The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-11-03
A VALUABLE BOOK.

One of the most remarkable books
OF the year is Field, Workshop and
Factories" by Prince Kropotkin, whose
marvellous and accurate knowledge
make him one of the leading thinkers
of the world. The book should not
orly be read by every intelligent per-
son, but it's contents should be sub
stantially taught in the public schools.
The collection of facts which it con-
tains shows the widest reading and in
yestigation.
The object of the book is to show
the capacity of the soil for production,
the relation of the factory to the farm
the value of science to the masses of
mankind and the grand and hopeful
future for all men, when brought under
proper conditions of living.
Kropotkin asserts that in the devel-
opment of the industries and of manu-
featuring, brains and inventive genius
cannot be confined to one country, and
that whole world will get the advan-
tage OF their best work. China and
Japan, today, can purchase in America
and Europe the most perfect cotton
machinery that is constructed in Eu-
rope or America. With this machinery
they can supply themselves with cot
ton goods, and sell the surplus in other
markets. The commercial nations not
only sell goods to the non-manufac-
turing races, but are willing to sell the
best machines for making these goods.
But it is mainly with reference to
the possible developm ents in agricul-
ture that he shows the future course
OF mankind in improving their condi
tions. He cites the facts regarding
tho production of the soil, and claims
that when the science of agriculture is
properly understood, and general in
dustrial work combined with 1t, the
social conditions of the poor will be
entirely changed. He cites the history
Of the Isle of Jersey, which has a soil
Oe decomposed granite, without any
organic matter in it, a soil so barren
that in 1915 the inhabitants imported
their food. The climate is cold, and
fcgs prevail. But through a proper
organization of labor, it has become
one OF the most productive spots on
the earth. The fertility of the soil has
been artificially made with seaweed and
imported manures. 1t now supports a
population of two inhabitants to the
acre. The capacity to do SO, is the re-
suit of scientific work. It's intelligent
Inhabitants have even imported human
bones from the battle field of Plevna
and an increased production Of vegeta-
bies has been obtained from fertilizers
made from the mummied cats of Egypt
The enormous quantity of ten and
twelve tons of potatoes per acre arc
obtained from these enriched lands
where only five tons are obtained else
where under ordinary cultivation
While the average yield of potatoes
per acre. in the Northern States is no
over fifty bushels, there have been rails
ed. by intensive farming, over twelve
hundred bushels to the acre in severa
States. Kropotkin refers to the aver
age yield of corn in the States, which
is about twelve bushels to the acr7
while under intensive farming the yiel
has risen to one hundred bushels. o.
the irrigated fields of the Vosges, tn
Naucluse, etc, in France, six tons O
hay per acre are obtained, while tn
average farm produces only two ton:
kropotkin claims that with scientifi
farming, the yield of produce shout
be three times what it now is, AMI eve
more.
He believes that the factory and til
workshop should not be. confined 10 I'll
cities or towns, but should be place
among the agriculturists who can GU
1iyate gardens, and at the same tim
labor in the factories. This plan won
prevent the unNholesome life Of ii
towns, and enable the laboring class
to own small tracts Of land, cultiva
gardens, and at the same time, labs
in the factories.