Heaven and Earth: The Last Farmers of the North Fork

The North Fork of Long Island was settled in 1640 by Englishmen as a religious colony; today, their descendants represent some of the oldest farming families in America. After the Civil War, the Irish came into the area, followed by Poles in this century. Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Wick, who spent two drought-ridden summers with a small pocket of potato farmers, weaves a history of the North Fork with an engrossing account of the farmers and their struggles to survive. Thirty years ago, 50,000 acres were under cultivation; now there are fewer than 7000. For the harvest, black men came up from the South, many working for the same families over the years. Wick has produced for potato farmers what Peter Matthiessen did for fishermen in Men's Lives-a memorable portrayal of hard-working people. Photos not seen by PW. (June)