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