August, 1914 
HOUSE AND GARDEN 
67 
Henry George-ing at Babylon 
A BOUT three miles from the main¬ 
land on a narrow strip of sand di¬ 
viding a bay from the ocean, almost oppo¬ 
site Fire Island Inlet and equivalent to 
being four miles out to sea, is a little col¬ 
ony that comes nearer to exemplifying the 
Henry George theory than anything of its 
kind in New York State. The township 
of Babylon owns six miles of ocean front 
and over 20 miles of bay and island front¬ 
age adjoining. This is all leased on lots 
of 100 x 200 feet on term leases at annual 
rentals of $5 to $7 a year, with the only 
restriction that some kind of a dwelling 
shall be erected, no matter how simple, but 
used for residential purposes, within one 
year. 
It is an hour from New York to Baby¬ 
lon, and this point is reached by ferry 
making four or five round trips a day in 
about 35 minutes. The ferry and the 
depot at Babylon are connected by an elec¬ 
tric railroad. 
There are thousands who would wel¬ 
come the knowledge of such a place where 
they could own comfortable little summer 
homes that need not stand them, when 
completed with furniture and bungalow, 
over $6od or $700; some of them even at 
lower prices, as many have built two 
rooms, and then added from year to year 
such extensions as they saw fit and could 
afford. The rise and fall of tide in this 
section is only about a foot, there are no 
rocks or strong currents, and the sailing 
and rowing are safe. There is good duck 
shooting in the fall and snipe shooting in 
the summer, fishing and an abundance of 
crabs, clams and other bay food. 
In an attractive little chapel on the beach 
weekly services are held. About 200 cot¬ 
tages have already been erected, there are 
stores during the summer, ice and milk are 
delivered from the mainland every day, 
and it is a place where refined people can 
live a simple life without meeting a crowd 
of objectionable excursions and rough 
people. 
Good and Bad Land 
Poor land is not always exhausted or 
“worked out’’ land. Such soil can be eas¬ 
ily built up and made to yield excellent 
crops, with the judicious use of proper 
fertilizer. But there is poor land in every 
community. You cannot “build up" stony 
side hills, rocky pastures, boggy meadows 
and gravelly fields. Land that is so steep 
that the natives “work both sides of it" is 
not as good as land that is reasonably 
level. Steep land is hard to work; it is 
subject to soil erosion and wash-outs. It 
is cheap land at best and worth but little. 
L ncleared land, be it ever so rich, should 
be bought cheap, as it costs like everything 
to clear it for crops. Remember that noth¬ 
ing but dynamite, and plenty of that, will 
remove large rocks and big, deep-rooted 
stumps. Good land should not only be 
fertile, but it should be easy to work with 
machinery. 
orbinI 
ilW8l¥S¥i: 
A New Casement Operator 
The bronze metal handle is all that is seen. Turning it 1 
opens or closes the casement window with ease and holds it 
firmly locked at any point. There is no interference with 
curtains or shades, or with window screens placed on the inside. 
This device makes casements easy to govern and elimi- — . . 
nates many objections to this very desirable form of window. Any dealer in 
Corbin hardware can tell you all about it. Or we will send you descriptive 
matter upon request. Let us hear from you. 
P. & F. Corbin 
The American Hardware Corporation Successor 
NEW BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT 
New York 
Chicago 
Philadelphia 
Worthless New 
Oriental Rugs 
If by some miracle a present-day weaver creates a good 
rug it is not sold when new. No gem rug ever leaves the 
Orient until the owner has to sell. New rugs that are 
sold were made to sell. That is why choice rugs are 
antique. And that is also why new rugs are bleached 
and ironed. But any antique that is not thick is worth¬ 
less as a rug, regardless of value as a specimen. Beauty 
is in color, design, lustre, condition as well as age. I 
sell only worthy rugs. 
Shall I send A you monograph and list? 
L. B. LAWTON, Major, U. S. A., Retired 
181 Cayuga Street, Seneca Falls, New York. 
A BO WAY 
POlfERY 
IS THE SETTING EXQUISITE THAT ENHANCES 
THE BEAUTY OF FLOWERS 
S end for our illustrated—• 
'catalogue of Flower Pots. 
Boxes.Yases,Benches. Sundials. 
Gazing Globes, Bird Fonts and 
oilier Artistic Pieces tor Garden 
and Interior Decoration. 
a do way Terra GoTta Co. 
VI8 OVALNUT ST. PHILADELPHIA, PA. 
hi writing to advertisers please mention House & Garden. 
