoesn't;youhavetobringitup,justlikeababy.That'swhatI'vebeencryingforlongyearsinthewildernesseversincethefirsteditionofthisbook.TheThreeAcresmaybeboughtoncreditbuteternalvigilanceisthepriceofLibertyandcrops.Toraisegoodcropscoststimeandattentionandsweatofbodyandofbrains.

HereisachunkofwisdomoutoftheexcellentGardenPrimer(whichyoucangetfreebyaskingmeforit):

"Onehouradayspentinagardentenyardslongbysevenwidewillsupplyvegetablesenoughforafamilyofsix";butthevalueofthisremarkliesintheapplicationofit.Ifyoufigureabitonthatyouwillfindthattenminutesadaywillprovideenoughforoneperson,butsixhoursonceaweekwon'tdo.Sixhoursadaywillbringupababy;buttwodaysaweekiscriminalneglectfortheotherfivedays.Ifyouoncelettheweedsgetagoodstart,sayafterarain,theywillmakeeventheangelsswear.It'sregularattentionthatthebabyandthegardenandyoureducationandyourbestgirlwillrequire.


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Ifyouwantmoreminuteinstructionsabouthowtogroweachvegetable,putinwordsthatanybodycanunderstandwithoutgettingaheadacheoradictionary,lookup"TheGardenYard"bytheAuthor.Itisinnearlyalllibrariesnow,anditistheonlybookthatmakesperfectlyplaineverythingthataplainmanneedstoknowaboutgrowingplainthings

Sothereislittletoaddinthisneweditionexcepttoreinforcewhatwasnotstrongenough.Inthepresentjumpingmarkettorevisethepricesquotedwouldbeabsurd,butitmaybenotedthat,asinthepricesof'cowers,theminimumpricesarestillaboutcorrect,butthemaximumpriceshavejumpedalmostoutofsight.Everyyeartherearemoreandmoreverywealthypeoplewhowillpaynearlyanypricefortheverybest.Theworldseemstobedividingintothosewhohavetocounttheirpenniesandthosewhocouldn'tcounttheirthousands.Ofcourse,wherewarhasprohibitedtheimportationofthestrongbulbsandrootsneededforforcingflowers,thepricesareaboutwhatanyonewhohasanychoosestoask.Monopolycanalwaysgetitsownprice.

ThisNewEditiondoesnotattempttobringpricesquoteduptodate.Inthesetimesnotevenastockexchangetelegraphtickercandothat.Pricesofgoodsingeneralhaveadvancedatleast80percent.

Bythedaythatthisbookisoffthepresstheymayhavedecreased,ormorelikelyadvancedsomemore.Thenextdaytheymayslump.Pricesoflaboradvancemoreslowlyanddonotslumpsofast.Wagesofmengardenershaverisenperhaps50percentinthelasttenyears,butwomenandchildrenhavelearnedtodomuchofthework.Theydotheworkcheaperbecausemostofthemhavesomeoneonwhomtheycanpartlydependforsupport.

Similarly,whenanexampleoftotalproductgivenintheearliereditionisstilltypicalandhasstoodinvestigation,itisnotdiscardedinfavorofamoremoderninstance.

Itwouldhavebeeneasytohaverevisedallthefigures,butof

littleadvantagetoourreaders.Forexample,itisencouragingtothecitizentoknowthattheaveragewheatyieldperacrehasincreasedmorethantwobushelssincethefirsteditionofthisbook,butitwouldnothelpthegardenmaker.Theincreaseofpossibleproductstendstocounterbalancetheincreasedcostoflabor.Soonlythemustypartshavebeencutoutofthebook,whichismoreneedednowthanever.

TABLEOFCONTENTS

ChapterI:MakingaLiving--WhereandHow

ChapterII:PresentConditions


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ChapterIII:HowToBuyTheFarm

ChapterIV:VacantCityLotCultivation

ChapterV:ResultsToBeExpected

ChapterVI:WhatAnAcreMayProduce

ChapterVII:SomeMethods

ChapterVIII:TheKitchenGarden

ChapterIX:ToolsAndEquipment

ChapterX:AdvantagesFromCapital

ChapterXI:HotbedsAndGreenhouses

ChapterXII:OtherUsesOfLand

ChapterXIII:Fruits

ChapterXIV:Flowers

ChapterXV:DrugPlants

ChapterXVI:NovelLiveStock

ChapterXVII:WhereToGo

ChapterXVIII:ClearingTheLand

ChapterXIX:HowToBuild

ChapterXX:BackToTheLand

ChapterXXI:ComingProfessionForBoys

ChapterXXII:TheWoodLot

ChapterXXIII:SomePracticalExperiments

ChapterXXIV:SomeExperimentalFoods

ChapterXXV:DriedTruck

ChapterXXVI:HomeColdPackCanning

ChapterXXVII:RetailCooperation

ChapterXXVIII:SummerColoniesForCityPeople

CHAPTERI

MAKINGALIVING--WHEREANDHOW


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Bythoughtandcourage,wecanhelpourselvestoownahome,surroundedbyacresoffruitandvegetables,flowersandpoultry,andlearnthebestmethodssoastoinsuresuccess.

Inoldentimesanyonecould"farm,"butitisnecessaryto-daytoteachpeopletoobtainalivelihooddirectlyfromtheearth.Scientificmethodsofagriculturehaverevealedpossibilitiesinthesoilthatmakefarmingthemostfascinatingoccupationknowntoman.Peopleineverycityarelongingforthefreedomofcountrylife,yethesitatetoenterintoitslibertybecausenoonepointstheway.

Mostsociologistsareagreedthatthegreatproblemofourdayistostopthedriftofpopulationtowardthecities.Seeingtheovercrowding,thewantandmiseryofourgreattowns,thephilanthropistchimesinwith"Getthepeopletothecountry,thatistheneed."

Butthereisnosuchneed.Manisasocialanimal,henaturallygoes

inflocks,heearnsmoreandlearnsmoreincrowds.Totransporthimtothecountry,evenifhewouldstay,whichhappilyhewon't,wouldbetodoctorasymptom.Asintyphoid,whatisneededisnottosuppressthefever,thatiseasy,buttoremovethecauseofit.

Itisnotthegrowthofthecitiesthatwewanttocheck,buttheneedlesswantandmiseryinthecities,andthiscanbedonebyrestoringthenaturalconditionofliving,andamongotherthings,byshowingthatitiseasierandmakingitmoreattractivetoliveincomfortontheoutskirtsofthecityasproducers,thanintheslumsaspaupers.

Weknowalreadythatthenaturalandhealthylifeis,thatinthe

sweatofourfacesweshouldeatbread.Weobservethateverythingweeatoruseormakecomesfromtheearthbylabor;butnooneknowshowabundantlytheMothercansupplyherchildren.Itiswellsaidthatnomanyetknowsthecapacityofasquareyardofearth.

Thefarmerthinksthathehasdonewellifhegetsahundredandfiftyortwohundredbushelsofpotatoesfromanacre;hedoesnotknowthatothershavegotten1284bushels.

("Mr.Knight,whosenameiswellknowntoeveryhorticulturistinEngland,Oncedugoutofhisfieldsnolessthan1284bushelsofpotatoes,orthirty-fourtonsandninehundredsweight(about34bushelstotheton),onasingleacre;andatarecentcompetition

inMinnesota,1120bushels,orthirtytons,couldbeascertainedashavingbeengrownononeacre."P.Kropotkin's"Fields,FactoriesandWorkshops,"page114.)

Letusrealizewhatanacremeans.Anacreisasquareabout209feeteachway,4840squareyardsofland.ANewYorkCityavenueblockisabout200feetlongfromhousecornertohousecorner.Ithaseightcitylots25X100initsfront;aboutdoublethatspace(17-2/5lots)makesanacre.


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Anordinaryone-horsecartholdstwentybushels,sothenafullcropofpotatoesfromthatspacewouldfill56carts.

Toraisepotatoesasanordinaryfarmerraisesthem,requireshimtogooverthegroundnotlessthanadozentimes,plowing,harrowing,marking,planting,cultivating,threetimesweeding,threetimesforbugs,anddigging;itwouldpayhimtogooveritmuchoftener.

Ifheplantshisrowsofpotatoesthreefeetapart,toallowforhorsecultivation,hehas69rowsof200feeteach;whichmakeshimwalkatleastthirty-threemilesovereachacre.Ifhehasatwenty-acrelotinpotatoes,hewalkseachyearmorethan650milesoverthefieldandgets,letussay,150bushelsofpoorpotatoesperacre,or3000bushelsoffhistwenty-acrefield.

Nowsupposehecultivatesthesoil,insteadofjust"raisingacrop,"andgets600bushelsoffinepotatoestotheacre,heneedplantonlyfiveacres,walkonly200miles,and,becausehispotatoesarechoiceandearly,getmanytimesthepricethathispedestrianneighborgets.Itismucheasiertogrow200,000lb.offeedononeacrethantogrowthemontenacres.

Tocultivateistowatchthesoilasyouwouldwatchyourcookingandtotendthecropasyouwouldtendyouranimals.Thecropisas

aliveasthestockandaseasilygetssick.

Ifanordinaryfarmerrents60acresat$5.00peracre,amoderaterentforgoodland,hepaysoutincash$300,besidesfarmwages.Ifhebuysit,hisinterestandtaxeswillamounttonearlyasmuch;butifhetillsbutfiveacresintelligently,hecangetasmuchoutofitasoutofanordinaryfarm,andevenifhisrentbeashighas$30peracreforwellsituatedland,heis$150tothegood;besides,doingtheworkhimself,hehasnodrainofcapitalforwages.

Largebarnsandshelterforhelpbeingunnecessary,hecanliveinacheapshacktillheaccumulatesenoughforproperbuildings.Manyof

thesuccessfulvacantlotfarmersliveinatentorinshantiesmadeofoldboxesandsuchlike.

Ofcourse,ifwehavetheknowledgeandabilityandthecapitalandcangiveittheattention,itismoreprofitabletocultivateonalargescalethanonasmallone,becauseinthatcaseeachworkernecessarilyproducesmorethanhegetsaswages--andwepocketthedifference.

MostAmericanfarmersareholdinglandthatsomebodyoughttopaythemabonusforworking,elsetheymustcomeoutofthelittleendofthehorn.Theygetpoororpoorlysituatedland,becauseitcostsless,andthenputthreeorfourhundreddollars'worthoflaborand

moneyayearintothelandandtakeoutfourorfivehundreddollars'worthofcrops.

Thefarmerthinkshemusthavebigfieldstofeedhiscattle,andthathemusthavecattletokeepthebigfieldsfertilized,soheraiseshay.

Inthathemakestwomistakes;hay,likemostotherlow-pricedcrops,isrisky--thecostofharvestingishighandthemarginofprofitsmall.Aweekofwetweatheratcuttingtimeorthe


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impossibilityofgettingenoughmenandmachinesintheweekwhenitshouldbecut,maymakealoss.

Butthescientificdairymandoesnottakethatrisk,norlethiscattleuseupthisfodderbywanderingoverthefieldsinsearchoftid-bitsofgrassorclover,or,goadedbytheflies,tramplingmoregrassthantheyeatandwastingtheirmanure.

Hekeepsthecowsincoolsheds,feedsthemoncutfodder,andsaveseveryounceofthemanure.

Themoderncowisaruminatingmachineforproducingmilkandcareslittleforexerciseandneedslittle.Toexploitthecattleasemployersexploitthefactoryhands,hegivesthecowsacool,shadyplaceandfood,andtheystandtherealldaylongtotheirprofitandhis.

(UnitedStatesAgriculturalBulletinNo.22says:"TheNewJerseyExperimentStationhasbeenconductingapracticaltrialinsoilingdairycowsforanumberofyearspast,andfindsthatcompletesoilingisentirelypracticable,i.e.thatgreenfoliagecropsmayserveasthesolefoodofthedewyherd,asidefromthegrainration,withoutinjurytotheanimalsandwithaconsiderablesavinginthecostofmilk.

"Underthesoilingsystemalargenumberofanimalscanbekeptuponagivenacreageandbyallowingopen-airexercisesinalargeyardorpasturethepracticehasbeendemonstratedasentirelyfeasiblefordairyanimals.

"Oneacreofsoilingcropsproducedsufficientfodderforanequivalentof3cowsforsixmonths.Rye,corn,crimsonclover,alfalfa,oatsandpeas,andmilletshavebeenfoundtofurnishfoodmoreeconomicallythananyothergreencropsinthatlocality.Agrainrotationwasalwaysfedinadditiontothesoilingcrops.")

Althoughwecanfeedacowonlessthananacrebyraisingforage

crops,sheneedstobemilkedeverydayatregularhours,andthemilk,aswellasthecansandthecow,needtobecaredfor--andshecannotwait.

Thestock-raiserhasadifferentproposition;heneedsfieldsandgrass;butiftimeandavailablelaborislimited,wehadbetterspecializeonthegarden--unlikethefarmers.

Thefarmersarenottoblamethattheydonotusuallycultivatethelandintelligently.Theyaremostlycutofffromtheeducationaladvantagesofthecitiesbydistanceandbybadroads.

Usually,thatisbecause,desirablelandbeingheldatspeculative

prices,theyareforcedtoplaceswherethefarmitselfisworthlessthanthegoodimprovementsonitcost.Sometimesitisbecause,also,thelandispoororwornout;moreoftenbecauseitisthoughtlesslymanaged,nearlyalwaysbecausetheland-hungryfarmerhastakententimesasmuchlandasheneedsforfarming.Inthehopeofarisethatoftendoesnotcome,nearlyallhaveboughtmorelandthantheycantakegoodcareofwithlimitedcapitalandscarcityofhelp.

Inaddition,thefarmshaveheldoutsuchpoorprospectsoffortune


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thatthesmarterandmoreenterprisingboysandgirlshaveleftthemforthetowns,leavingbehindthedullerandmoreconservativetothemercyoftherailroadsandothermonopolies.Whatwonder,then,thattheoverworkedandstrugglingfarmerfindslittlechancetostudy,ortoinvestigateandinvestinfertilizersoreveninmodernmethodsofagriculture.

Nowonderfarmingdoesnotpayifa"farmer"meansastupidmanwithneithertrainingfor,norknowledgeof,hisbusiness.Thosewhohavetheknowledgeseldomhavetheexperienceandthosewhohavetheexperienceseldomhavetheknowledge.

ThebonanzafarmsoftheWestareothersamplesofgreatareasofthemostproductivelandintheUnitedStatesbeingusedmostunscientifically.Bythemethodsused,thelandproduceslessperacrethanlandintheEastwhichisnotsogood.Accordingly,wefindthatthebonanzafarmplan,wheregreatareasofwheatareworkedbymachineswithlaboremployedonlyintheseedtimeandharvest,israpidlybreakingup.Asthelandbecomesvaluableandistaxed,suchwasteful,wholesalemethodsdonotpayaswellasitpaystorentorsellthelandtofarmers,whoeachforthemselvesattendtodetailsofthebusiness.Consequently,mostofthosefarmsarebeingsoldoff.Thewholeamountofwheateverraisedonthem,however,issmallcomparedtotherice,millet,andwheatraisedin

China,India,andRussia,andisinsignificantcomparedtotheamountofproducegrownonthemyriadlittlefarmplots.

Acomparisonofproductionsastakenfromthe12thand13thUnitedStatesCensusesinthebonanzafarmstatesshowsthattheyieldofwheatwas:

whileNewEnglandshows23.5bu.peracre.

In1899In1909

Minnesota14.5bu.peracre17.4NorthDakota13.5bu.peracre14.3

SouthDakota10.5bu.peracre14.6

By1917theselargelyincreased,butthedifferencesremain.

"TheaverageextentoflandtilledbyonefamilyinJapandoesnotexceedonehectare"(2.471acres),lessthantwoandahalfacres.("JapanintheBeginningoftheTwentiethCentury,"page89.PublishedbytheDepartmentofAgricultureandCommerceofJapan.)

"Farmhouseholdscontainonanaverage5.8persons,ofwhomtwoandahalfpersonsperfamilymayberegardedofanagecapableofdoingeffectivework."

"Sothatherewehavemorethanonepersonworkingoneachacreandeachacresupportingmorethantwopersons,notwithstandingthattheir22,000,000tenantfarmerspaysometimesfourfifthsoftheirproductasrent."(Same,page103.)

Denmark,oneofthebestagriculturalcountriesandprobablyoneofthehappiestcommunitiesonearth,reported

1,900farmsof250-300acres,74,000farmsaveraging100acres,


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150,000farmsaveraging7to10acres,1,050cooperativedairies,andsoon.

AndsoimpressedhastherulingclasstherebecomewiththeadvantageofthisthattheGovernmentwillsupplythepoorworkerninetenthsofthemeansnecessarytobuyasmallfarm.

SaysKropotkin,"thesmallislandofJersey,eightmileslongandlessthansixmileswide,stillremainsalandofopenfieldculture;but,althoughitcomprisesonly28,707acres(nearly45squaremiles),rocksincluded,itnourishesapopulationofabouttwoinhabitantstoeachacre,or1300inhabitantstothesquaremile,andthereisnotonewriteronagriculturewho,afterhavingpaidavisittothisisland,doesnotpraisethewell-beingoftheJerseypeasantsandtheadmirableresultswhichtheyobtainintheirsmallfarmsoffromfivetotwentyacres--veryoftenlessthanfiveacres--bymeansofarationalandintensiveculture.

"MostofmyreaderswillprobablybeastonishedtolearnthatthesoilofJersey,whichconsistsofdecomposedgranite,withnoorganicmatterinit,isnotatallofsurprisingfertility,andthatitsclimate,thoughmoresunnythantheclimateoftheBritishIsles,offersmanydrawbacksonaccountofthesmallamountofsunheatduringthesummerandofthecoldwindsinspring."

("ThesuccessesaccomplishedlatelyinJerseyareentirelyduetotheamountoflaborwhichadensepopulationisputtingontheland;toasystemofland-tenure,land-transference,andinheritanceverydifferentfromthosewhichprevailelsewhere;tofreedomfromStatetaxation;andtothefactthatcommunalinstitutionshavebeenmaintaineddowntoquitearecentperiod,whileanumberofcommunalhabitsandcustomsofmutualsupport,derivedthere-from,arealivetothepresenttime."(Fields,FactoriesandWorkshops.")

"ItwillsufficetosaythatonthewholetheinhabitantsofJerseyobtainagriculturalproductstothevalueof$250toeachacreoftheaggregatesurfaceofland."(Same,page113.))

Inasmallplotthecharacterofthesoilisoflittleconsequence.WehearofonegardeninNewYorkCityontheroofofabigbuildingwherethejanitorsmuggleduptheneededsoilinbaskets.

TheschoolgardensinNewYorkCity,someinaspaceassmallasahearthrug,oneyardbytwo,showhowtouseaverysmallpatchoflandtothebestadvantage.Norneedittakemoretimethanyoucanafford.

"SomeofthecultivatorsofcitylotsonLongIslandwhokeptcountofthenumberofdaystheyworked,showthesurprisingconclusionthattheyearned,notfarmwages(seventy-fivecentsadaywith

boardandlodgingfortheworker),butmechanics'wages(fourdollarsperday)foreveryworkingday;as,forinstance,astone-cutter,assistedbyhistwoboys,workedfiftyhoursandmade$120.23."("CultivationofVacantLots,NewYork,"page12);andfourcitylotsisaverylittlefarm.

Butthoughonemaynotownevenalittlefarm,almostanyonewhowantstocanhaveahomegarden--itneedsbutasmallplotofland.Norneedwebediscouragedbecauseacquaintanceswhoplayatgardeningtellusthattheirvegetablescostthemmorethanifthey


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boughtthem.

Theynaturallywould,withthoughtlessmethodsofcultivation,withtheselectionofcropsandthepurchaseofseedslefttoanuneducatedmanwhodoesallhisworkthewayhesawhisgrandfatherdoit.

Norarewetobediscouragedevenbythe"gentlemanfarmer"whorunsamodelfarm,amodelofhownottodoit,for,notwithstandingitslargecapital,itseldompays.

IampassingsuchafarmnowasIwriteinthetrain--itissurroundedbyacutstonewall.Doyousupposetheownerbusinesswouldpayifitwereruninthesamewaythathisfarmisrun?Weknowthestoryofthewhitesparrowtofindwhichwouldbringlucktothefarm--butitwasoutonlyatdaybreak;thefarmergotupeachmorningtofindthesparrowandfoundalotofotherthingstoattendto,whichdidbringlucktothefarm.Idon'tthinktheownerofthatwallworkedatit,atdaybreak.

ThetimeisnotfardistantwhenthebuildersofhomesinourAmericancitieswillbecompelledtoleaveroomforagarden,inordertomeettherequirementsofthepeopleInthemadrushforwealthwehaveoverlookedthenaturalstate,butweseeahealthy

reactionsettingin.Withtheimprovementsinsteamandelectricity,therevolutionizingoftransportation,thecuttingofthearbitrarytelephonecharges,itisbecomingpossibletoliveatadistancefromourbusiness.Maywenotexpectinthenearfuturetoseeoneportionofourcitiesdevotedentirelytobusiness,withthehomesofthepeoplesoseparatedastogivelight,sunshine,andairtoall,besidesapieceofgroundforagardensufficienttosupplythetablewithvegetables?

Youraisemorethanvegetablesinyourgarden:youraiseyourexpectationoflife.

Lifebelongsinthegarden.Doyouremember--thefirstchaptersof

Genesisshowusourbabyhoodinagarden--thegardenthatallbabyhoodremembers,andthelastchapteroftheApocalypseleavesuswiththevisionofthegardenintheHolyCity,oneithersideoftheriver,wherethetreesyieldtheirfruitseverymonthandbearleavesofuniversalhealing.Justsowillitbeinourholycitiesofthefuture--thegardenwillberightthere"inthemidst."

CHAPTERII

PRESENTCONDITIONS

UptotheCivilWarandforsomeyearsafter,ourpeoplewerealmostwhollyagricultural.Nationalactivitycontenteditselfwithsettlinganddevelopingthevastareasofthepubliclands,whose


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virginrichnesscriedaloudinthewildernessformen.

Thepolicyofthegovernment,framedtostimulaterapidoccupationofthepubliclands,hadattractedhordesofsettlersoverthemountainsfromtheolderstates,andimmigrationflowedinasteadystreamintothevalleysoftheOhioandtheMississippi.

AsystemhadgrownupintheSouthalmostpatriarchal,baseduponcultivationbyslavelaborofenormousareasdevotedexclusivelytocotton.IntheNorth,NewEnglandhaddevelopedsomefewcentersofindustry,drawingtheirsupportfromthemanufactureofthegreatSouthernstaple.NewYork,Boston,andPhiladelphiaweregrowingasoutletsforforeigncommerce,butasyetmanufacturingflourishedbutfeeblyandinfewlocalities.

Suchmanufacturingandcommercialenterprisesasexistedhadbeenlaboriouslybuiltupbylongyearsofhonestworking.Thefreelandsofthegovernment,bygivinglaborersanalternative,keptupwages,forcingemployerstobidagainsteachotherforlabor;andmonopolythusbeingchecked,individualequalitywaspossible.

ThemineralresourcesofPennsylvaniaandOhiowereallbutunsuspected,andthecalmofapeopledevotedtothepeacefulpursuitsofagriculturerestedoverthecountry.

Railroadswerefewandinefficient:telegraphlinesbutintheirinfancy.Intercourseamongthepeople,outsideofanarrowfringeontheAtlanticcoast,wascumbersome,andimpededbymanyobstacles.Primitiveconditionseverywhereprevailed,andcommunitiesbroodedinsilence,growingstragglinglyinsluggishindifference,contentwithcoarsefoodandcoarserliving.

Such,ingeneral,weretheconditionsupto1861.Thencamethestormofshotandshell,therainofblood,theelementalrageofpassioncalledtheCivilWar.Therewasatotalupsetofbusiness.Suchperiodsofhardtimesashadoccurredpriortothattimehadbeencausedbythetinkeringofuntrainedmindswiththemoney

systemorbylandspeculation,andnotbylackofaccesstotherichesofnature.Afterfouryearsourpeopleawoke,asfromanightmare,tofindtheoldlifesweptawayforever.IntheSouth,theConfederates,bitterandsullen,gropingamidtheruinsoftheirinstitutions,soughttofindsomesubstitutefortheagriculturaldespotismexercisedforgenerationsbytheirslaveholdingfamilies.IntheEast,thefirstfamiliesoftheRevolution,secureintheirpreeminence,assumedagainthemanufacturing-banking-socialprestige.ThefarWestwasstillalmostunknown,andremainedinpossessionofthebuffaloandtheIndian.Settlerspoured,inincreasingnumbersontotheunappropriatedlandsstillleftinthestatesofthecentralWest,andthecenterofpoliticalpowershiftedrapidlytothisfertileregion.

Alreadymenofkeeninsightforesawatimewhenoil,timber,coal,andironmustbecomethestayofavastlyexpandingindustrialsystem,andbenttheirenergiestosecurethechiefsourcesofsupply.Fromthenatureoftheirworkthemenwhobuiltrailwaysfirstbecameawareoftherichesofnature,andaidedbyanenormouspublicsympathywiththeirefforts,monopolizedallthenaturalopportunitiesofvalue.Coupledwithindustrialdevelopmentwasthegradualappropriationoftheland.Thetimesoonarrivedwhenthelatecomerseitherstayedinthemanufacturingcentersatthe


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railwaysterminalsorwerepushedfartherandfartherawayfromthecenters.Asthelandowningfamiliesmultiplied,theyoungmenwereconfinedtothesamechoice.Forcedofftheland,thetendencyhasbeentocrowdthebrainiestbloodofAmericaintothecities.Inaddition,thecompetitionofthenewWesternlands,broughtintousebyrailwaydevelopment,hasexiledtheyouthofNewEngland,whofoundintheirrockyacresnoincentivetotoil.They,too,joinedtheever-increasingflowtothecities,andenteredintothesavagecompetitionofourgreattowns.

Inourtimethependulumhasswungtoitsextreme.Ateverydepressionofbusiness,armiesoftheunemployedperishinsightofthelandtheyabandonedinthehopeofabrighterfuture.Theirchildrenhaveforgottenthetraditionsofthesoil,andtheenergiesofourpeoplemustnowbeconcentratedtoreversetheaimlesstideofhumansufferers,whichunderstresscontinuestoflowcity-ward,andtosendittorepeoplethesilentplaceswhenceitcame.Thefightwillnotbeeasilywon.Changesinthenationallandpolicyareimperative.Togiveonegenerationprivilegeswhichenslaveallwhosucceedit,isintolerableandwillnotbepermanentlyendured.

Itiseasytodetermineuponapolicyinthequietofthestudy;differentistheproblemofapplyingacomprehensiveschemetorepeopletheidleland.Inthefirstplace,whereistheidleland?

Inallpartsofourcountryitexistsinabundance.AlmosteverystateintheUnionhaslandswhicheitherhaveneverbeenalienated,orwhichhaverevertedtothestatethroughnonpaymentoftaxes.IntheEast,particularly,thecompetitionofWesternlands,aidedbydiscriminatingfreightrates,nowsonotorious,hasresultedintheabandonmenttothemortgageeofvastareasinNewYork,Connecticut,NewHampshire,Maine,andtosomeextentinNewJersey.Thesearenowlargelyresold.

Decliningfertilityandexorbitantandoppressivetransportationchargeshavehelpedtokeeptheselandsoutofuse,andsomestilllieidleandneglected,toexcitethewonderofthesocialandeconomicstudent.TousetheabandonedlandsoftheEast,equal

ratesonagriculturalproductsisabasicnecessity.

Thefirststep,nowwellunderway,israilroadcontrolbytheGovernment.Equalaccesstotransportationisasessentialasequalaccesstoland,fortransportationisindeedanattributeofland.

Extendingtheinquirywestward,thecoalandoilareasofPennsylvaniaandOhioareallcontrolledbyafewhands.Theoriginalfertilityofthefarmingareasofthesestates,togetherwiththefactthattheyhavebeenproducingforonlyaboutacentury,hasenabledthemtoholdtheirownuntilrecently,butnowonlythebestlocatedtractsareinmaximumproduction,andthiscanhemaintainedonlybythemostadvancedagriculturalscience.In

spiteofgreateradvantages,thecrowdedcitiesanddesertedcountrydistrictsarebeginningtorepeatinthefertilealluvialvalleysoftheinterior,thetragicstoryoftheEast.

IntheMississippivalley,conditionsseembetter.Valuesoffarminglandsareincreasingrapidly;thefarmsarerichandgrowingricher;foodproductsarecheapandabundant;certainstaplesareproducedinenormousquantitiesandsenttofeedthecitiesoftheEastandtheindustrialpopulationofEurope.Therailroadstransporttheseproductsnearlyonethousandmilesforthesamepricesasthey


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chargeintheEastfortransportingthemonehundredmiles.Wealth,activity,andpoliticalpowerconcentrateattheinletandoutletoftherailwayfunnel,leavingvastareasofunusedandunusablelandbetweentheterminals.Accesstomarketsdeterminesvalue.ThatiswhythefavoredlandsofIllinois,Iowa,Kansas,Michigan,andWisconsin,onetotwothousandmilesfrommarket,haveriseninvaluetoashighasthreehundreddollarsperacre,andthelandsofNewEngland,NewYork,andNewJerseygobeggingattwentytosixtydollarsperacre,unlesstheyliewithintheartificialprosperityofthecities.

FartherwestintheirrigatedregionsofColoradoandUtah,restrictedareasareheldforspecialfruitcrops,atpricesrangingfromthreehundredtotwothousanddollarsandup,peracre.Buthere,again,monopoly,nowamonopolyofnaturalopportunity,isafactorincreatingprices;onthis,however,thevastirrigationprojectsofthegovernment,bringingintouselargerandlargerareasofthesefavoredlands,wereexpectedtoexerciseacheck.Upto1918littlehasbeensold.Theirreclamationcosttoomuch.

ThewillingnessoftheSouthernplanterstoselltheirlands,andsotoreleasethemforintensivecultivation,haspartlyturnedthetideofimmigrationfromtheEasternportstotheSouth,andthemarketgardensystemisreachingincreasingareas.Thedevelopment

offactoriestomakecottonfabricsandtoutilizetheformerlywastedcottonseedbyturningitintomealforcattleandotheranimals,aswellasintothevariousfoodproducts,suchascotton-seedoil,cottolene,etc.,hasstimulatedtheuseofthewastelandaroundthesebuddingfactorycenters,thustendingtoencourageintensiveuseofsmall,well-locatedtracts.

WithaclimatemuchmilderandmoreequablethanthatoftheNorthernstates,withapotentialfertilityofsoil,equallygreatunderpropermanagement,theSouthismakinggreaterstridesthananyotherpartofthecountry.

Theforegoingshowsthatineverysectionopportunitiesofgetting

thepeopletothelandexist.Whereamanshouldgoisdeterminedbyavarietyofthings.IfhebeanewlyarrivedimmigrantusedtolandworkinSouthernEurope,hewouldfindhisbestchanceintheSouth;ifaGermanorRussian,orfromanyoftheNorthernEuropeancountries,hewouldfindthebeet-sugarsectionsofMichiganColorado,orCaliforniamoretohisliking;ifAmericanborn,withoutmuchknowledgeofout-doorwork,andfeelingtheneedofsociallife,thecheapfarmsofNewYork,NewJersey,andNewEnglandwouldprobablybemostattractive.

ManypersonswritemethatIsayitisnecessarytogetgoodlandnearpopulationorwithcheapandassuredtransportationfacilities--andthatitmustnotcostmorethanitisworthfor

gardening."Ifind,"theysay,"thatsuchacresareheldas'lots'atwildlyspeculativeprices"andtheyask"WherecanIfindsuchland?"Butthisisabookonagriculturaluseofland.Whylandcoststoomuchandwheretheremedyliesareotherquestions,dealtwithinmy"ThingsasTheyAre."

However,probablythebestchancesnowforintensivecultivationareinNewJersey,inthebackwoodsoftheMiddlestatesnowmadeaccessiblebycheapautos--andintheSouth.


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Whatcanbeundertakenwithgoodprospectsofsuccesswillbeoutlinedinthefollowingchapters.

CHAPTERIII

HOWTOBUYTHEFARM

Beforethepurchaseofthelandforahomeinthecountry,someconsiderationoughttobegiventoprobableincreaseinlandvalues.Evenifyouareprimarilyinterestedinyourearlysalesofproduce,youwillnotobjecttoreapinganadditionalprofitfromthepresenceofotherpeople.

Inasmuchasdensityofpopulationdetermineslandvalues,itfollowsthatvacantlandnearalargecityat$100peracremaybecheaper

thansimilarlandatadistancewouldbeat$10peracre.Ifyoubuyrealestate,youbecomeasilentpartnerwhodoesnothing,buttakesmostoftheprofitsofthebusinessofothers.

Somepersonsseesoclearlythatmoneyisofteneasilygottenbyinvestinginland,thatsometimestheymakemistakes,intryingtogetin.Itisaseasytobealambintherealestatemarketasitisinthestockmarket.

Foresight,judgment,andexperienceorluckareessentialtosuccessinrealestatedealing,buthelp,atleastinkeepingoutofdanger,maybehadbyfollowingafewsimplerules,ifonecancommandalittlecapital,borrowedorowned.

Thefollowingpoints,suggestedbyaprofessionallandshark,willcertainlybeofinterestandpossiblyofprofittotheintendingbuyer.Ibelievemyselfthattheycontainthewholephilosophyoflandspeculation.

Forasureprofitbuylow-pricedland,keepingasnearthe"rawmaterial"aspossible;high-pricedpropertyisriskyandexpensivetocarry.Anacrewhichcostsoneortwohundreddollars,ortendollarsperlot,willcostbutsixtotwelvedollarsperyeartocarryandhalfadollarfortaxes,andifastabledoescomenextyou,why,youcansellyourlandforablacksmithshop.

Besidesthis,aten-dollarlot,ifrestrictedforresidenceoravailableforbusiness,oftenadvancesto$100inayear;onegoodhousewhichsomeoneelsebuiltnearitmayraiseitsvaluethatmuch.

Iftheland_is_highpriced,seethatthereissomekindofabuildingonit;evenashantywillusuallybringinenoughorsaveyouenoughbyitsusetopaythetaxes;soyouwillhavethatworkingforyouwhilstyouareaway.


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Ifpossible,buyatauctionandofreputablepeoplewhoarenotboomers,oratleastbuyatforcedsale;thatishowrealestateissoldwhenitmustbesold.Chooselotslevelwiththecurbandonhighground,lesttheexpenseofgradingandseweringeatupyourprofit.

Keepinmindthatinbuyinglandforspeculationonereallybuystheopportunitytotaxotherpeople,bytakingpartoftheirearningsintheshapeofrentorprice.Donotthenbedeludedbyboomschemesininaccessibleordesolateplaces;chooseratherthatlandwhichinthenaturalcourseofeventsothersmusthaveinordertoworkortolive.

Homebuyinginsmallcommunitiesissaferthanintheoutskirtsofalargecity,becausepublicimprovementsaremuchlesscostly.Ifyouput$500ina$5000homeandcarrythebalanceonmortgage,anassessmentof$1000forstreetsorsewers,whichhelpsthevacantlots,willprobablyputyououtofbusiness.Whetherforuseorspeculation,buyinanestablishedneighborhoodorwherethecircumstancesandneighborsaresuchthatrestrictionsorexpenditureswillmakeitscharactersure.Theincreaseinyourlandvaluedependsfirstuponthepresence,thenupontheefforts,ofothers;itisbytheirlaboryouhopetoprofit.

Therefore,buypropertyonleadingthoroughfares;exceptinaverysmallsectiondevotedtotheresidenceofmillionaires,thepriceofresidencepropertyhasalimit;eventherethemerestaccidentorthewhimoffashionmaydestroythevalue,butthereisnotellingwhatfigurebusinesspropertymayreach.

Donotbuildunlessyouhaveto.Itisrarethatabuildingpaysfivepercentnetonthevalueofthelandandthecostofthehouse."Whobuysahousealreadywrought,getsmanyabrickandnailfornaught."If,however,youcangetapieceofgroundinagrowingneighborhoodandliveonittillyoucansellatanadvance,thatisthesafest,andsurestofinvestments.Itdeliversyoufromthepowerofthelandlord.

Lastly--inrealestate--don'tbiteoffmorethanyoucanchew.

Mostoftheserulesapplytothepurchaseofsuburbanland.Infarmbuying,keepasclosetoyourmarketasyoucan.Seethatrailwayfacilitiesareallright;getlandlikelytobeneededforotherpurposes.Thebestwaytobeginisbysecuringallinformationpossiblefromstateagriculturaldepartments.Writetotheindustrialagentsofimportantrailroadstraversingthesectioninwhichyouwanttolocate.Theyhavedetailedinformationregardingland,markets,socialconditions,etc.;getfromtheUnitedStatesAgriculturalDepartmentamapshowingthesoilsurveyofthesectionofyourchoice.Itmustbeborneinmindthatpersonalaidisnotto

beexpectedfromStateAgriculturalDepartments,BureausofImmigration,railwaycompanies,oranypublicagency.

Fromthebigfarmagenciesrunforprofityoucangetlistsofthousandsofpropertiesforsale.SomeStateAgriculturalDepartmentscooperatewithrealestatemenintheirownstates,byreferringinquiriesforfarmstothem.Somestatesissuefromtimetotimelistsof"abandonedfarms,"butthesechangesoconstantlythattheyhelpbutlittleexceptinthewayofsuggestion.


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Whenyoustartfarm-huntingtakealongagoodmap.Thenyouwillknowafewthingsonyourownaccount.Verifyrailroadmapsand"facts,"astheyareoftenbiased.Don'twasteyourtimewanderingaroundastrangelocalitybyyourself.Thelocalrealestatemanknowsmoreabouthiscommunitythanyoucanlearninfiveyears.Intryingtofindoutthingsforyourselfyouwillwasteinaimlessjourneys,undertakeninignoranceofrealconditions,moretimeandmoneythanarealestateman'scommissionamountsto.

Theonlywaytoformacorrectideaoftheproductionofanygivensectionistoexamineaparticularfarmindetail.Withinwell-recognizedlimits,alltilefarmsthereaboutswillbefoundofsimilarcharacter.Beforespendingmoneytolookatland,learnallyoucanbycorrespondence.Whetheritismoreprofitableinthelongruntobuythatgoodplotoflandinahighstateofcultivationwithgoodbuildingsonit,atahighprice,thantobuythisexhaustedpieceoflandwithpoorbuildingsornoneatall,isaquestionfortheindividualtodecide.Itdependsonyourenergy,grit,age,andhowmuchmoneyyouhave.Itismucheasiertotakeadvantageofwhattheotherfellowhasdone,thanitistobuildfromthestump.Youmustbearinmind,however,thatwellkeptlandinahighstateofcultivationseldomgoesbegginginthemarket.Onthewhole,ifyouhavethecapitaltodoit,youcanmakethebiggestwagesbybuyingroughorneglectedland,andhewingitinto

shape.

Ifyouhaveaknowledgeofsoils,youmaybeabletofindlandthatwillgrowsomethingthatnoonesupposesitwillgrow.Thiswillbeparticularlyusefulinthecaseoflandthoughttobevalueless.ThelandsaboutMiles,Michigan,wereconsideredsterileuntilsomeonefoundoutthattheywouldgrowmint,avaluablecrop,whichmadethelandsalableathighprices.

Getholdofadesirablebitoftheearth.Allthatmenwearoreatoruse;everything--shelter,food,tools,andtoyscomesfromthelandbylabor.Eventhecapitalusedtomakemoreofthosethingsistakenfromtheland.Theemployerandthecapitalistare,atbottom,

onlymenwhocontrolthelandoritsproducts,whoownrightsofway,miningrights,orthefeeofvaluablelands.Thousandshave"made"moneybyfindingunexpectedproductsintheirlandoroftheirlands,oil,coal,mineral,plants;thousandsmorebecausetheirlandwasneededbysomeoneelse,andtheywerepaidtogetoutoftheway.

Tospeculateonthesechancesisriskybusiness;tokeeplandthatenablesyoutomakegoodpaywhileyouwait,isprofitable.

CHAPTERIV

VACANTCITYLOTCULTIVATION


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Inthisbook,necessarily,wehavetotakemuchuponthereportsofothers,checkingthembyourownjudgmentandexperience.Thestartlingaccountsofwhathasbeendoneandisbeingdoneonplotsofaboutaquarteracretoeachfamily,however,canbeeasilyre-verifiedbyanyonewhowillgoorwritetoPhiladelphia,orexamineanypresentexperimentormodelgardens.Theseshowwhatcanbedoneevenbyunskilledlabor,withhardlyanycapital,onsmallplotswherethesoilwaspoor,butwhicharewellsituated.

Thedirectorssay:"ThefirstVacantLotCultivationAssociationswereorganizedwhenreliefagencieswerevainlystrivingtoprovideadequateassistanceforthehostofunemployed.Thecultivationofvacantcitylotsbytheunemployedhadalreadybeentriedsuccessfullyinothercities.Thefirstyearweprovidedgardens,seeds,tools,andinstructiononly,foraboutonehundredfamiliesontwenty-sevenacresofground.Atatotalcosttocontributorsofabout$1800,ourgardenersproduced$46,000worthofcrops."

Theapplicantisallowedagardenonthesoleconditionthathecultivateitwellthroughtheseason,andthathedonottrespassuponhisneighbors.Hemustrespecttheirrighttowhattheirlaborproduces.Afailuretoobservetheserulesforfeitshisprivilege.

Duringtwentyyears,morethaneightthousandfamilieshavebeen

assisted,manyoldpeoplewhocouldnolongerkeepuptherapidpaceofourindustriallife,crippleswhosephysicalconditionheldthembackintheraceforwork,personswhoonaccountofsicknessorothermisfortuneshavebeenthrownoutofthecompetitioninmodernbusiness,andunfortunatebeingswho,thoughclearinmindandstronginmuscle,havebeenforcedtotheranksoftheunemployed--thesehaveallhadanopportunityopenedtothem:opportunitytoenjoyallofthefruitsfromnature'sgreatstorehousewhichtheirownlaborandskillmightsecure.

ThewarhasforcedFrance,Italy,andEnglandsimilarlytoutilizenaturalopportunitiesforsubsistenceintheirenormoustractsofunproductivelands.InMexicoallproprietorswillberequiredto

designatewhattheyproposetocultivateandtheremainderwilleitherbeallottedtemporarilyforagriculturalpurposestothosedesiringthemoritwillbecultivatedundergovernmentmanagement.Thereisnoremedylikethatforpoverty.

ThefirstmanwhoappliedforavacantlotgardencametothePhiladelphiaofficeaftertheannouncementinthepapers,soweakandemaciatedthatthedoctorwasafraidthepoorfellowwouldbeunabletogetoutofhisofficewithoutassistance.Hewasawidowerwiththreegirlsandaboy,theoldestgirlaboutseventeen.

Hereceivedagardenwhichcontainedonlyaboutonefifthofanacre.Laterheobservedthatapartofanotherlittlefarmwasleft

untouchedonaccountofbeingveryrough,fullofholes,andcoveredwithstoneandbricks.Partofthisfarmwasbelowthestreetgradeandsubjecttooverflow,butitwaslargerthantheothers--ninetenthsofanacre.Heofferedtoexchange,sayinghedidnotmindtheextrawork.

Hisofferwasaccepted.Inafewdaysthestonesandbrickshadbeenthrownintotheholesandcoveredwithdirt.Thelowplaceshadbeenfilledin.Itwasaworkinwhichthewholefamilyjoined.Asmallhousewasrentedintheimmediateneighborhoodinlieuoftheirone


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roomnearthefoulalleysofthecityslum.

Everyinchofthesoilwasutilized.Arosyhuetooktheplaceofthepale,wancheekofafewmonthsbefore.Andnowtheharvesthascome,andthewinter'sstorecanbeenumerated.Thirtybushelsofpotatoes,fourbushelsofturnips,onebushelofcarrots,thirtygallonsofsauerkraut,fifteengallonsofcatsup,fivegallonsofpickledbeans,onehundredquartsofcannedtomatoes,fiftyquartsofcannedcorn,twentyquartsofbeans,onethousandormorefinecelerystalks,andmanyotherthings.Warmclothinghasreplacedthebadlyworngarmentsofninemonthsago.Afewpiecesoffurniturehavebeenadded.Theboyhasbeenprovidedwithasmallcapitalforhislittlebusiness.("VacantLotCultivation,"ReprintfromN.Y._CharitiesReview._)Betterlaborwouldofcoursegetevenbetterresults.

Thepersonalbenefitsthathavecometoafewindividualcases,arelargelythesamethatallthegardenersenjoyedinNewYorkandelsewhere.

Anoldcoloredwoman--agrandmother--whohadjustbeenreleasedfromoneofthehospitalswhereshehadbeentreatedforalongtimeforpleurisy,askedforagarden.Itwasmorethanamiletothenearestplot,butshewasquitewillingtogoeventhatdistanceifshe

couldgetagarden.Atfirst,owingtoherweakenedcondition,shewasforcedtoworkslowlyandforshortperiodsonly,butalittleassistanceenabledhertogetagardenstarted.Theworkproceededsowellthatmorelandwasaddedtohersmallholding,andmostofherwakinghourswerenowspenteitherinornearthegarden,workingamongthetenderplantsorwatchingthemgrow.Beforetheseasonwashalfspentshehaddevelopedoneofthebestgardensinthewholeplot.Hersurplusproducebecamesolargethatshehadtodevotemostofhertimetogatheringandsellingit.Finallysherentedasmallshedonaprominentstreetandpassers-byoftenstopped,andregularcustomerscametobuythefreshlygatheredproduce,thesupplybeingnotonlyabundant,butofgreatvariety.

Oneofthebestgardens,fromthestandpointofvalueofproduceaswellasforthevarietiesofproductsitcontainedandtheartisticarrangement,wasworkedbyamanwhohadbutonearm.Manyothersuccessfulandprofitablegardenswerecultivatedbymenandwomenofanagewhenwegenerallyexpectthemtodependentirelyuponothersforsupport.

Manyincidentswerefoundwheresuchhabitsasdrinkingandloafingaroundsaloonsandclubsandabusingthefamilyhavebeencheckedonaccountofthegardener'stimeandattentionbeingoccupiedinthelittlefarm.

Oneoftheworkerscameforworkinaconditionofmindandbody

whichrenderedhisservicesalmostworthless.Hewasscarcelyabletocarryonhisworkforaminutebeyondwhathewasshown.Eachnewmovehadtobeexplainedconstantly,andeventhenhewasoftenfounddoingtheworkinthewrongwayonlyafewminutesafterwards.Beforelong,however,hebegantoseethathisplacehaditsresponsibilitiesandthattheworkofMotherNaturedependedonhisdoinghispartanddoingitwell.Bythetimethecropswerereadytogatherandmarkethecametorealizethatthecostofproductionmustcomeundertheamountreceivedfromthesaleoftheproducesoastopreventloss.Bytheendoftheseasonhehadlearnedsoto


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utilizehistimeandtoorganizehisworkandexecuteourplansthatwewereabletorecommendhimtoafarmerwhowaslookingforahandymanabouttheplace.

IntwentyyearsourAssociationshavemadedemonstrationsofthefollowingfacts,eachdemonstrationprovingmoreclearlythantheformerones:

First.Thatmanypeopleoutofemploymentmusthavehelpofsomekind.

Second.Thatagreatmajorityofthempreferself-help,andmanywilltakenoother.Nearlyallareableandwillingtoimproveanyopportunitiesopentothem.

Third.Thattoopenopportunitiestothemdoesnotpauperizeordegrade,buthastheoppositeeffectofelevatingandennobling.Itquicklyestablishesself-respectandself-confidence.Thebestandmosteffectivewayofhelpingpeopleinneedistoopenawaywherebytheymayhelpthemselves.Themosteffectivecharityisopportunityaccompaniedwithkindlyadviceandapersonalinterestinthoselessfortunatethanourselves.

Fourth.Thattheofferingofgardenstotheunemployedwithproper

supervisionandsomeassistancebyprovidingseeds,fertilizers,andplowingaccompaniedwithinstruction,isthecheapestandeasiestwayofopeningopportunitiesyetdevised.

Fifth.Thatitpossessesmanyadvantagesinadditiontoprovidingprofitableemployment;amongothers,thattheworkermustcomeoutintotheopenairandsunshine;mustexercise,andputforthexertion,--allofwhichareconducivetohealth,and,mostimportantofall,heknowsthatallheraisesistobehisown.Thisisthegreatestincentivetoindustry.

TheVacantLotCultivationsystemisaschoolwhereingardenersaretaughtatrade(tomostofthemanewtrade),farming,whichoffers

employmentformorepeoplethanalltheothertradesandprofessionscombined:atradesusceptibleofwidediversificationandofferingmanyfieldsforspecializing.Butlittlecapitalisrequired;anyotherfieldwouldrequirelargeoutlay.Itsgreatestadvantage,however,isthattheidlemenandtheidlelandarealreadyclosetoeachother--themencanreachtheirgardenswithoutchangingtheirdomicilesorbeingseparatedfromtheirfamilies.

Itwasnotuntilafterseveralyearsthatthefulleffectoftheworkwasrealized.Afewgardenerseachyearfromthebeginninghave,afteroneortwoyears'experience,takensmallfarmsorplotsoflandtocultivateontheirownaccount,orhavesoughtemploymentonfarmsnearthecity;butthenumberisquitesmallcomparedto

thewholenumberhelped.Nowmorethantenpercentofthosethathadgardenspreviouslyhaveforthelasttwoyearsbeenworkingontheirownaccount.Outofnearlyeighthundredgardeners,morethaneighty-fiveeitherrentedorsecuredtheloanofgardensthatseasonandcultivatedthemwhollyattheirownexpense,andmanyotherswouldhavedonesohadsuitablelandbeenavailable.Thenumberofgardensforfeitedonaccountofpoorcultivationortrespassingwasonlytwooutof800plotsgivenout.

Thefirstimportantadvancewasearlyinthespringof1904,whenit


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becameknownthatalargetractoflandthathadbeeningardensforseveralyearswouldbewithdrawnfromuse.Anumberofthegardenerscametogethertotalkoverthesituation.Oneproposedthattheyformaclubtoleaseatractoflandanddivideitupamongthemselves.Theplanwasreadilyagreedto,andanine-acretractonLansdowneAvenuewasrentedat$15peracreperannum.Somesixteenfamiliesbecameinterested'andMr.D.F.Rowe,whohadbeenoneofthemostsuccessfulgardeners,becamemanagerTheyhadthelandthoroughlyfertilizedandplowed,andthensubdivided.Sometookseparateallotments,asundertheVacantLotAssociation'splan,andothersworkedforthemanageratanagreedrateofwagesperhour.Thewholenineacreswerethoroughlywellcultivated,andamagnificentcropharvested.

Assoonastherewasproduceforsale,amarketwasestablishedonthegroundandaregulardeliverysystemorganizedwhichlaterattractedmuchattention.Itwascarriedonbythechildren,ofninetotwelveyearsofage,fromthevariousfamilies.Eachchildwasprovidedwithapushcart.Thereweremanyandvariousstyles,madefromlittleexpresswagons,babycoaches,andproduceboxes

Thechildrenbuiltuptheirownroutes,andwentregularlytotheircustomersfororders.Theymadeuptheorders,loadedthemintotheirlittlepushcarts,chargedthemselvesupwiththeseparate

amountsinasmallbook,andattheendofeachday'ssaleseachchildsettledwiththemanagerandwaspaidhiscommission(twentypercentofthereceipts)incash.Theselittlesalesmenandsalesgirlsoftentookhomefourtofivedollarsperweekandyetneverworkedmorethanthreetofivehoursperday.Theworkwasdoneundersuchcircumstancesthattothemitwasnotworkbutplay.YoucangetthefullreportfromthePhiladelphia"VacantLotCultivationAssociations."It'sinteresting.

"Thegreatestvaluethatourlittlegardenhasbroughtus,"saidaFrenchwoman,motherofagoodlynumberofrathersmallchildren,"hasnotbeeninthefinevegetablesithasyieldedallsummer,orthegoodtimesthatIandthechildrenhavehadintheopenair,but

intheglassesofbeerandabsinthethatmyhusbandhasn'ttaken.""Quiteright,mother,quiteright,"camefromamannearby."Theworldcanneverknowtheevilwemendon'tdowhilewearebusyinourlittlegardens."

Further,pillageofcrops,whichwasalwaysurgedasanobjectiontoraisingfruitsortruckonopengrounds,hasprovedtobeabaselessfear.Whereanyofthegardenersareallowedtocamporputupshacksonthepatches,theftdoesnotoccurandvarioussuperintendentsrepeatthat"thefewandtrivialcasesofstealingfromvacantlotplotsorschoolgardenswerealmostallattheplacesthatwerefenced."

Perhapsourlocksandboltstendtosuggestbreakingin.

TheGardenPrimerissuedbytheNewYorkCityFoodSupplyCommitteegivessimplebutincompletedirectionsforplantingandtendingavegetablegarden.Forthosewhoneedthatsortofthing,thesearejustthesortofthingtheyneed.Theywillbeusefulifyoudonotfollowthem.ThePrimertellsyouhowtogetsomekindofparsnips,chard,spinach,commononions,radishes,cabbage,lettuce,beets,tomatoes,beans,turnips,peas,peppers,eggplants,cucumbers,corn,andpotatoes.


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Don'tgrowthesethings,unlessitbeforyourownimmediateuse.Everyonegrowsthemandripensthemallatthesametime.Inmanyplacesthesearegivenawayorthrownawaythisyear.Growanythingthateveryonewantsandhasnotgot,likeokra,smallfruits,etc.;youcangetamuchbetterreturnincashorintradethanbyspendingyourtime"likeotherfolks"whodonotthink.

SoIrefertothesedirectionsfortheirinstruction,andforyourwarningHowever,theygivethefollowingadmirableinjunctions.

"HelpYourCountryandYourselfbyRaisingYourOwnVegetables."

AswewilllikelyhavetosendtoEuropeincomingyearsasmuchorevenmorefoodthanwedidlastyear,thereisonlyonewaytoavoidashortageamongourownpeople,thatisbyraisingagreatdealmorethanusual.Todothiswemustplanteverybitofavailableland.(Ofcourse,wecan't;theownerswon'tletus.Ed.)

Ifyouhaveabackyard,youcandoyourpartandhelptheworldandyourselfbyraisingsomeofthefoodyoueat.Themoreyouraisethelessyouwillhavetobuy,andthemoretherewillbeleftforsomeofyourfellowcountrymenwhohavenotaninchofgroundonwhichtoraiseanything.

Ifthereisavacantlotinyourneighborhood,seeifyoucannotgettheuseofitforyourselfandyourneighbors,andraiseyourownvegetables.Anhouradayspentinthiswaywillnotonlyincreasewealthandhelpyourfamily,butwillhelpyoupersonallybyaddingtoyourstrengthandwell-beingandmakingyouappreciatetheEdenjoyofgardening.Anhourintheopenairisworthmorethanadozenexpensiveprescriptionsbyanexpensivedoctor.

Theonlytoolsnecessaryforasmallgardenareaspadeorspadingfork,ahoe,arake,andalineorpieceofcord.

Firstofall,clearthegroundofallrubbish,sticks,stones,

bottles,etc.(especiallywhiskybottles).

Choosethesunniestspotintheyardforyourgarden.

Digupthesoiltoadepthof6to10inches,usingaspadeorspadingfork.(Deeperforparsnipsandsomeotherroots.Ed.)Breakupallthelumpswiththespadeorfork.

Ifyouliveinasectionwhereyourneighborshavegardens,youmightclubtogethertohireateamsterforadaytodotheplowingandharrowingforyouall,thussavingalargeamountoflabor.

Afteryourgardenhasbeenwelldug,itmustbefertilizedbefore

anyplantingisdone.Inordertoproducelargeandwell-growncropsitisoftennecessarytofertilizebeforeeachplanting.Verygoodpreparedfertilizerscanbeboughtatseedstores,buthorseorcowmanureismuchbetter,asitlightensthesoilinadditiontosupplyingplantfood.Usestreetsweepingsifyoucangetthem.

Themanureshouldbewelldugintotheground,atleasttothefulldepthofthetopsoil.Thegroundshouldthenbethoroughlyraked,asseedsmustbesowninsoilwhichhasbeenfinelypowdered.


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Layoutthegarden,keepingtherowsstraightwithaline.Straightrowsarepracticallyanecessity,notonlyforeasierculturebutforeconomyinspace.

Afteryouhavemarkedallofyourrows,thenextstepisopeningthefurrow.(Afurrowisashallowtrench.)Thatisdonewiththehoe.(Bestandquickestwithawheelhoe.Ed.)Afterthefurrowisopened,itisnecessarythattheseedbesownandimmediatelycoveredbeforethesoilhasdriedIncoveringtheseedsthesoilmustbefirmlypresseddownwiththefoot.Thisisimportant.

Inbuyingseeditisbesttogotosomewell-establishedseedhouse,or,ifthatcan'tbedone,toorderbymailratherthantotakeneedlesschances.Withmostkindsofseedsapackageissufficientforatwenty-footrow.

Begintobreakupthehardsurfaceofthesoilbetweentheplantssoonaftertheyappear,usingahandcultivatororhoe,andkeepitloosethroughouttheseason.Thiskillsweeds;itletsinairtotheplantrootsandkeepsthemoistureintheground.

Byconstantlystirringthetopsoilafteryourplantsappear,thenecessityofwateringcanbelargelyavoidedexceptinverydryweather.Anoccasionalsoakingofthesoilisbetterthanfrequent

sprinkling.Wateryourgardeneitherveryearlyinthemorningoraftersundown.Itisbetternottowaterwhenthesunisshininghot.

Theplantingschemecanbealteredtosuityourindividualtaste.Forinstance,peasandcabbageareincludedbecausealmosteverybodylikestohavethemfreshfromtheirgarden;buttheyoccupymorespaceinproportiontotheirvaluethanbeetsandcarrots.Thereforeasmallgardencouldbemademoreprofitablebyomittingthemaltogether,orcuttingthemdowninamountandincreasingtheamountofcarrots,beets,andturnipsplanted;oranyofthevegetablesmentionedwhichmaynotbeinfavorwiththefamilycanbeleftout.

Thekindofseasonwehavewouldchangethedateofplanting.Inraisingvegetables,asineverythingelse,oneshoulduseone'scommon(orgardenvarietyof)sense.Agoodruleistowaituntilthegroundhaswarmedupabit.Nevertrytoworkinsoilwetenoughtobesticky,ormuddy;waituntilitdriesenoughtocrumblereadily.

Gardeningisnotaruleofthumbbusiness.Eachgardenermustbringhisplantsupinhisownwayinthelightofhisownexperienceandinaccordancewiththeconditionsofhisowngarden.Agardenloverwhohasabitoflandwillspeedilylearnifhiseyesandhismind,aswellashishands,arealwaysbusy,nomatterhowmeagerhisknowledgeatthebeginning.

Thereisplentyofland--ifyoucanonlygetit.

SaysCarlVrooman,AssistantSecretaryofAgriculture,inregardtothefoodproblem:

"Millionsofacresoffarmlandarebeingheldoutofuseandothermillionsofacresarebeingcultivatedonawastefulandinefficientbasis.Landvalueshaverisenatanunprecedentedrate.Theyarebasednotuponwhatthefarmwillearnatthepresenttime,buton


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anexpectancyofwhatitwillbeworthinthefuture.Thefarmer'ssonorthetenantfarmer,withlittleornocapital,cannothopetoacquirepossessionofafarmwhenthepriceoflandisSOhighthathisearningswouldnotpaytheinterestontheinvestment.Theresultisthatlandremainsidleorinthehandsoftenants,andthousandsoffarmers'boysdesertthecountryforthecity.

"....Whatweneed,andneedbadly,isaprogramoftaxationwhich,withoutthrowingadditionalburdensonthebonafidefarmer,willplacelandnowidlewithinthereachofmenoflimitedmeanswhopossesstheambitionandtheabilitytocultivateit."

Youcanseethatpoorignorantpeople,women,boys,cripples,oldmen,oftenonlessthan100X150feeteach,notonlyinPhiladelphia,butaswargardenersinNewYork,andmostothertowns,havebeenabletosupportthemselvesbytheirworkontheland.Youcandomuchbetter.

Tobesure,theyhadvaluablelandandoftenseedsfree,butforsuchlittlepiecesoflandthesearesmallitems,andmanyofthemhadnocertaintyofhavingthelandevenforasecondyear,consequentlytheycouldnothavehotbedsoranypermanentimprovement.Youcanmakeallthesethings.

Thenwhatcanyoudo?Onlyremembertheyhadintelligentinstructionanddidtheworkthemselves,andgotthewholeproduct;oftenthechildrenhelped--theythoughtitfun.Itdoesnotpaytofarmasmallpieceoflandwherealltheworkershavetobehired.Nordoesitpayifonecalculatesmerelytostickinseedswithonehandandpulloutprofitswiththeother.

CHAPTERV

RESULTSTOBEEXPECTED.

"Ifwegeteveryoneoutonthefarms,thentherewillbeanover-productionoffarmproductsandafallinprices."

True,buttherearefarmerswhocoulddobetterintowns;whatwewanttodoistomakeiteasyforpeopletogetonthelandaboutthecities,thenitwouldbeequallyeasyforthosefarmerswhoare

betteradaptedforcitylifetogetnearthecities.

Underpresentconditions,wheretheworkerisforcedoutfifteenortwentymilesfromthetownbythehighpriceoflandandthelargeamountoflandrequired,thefarmerisasmuchcutofffromthecityasthecitydwelleriscutofffromrurallife.

Weneednotbeafraidtoteachmenbetterways;therewillalwaysbeplentytoostupidortoooldortooisolatedtolearn;thesewillremainabulwarkagainsttoosuddenchange.


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Dr.Engel,formerheadofthePrussianStatisticalBureau,informsusthat"Scientificfarmingsucceedsbecauseagivenamountofeffort,whenmoreintelligentlydirected,producesgreaterresults.Inasmuch,then,astheamountoffoodwhichtheworldcanconsumeislimited,thesmallerwillbethenumberoffarmersrequiredtoproducetheneededsupply,andthelargerwillbethenumberdrivenfromthecountrytothecity.Ithasalreadybeenobservedthatif34scientificmethodswereuniversallyadoptedintheUnitedStates,doubtlessonehalfofthosenowengagedinagriculturecouldproducethepresentcrops,whichwouldcompeltheotherhalftoabandonthefarm."Thisis"Engel'sLaw."

This"argument"assumesthatwearenowutilizingallthelandpossibleandthateveryoneisfullysuppliedwithfood.Butwhenweconsiderthegreatmassesofpeopleintheslumsofallcitieswhoarealwaysunderfedandwhoseconstantthoughtisabouttheirnextmeal;whenweseehundredsofable-bodiedmenwaitinginlineuntilmidnightforhalfaloafofstalebread,surelyitseemsthatthereisapossibilityofkeepingallofthepresentfarmersatwork,ifnotoffindingnewfieldsforothers,ifwemakeourconditionssuchthattherewillbeopportunitiesforeveryable-bodiedworkertolaboratremunerativeemployment.

ProfessorL.H.Bailey,amostindustriousandaccurateobserver,says:"Dr.Engel'sargumentrestsontheassumptionthatagricultureproducesonlyorchieflyfood;butprobablymorethanhalfoftheagriculturalproductsoftheUnitedStatesisnotfood.Itiscotton,flax,hemp,wool,hides,timber,tobacco,dyes,drugs,flowers,ornamentaltreesandplants,horses,pets,andfancystock,andhundredsofothernon-ediblecommodities.ThetotalfoodproduceoftheUnitedStates,accordingtothetwelfthcensus,was$1,837,000.Thecostofmaterialusedinthethreeindustriesoftextile,lumberandleathermanufactoriesalonewas$1,851,000,000.

"Dr.Engelthinksthattheoutlayforsubsistencediminishesasincomeincreases;butcomfortsandluxuriesincreaseinintimate

ratiowiththeincome,andthelargerpartofthesecomefromthefarmandforest.Dr.Engel,infact,allowsthis,forhesaysthat'sundriesbecomegreaterasincomeincreases."'

WehavealreadyabundanceofinformationaboutalmosteverycountyintheUnion,publishedbyBoardsofTradeandlandboomers,likethefollowingabout"Oxnard,VenturaCounty,thecenterofthefamouslimabeandistrictinCalifornia.Forayearthereturnsfromfarmproductsalone,inthisvicinity,areestimatedatover$2,000,000.Thesugarfactory,whichuses2000tonsofbeetseverytwenty-fourhours,requirestheyieldofabout1900acreseveryseason.Thebeetcropisrotatedwithbeans,andthefactory'ssupplyiskeptgoodbysystematicmethods.Twothousandheadof

cattlearebeingfattenedatthepresenttimeinthecompany'syardonthebeetpulp.Muchofthepulpisalsosoldtolocalstockmen,whovalueithighlyforfeed.Thefactoryturnsout5000bagsofsugareveryday."Andagain:

"Easternfarmlandssteadilydeclinedinpriceuptoabout1902,sothatEasternlandsoldforlessthanWesternlandofthesamequalityandoflikesituation;butthetideseemsatlasttohaveturned,andmuchmoneyisnowbeingmadeinbuyingupcheapfarmsandespeciallyinsub-dividingthemforsmallcultivators."


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Thatsortofthingisinteresting;butitisnotwhatamanwantstoknow--heisanxioustolearnhowmuchhecanmakeandwhereandhowtodoit.

Themanwhoseeksacomfortablelivingwilldobettertorentonlongleaseorbuyafewacresconvenienttotrolleyorrailroadcommunicationwithacity;besidesthereturnswhichwillcometothefarmerfromtheuseofafewacres,ifheistheownerhewillgetaconstantincreaseinthevalueoftheland,duetothegrowthofthecity.Ifthecitygrowsoutsothatthelandbecomestoovaluabletofarm,hewillbewellpaidforleaving.

(Althoughprogressiscontinuallyforcinglaborersbackuponlessdesirableland,theirloss,unlesstheyaretheowners,isthelandowner'sgain.)

Theamountofproducttobegrownforone'sownusedependsonthesizeofthefamilyanditsfondnessforvegetables.

"Anareaof150X100feet[abouttwofifthsofanacre]isgenerallysufficienttosupplyafamilyoffivepersonswithvegetables,notconsideringthewintersupplyofpotatoes;buttheacresmustbewelltilledandhandled."(Bailey,"PrinciplesofVegetable

Gardening.")

"Theproducethatcouldthusbeobtainedfromanacreoflandwellsituatedwouldabundantlysupplywithnearlyallthevegetablesnamed,nineteenfamilies,comprisinginall114individuals."

Inourgardenwemustknowwhatwewantandknowhowtogetit.

(Itisimpossibletotreatexhaustivelyofthevariouscropsinabookofthiskind.Ononionculturealonetherearefourstandardbooks,besidessevenoreightrecentexperimentalstationbulletins.

"Inafamilygarden100X150feet(whichequalssixNewYorkCity

lots),therowsrunningthelongwayofthearea,eightortenfeetmaybereservedalongonesideforasparagus,rhubarb,sweetherbs,flowers,andpossiblyafewberrybushes.Astriptwentyfeetwidemaybereservedforvines,asmelons,cucumbersandsquashes.Thereremainsastripseventyfeetwide,orspacefortwentyrowsthreeandonehalffeatapart.Thisareaislargeenoughtoallowofappreciableresultsinrotationofcrops;andi!itisjudiciouslymanaged,itshouldmaintainhighproductivenessforalifetime."(Bailey,"PrinciplesofVegetableGardening."))

"Thethingstobeconsideredinthehomegardenare:(1)asufficientproducttosupplythefamily;(2)continuoussuccessionofcrops;(3)easeandcheapnessofcultivation;(4)maintenanceof

theproductivityofthelandyearafteryear.

"Theeaseandefficiencyofcultivationaremuchenhancedifallcropsareinlongrows,toallowofwheel-tooltillageeitherbyhorseorwheel-hoe."

TheexperienceoftheVacantLotGardeners(ChapterIV)showsthatifthelandbenearalargemarketwheretheproductcanbepeddledorsoldbytheproducersorbythose(asinMr.Rowe'scase),withwhomhedirectlydeals,morethantwenty-fivedollarscapitalisnot


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necessary,butPeterHenderson("GardeningforProfit")estimatesthattogetthebestresults,$300capitalperacreisrequiredforanythinglessthantenacres.

Wherethelandisfavorablysituatedafortunemaybemadeincultivationofafewacres--withbrains.

Quinnsays("MoneyintheGarden")thatheknowsalargenumberofmarketgardenersworthfromtentofortythousanddollarseach,noneofwhomhadfivehundreddollarstobeginwith.

Ifonehasnotenoughmoneytogetallthatcanbegottenoutofhisplot,itisbesttoputpartofthelandintoclovertofititforlateruseortouseitforraisinggrass.

Resultsundoubtedlycomefromhardwork;butitisnotnecessary,inordertocultivatealittlelandsuccessfully,thatyoushouldworkalldayonyourhandsandknees;ifyoucanraisefruitornuts,thisisnotneededatall.

Butforvegetablesacertainamountofitisnecessary--whenthereisalargejobofthatkindofweedingtobedone,youcanhireItaliansorotherforeignerstodoitbetterandcheaperthanyoucandoityourself.Thosewhowillreadthisbookcanearnmorewith

theirheadsthantheirhands;butwhenweedingisneededafterasuddenshowerandthereisnooneelse,youmustdosomeofityourself;theweatherwillnotwaitforyouto"getaman,"andifyouarenotwillingtodosuchthings,yourchancesofsuccessaregreatlylessened.

Hereistheexperienceofonewho"gotaman":

"Mygarden,tobe

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Three Acres and Liberty by Hall, Bolton, 1854-1938