Summary 



Giving data, also conclusions of Broad Gauge Men 



THE history of Twentieth Century Pioneering has been, written from a record kept day unto day 

 in 2 diaries; this being supplemented by a very large number of photographs to graphically 

 portray the methods and happenings incident to the subjugation of acreage, frequently referred 

 to as "wild land," in the quickest time possible. Unquestionably many improvements will 

 suggest themselves to even the casual reader. 



Three hundred and eighty varieties of plant growth were successfully developed or naturalized. 

 This great number was experimented with in order to prove conclusively to the world at large the fact 

 well known to real Long Islanders, that any plant growable in the Temperate Zone could be developed 

 far above the average in quality, and further, many little known or entirely unknown growths of marked 

 food value in their native countries would readily naturalize with the particularly favorable conditions 

 of Long Island climate and soil. 



In no respects were the experiments with unusual plants a failure. The failures as enlarged upon 

 in the body of this book, were without exception with those species long ago proven particularly profitable 

 on the Island. And the failures upon Experimental Station No. 1 were duplicated not only on Long 

 Island, but throughout the East because of the practically unique atmospheric conditions prevalent 

 during the summer of 190G. 



Commercial fertilizer was not used or experimented with because it was not needed in the virgin 

 soil, whose oiily lack was humus, or decaying vegetable matter. A particularly small quantity of manure 

 was used in order to show that a very small amount of capital could be made to yield more profit when 

 invested in agricultural pursuits upon the libeled Long Island territory still lying idle and without reason 

 called "pine barrens" and "scrub-oak waste," than from acres long tilled by "penny wise and pound 

 foolish" owners. 



To plant and cultivate 13 acres, the majority of them intensively, but 3 men were employed. Again, 

 to show primarily that a small amount of capital would carry on the labor end of market-gardening, also 

 that 3 men with modern machinery could do what from 5 to S experienced hands would accomplish with 

 only the strongest of efforts without the aid of labor-saving devices. The use of mechanical drills and 

 hand cultivators proved time and time again, by measurement and by clock, that 1 man with a machine 

 whose first cost is from $7.00 to $10.00 and with a life lasting many years, equaled 10 men with a hoe. 



!Many experiments in packing and marketing were tried, proving conclusively that individuality 

 in packing paid. That there was a great market for strictly choice, fresh, products of the earth and 

 further that the principle proven so successful by manufacturers and mercantile houses, must be pursued 

 to secure the largest returns by those who select to go to Mother Nature for a livelihood. The trend 

 of the times is summed up in the phrase "from producer to consumer direct." The consumer secures 

 not only absolutely fresh food, but vegetables and berries and fruits that have ripened, as the chemistry 

 of nature requires, upon the parent stalk at no increase in cost, but, in fact, at a marked reduction; while 

 the grower who has given time and labor, thought and capital, receives a return sufficient to prove that 

 agriculture is a business, assuring not only a comfortable livelihood but profits fully equal to those of 

 any manufacturing or mercantile pursuit. It is sincerely hoped that the following data will prove of 

 interest and value. 



Total area of Long Island, 1,076,480 acres. The west end, comprising Kings, Queens, and Nassau 

 Counties, 337,363 acres. Suffolk County, the easterly two-thirds of the Island, covers 739, 117 acres. Of 

 this over 40,000 are without assessment. This non-producing territory consists mainly of beaches and 

 salt meadows, while 200,000 acres lie idle and with merely nominal assessment against them, much of 

 them covered with second and third growth timber consisting principally of oak, chestnut, and pine 

 which is not considered large enough for cord wood. Some of it through lack of forethought has been 

 burned over by the forest fires so prevalent generally in the spring. As a matter of fact the cord wood 

 on much of this idle acreage would pay, and more than pay, for the clearing and the first cost. Practically 

 all of it is absolutely virgin soil with every requisite for raising a high quality and big yield of flowers, 

 fruits, and vegetables. 



Prices of uncleared land vary from .$25.00 to $150.00 per acre. Cleared land, some of it fenced and 

 with dwellings and farm buildings upon it, varies in price from $100.00 to $250.00 per acre. Much of 

 this land is extremely valuable having been kept up by the waste matter of live stock of many species. 

 Other acreage has been handled by progressive men who knew the value of cover crops and green manure. 

 Some, of course, has been handled with less intelligence but quickly responds to methods proven rational 

 and assuring yearly increase of fertility. 



Every section of Long Island is readily accessible. The narrow island has 3 divisions of the Long 

 Island Railroad paralleling each other; 1 on the south shore, one through the central section and 1 

 along the north shore, making it practically impossible to locate 5 miles from the railroad facilities, and 

 much of the unsubdued woodland lies within 70 miles of New York City, the greatest market in the 

 world. 



The Long Island Railroad Company was chartered in 1S34, construction completed to Hicksville 

 in 1837 and in 1844 the main line had reached the terminal at Greenport, which, with a connecting line of 

 steamers, opened up New England markets to the farmers at the east end of Suffolk County, which 

 rapidly developed that portion of the fertile island. Railroad statistics show that the Long Island 



