The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-06-14
PRACTICAL FARMING.
The Opening OF the Jewish Farm
School Marks the Beginning of a
New National Movement.

opened with appropriate ceremonies,
and today its first session begins. This
remarkable institution is located near
Doylestown, Pa, % miles from Phiia-
delphia 1t consists of a farm of 122
acres on which a commodious school
building has just been erected, besides
large barns, spring house and farmers
dwelling The land is of that fertility
for which Bucks county has been long
noted well wooded and well waJereo-
No better location could have been Sc
lected, for it offers all of the advan-
1ages of a model farm and is near one
of the largest markets in the world
The purpose of the national farm
school is both noble and timely. The
association which has founded it was
formed by Rabbi Joseph Krauskopf of
Philadelphia, one of the most progress
i've OF American religious leaders. He
accounts for the Origination of the idea.
while walking over the grassy slopes of
the farm as follows: You know, L
went TO Russia in 1894 TO inquire into
the condition of the Jews there, hoping
to persuade the car to permit the re-
moval of the Jews to the interior,
where they might engage in agricul-
tural life. l found that impossible, but
in conversation with Tolstoi he said;
Why don't you attempt work of that
kind in your great lead| This gave
me much food for thought when ] re-
turned in the fall ] talked the matter
over with my friends and resolved
upon founding this school" But DIR.
krauskopf did more than this. He
started to raise the necessary funds.
and to this end lectured all through
the country. from Philadelphia TO san
Francisco and from Boston to San An
tonic. In this way he has raised some
(-f@ oil
members paying annual dues of from
s. TO SO toward the running expenses,
and today when the school is opened
1t starts without owing a dollar, with
every convenience and modern apph
ance for scientific farming. The aim is
TO make this a training school for
young men and women fitting them to
become practical and scientific agri-
culturists. While primarily intended TO
reach the Jews and lead them back
10 agricultural pursuits, the school Will
be non-sectarian, admitting those of
other creeds who seek the training
there offered. In no sense a local
movement. il counts its supporters
and founders all over the United States
and Canada, thus making it even more
than a national school.
The pupils will be accepted only after
showing considerable proficiency in
common school work. The projected
course of study is to extend through
four years. During the summer
months, from April 1 until Oct. l, the
pupils will be taught practical farming.
They will take part. under the guild
ance of the superintendent, in all the
work done upon the farm During the
six winter months they VIII be taught
the theory of farming and all that per-
tains thereto, such as chemistry. bot
any, geology, etc. There will also be a
general course IF adlcatiOr IF
the winter curriculum. Diaries, green
houses. hOthpuseS, etc, viii be erected
and all the branches of farming viii
be thoroughly taught. A superintend-
ent and his wife. who have been at the
head OF similar institution. have been
engaged and there viii be no delay in
putting the school into active operation.
Seventy -five pupils have already ap
Piled for admission, coming from the
homes not only of the poor and from
orphan asylums, but from the families
of ministers, lawyers and merchants.
The school is to be conducted on the
cooperative plan. The pupils will
clothing and tuition at fixed
charge, but they Will be paid for every
DAYS work done. At their graduation
they will be presented not only with a
diploma, but also with a deed for a
piece of land (to be donated by the va
riOus states. railroads or Individually
and enough money of their own savings
TO assist them in beginning life indie
pendently. In this way each pupil not
only supports himself while studying,
but also prepares to start out in life
with ground TO stand on and more
than dollar in his pocket The farm
lies adjacent to the celebrated -Burpee
seed farm. with which arrangements
have been made permitting the pupils
tie
and take part in the important work
done there. of raising seeds for flowers
and plants. This viii not only be the
seed school for the pupils. but the
farmer. head gardener, fertilizer. or
chardist and live stock man viii con-
stitute part Of the faculty of the ma
tional school. giving instruction during
the summer in practice and in theory
by lectures during the winter. The
''Steele" stock farm adjoins the model
farm" on another side. and it, too. will
serve as an auxiliary of the National
farm school,
The accommodate prepared for the
school are both comfortable and mod
eIn. The house is built substantially
of stone and is 120 feet long by 80 feet
deem. The rooms are ariy and spacious
furnished neatly and comfortably. The
furnishings have been donated by in
dividuals from all over the country
One gentleman furnishes the large sit
ting room at an expense of $500 another
attends to the library adjoining One
lady sends a dozen of towels, another
sends the linens, and still another the
kitchen utensils. The house. facing the
south. looks out upon beautiful. rolling
fields of grain. The Reading railroad
runs through the farm. offering excel
lent facilities for shipping. while on the
north and east the cold winds Of win
ter az shut OF by dense woods. Five
acres of orchards are already there. and
the farm lies ready for the eager brains
and ready hands of its pupils. The af-
fairs of the school are to be admins
tered by an executive board. In addi-
ton there is. an auxiliary national
board
When asked if he thought that the
Jews would take up his idea and send
their children to the farm school. Dr. !
Krauskoff replied: The love of agri- !
culture is innate with the Jew. Dis
raelTs prophecy is being fulfilled now
that the laws OF the nations are per-
hitting Israel to return to the fields |
and vineyards. Let the Israelites but !
come in contact with mother earth and |
he feels his old love reawakening for |
a agricultural pursuits. In Palestine the !
colonies are thriving. At Odessa l saw |
a great and fiourishing agricultural
school for the Jews. In the interior of
Russia 10000 Jews have turned a tree
less. stoneless, waterless wilderness into /
fertile fields In the Argentine republic |
thousands OF Jewish farmers are thriv- |
ing. In New Jersey the Jewish colonies |
are gradually taking root And it is /
the object CT our school to prepare lead |
ers for colonies to be established on |