People's Pilot, Volume 6, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 November 1896 — VACANT LO[?]NG. [ARTICLE]

VACANT LO[?]NG.

A Proof of the Progress It Is Making la Hew York. The fact that at the recent American institute fair a woman who has been farming on vacant lots in this city carried off eight first prizes, three second prizes and two special prizes, amounting to $56, and that several men who have farmß similar to hers took prizes amounting to $45, is looked upon by those interested in the vacant lot movement as proof of its snocess. When the vacant lot plan was suggested several years ago, it was said to be a visionary scheme, and it was urged that poor city people without previous farming experience could not cultivate land with any profit to themselves. The men who were interested in it, however, decided that it should have a fair trial, and they now believe that its success has been demonstrated. The expenses of the farms for the last year amounted to $4,500, and the receipts of the planters were $9,500. The Association For Improving the Condition of the Poor, under whose management the farms were conducted, received several hundred bushels of potatoes, beets and cabbages for distribution. This association says that an excellent showing was made this summer, despite the fact that it was a bad season for city farming, owing to the early wet weather and the extreme heat that came later.—New York Sun.