GARDEN PLOTS.

Auckland Star, Issue 265, 8 November 1929, Page 9

GARDEN PLOTS.

WORK FOR SPARE HOURS.

PROFITABLE AND PLEASANT.

HINT TO CITY FATHERS

Auckland lias frequently impressed visitors by the number of its pleasant gardens in the suburbs, but there is one direction in which more activity might be expected in a climate where things grow so wonderfully. The defect is happily put by a "Star" reader, who writes over the pen name of "Courage Brings Comfort." He heads it "Something New in the West," and goes on to say: "I pass every day, somewhere in the west end, four workingmen's homes, separated from the road by a large plot of ground. The four plots were evergrown by grass nearly two feet high, bu latelv a" new tenant moved into one ol the houses. His very first step was to clean up his garden, and it 1S 1 , pleasure that I watch that broadshouldered and well set-up man tendi his plants every evening, and waterin his peas, beans, potatoes, etc He has , found a remedy for the high cost of . living while his neighbours pay very , high °prices for the vegetables they buy from John Chinaman. Prizes Offered. "In Europe, where initiative and thrift are encouraged, prizes are awarded for the best kept gardens, and they are more numerous over there than in New Zealand. Every house has its own plot of ground cultivated to its utmost capacity. It would be a praiseworthy object for our City Fathers to offer, each year, ten to twelve prizes ranging from fl to £10 to the workingmen who would use their spare hours for the useful pastime of 'growing their own vegetables. "I have noticed several well-kept gardens in Jervois Road, and on the slopes bordering on College Hill and Freeman's Bay; and I am sure there are others on the north, west and eastern sides of the city." Example From England. "An excellent idea," said an Aucklander who had seen what splendid results were achieved in England during the Avar, and after, by the people who 1 cultivated garden plots - in their spare

time. The wonderful work done during the war is familiar to' most people through the publicity it gained in the newspapers, but it is not everyone who is aware of the extent to which the cultivation of garden plots has been kept up since the war ended. "Many of the ■ Workers in the towns saw that there was | not only pleasure but profit in the hobby, and to-day the traveller through England will find on the outskirts of scores of places acres of garden plots in full cultivation," continued the "Stars" iu- ' formant. "These cultivations strike the • train traveller very forcibly, as they are . distinctly an innovation in semi-rural England. Before the war there was nothing like them. Like Market Garden. "I have in mind the impression inado bv one such place outside Lincoln, there are a number of very large and important foundries in that town. Men who work in such places are noted for being intelligent and abo\e the a\eiage, and they were quick to see the advantage of keeping a garden going in their spare time. At a convenient distance from the town several acres of land was laid out [in plots, and each plot is cultivated by a foundry hand in his spare hours. There are no fences between the plots, and these areas have the appearance of a huge Chinese market garden such as we know in New Zealand. Each holder puts up a small shack to hold the tools and other requisites, but the men do not live on their plots; they go to and fro between their homes in the town and their gardens in the outer suburbs. The amount of foodstuff raised in this way is incredible, and, in addition to providing the amateur gardener with all the vegetables he wants, and enough to bring him in some very welcome pocket money when sold, gives him a fine, healthy hobby which has a remarkable influence on his life."