New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-10-14
MODEL FARMS.

AT some of our colonies we have thoroughly
trained farmers conducting model farms so that
the beginners can for themselves what they
ought to do and how and when to do II. in order
TO make their farms successful. We have one in
connection with the Baron De Hirsch Agricult-
ural School at Woodbine, y. J., and another
owned by Maurice Fels, in the neghborhood of
the other South Jersey colonies. In December,
1904 A. w. Rich, the founder of the Milwaukee
Agricultural Association. purchased quantity
Of land in the central part of Wisconsin at Ar
pin and settled colony Of twelve families there
with manager TO conduct a model farm.
The Jewish Agriculturists' Aid Society Of
America. with headquarters in Chicago, looks
after the Jewish farmers Of the West. Many
Jews have bought farms without assistance
from the aid societies at the start. but have
found themselves in need OF funds. The aid So
ceties which are backed by the De Hirsch
fund in large measure, then lend money to
these. taking mortgages on the property as Sc
curity.
The Jewish agricultural school at Woodbine
has been attended by as many hundred per-
ct one time and the one at Doylestown to
the limit of its capacity.
The movement to clear out the congested dis
tricts of course, is only in It's infancy. We are
laying the foundations, feeling sure that event.
ually they will grow naturally. We hope the
news OF the farming possibilities Will reach Rus
sia for there are two or three thousand Jewish
farmers in Southern Russia. People here seem
TO think that the Jews are unaccustomed to life
IN the country. One little girl who came to New
York from Russia exhibited her ignorance of
this country by remarking: There are no trees
in America like there are in Russia are there?
She had lived in the country all her life. The
Russian Jew thinks that New York is the only
place In America. One who was starting for
Boston recently told his friends he going
somewhere out in the country-to Boston.
I'VE believe that getting the Jew out into the
country is the best way TO AmericaniZe him.
When he owns little property. pays taxes and
! finds himself in a position to have a responsible
part in the government he quickly becomes
] Jew is illustrated In an instance related by
/ Rabbi Levy, secretary Of the Jewish AEricut-
/ wrists Aid Society. In 1903 he made an inspec-
through Western states
| visiting the Jewish farmers. He came to Will
| ton. y. D.. and found there on farm Jew who
/ had come from New York the year previous with
! his wife and eight children. He lived like all
the other Jewish farmers in North Dakota. on
a tract of 100 acres. Although 1t was his first
! summer farmer, he had already made i'm
| portant improvements. He had worked thirty
five acres. upon which he had planted fax
| grain. potatoes and garden truck He as
| sisted in the work by his eighteen-year-old son
and a daughter. The man and his wife under
stood tire circumstances They knew that they
had TO face tremendous amount Of work, hut
they were prepared for II. The satisfaction with
which they expressed their view OF the future
| and the Joy with which they and their children
worked. ali gave evidence that they were bound
! 10 succeed.
! of the family a photograph which they had
! saved from the period Of the ghetto life. Tho
family had been in the grocery business on the
| East Side The picture displayed the entire
! family arrayed in the splendor BETTING the fam
| fly OF an East Side grocer, and the grocer In
that part Of the city is somebody. The father
/ wore a heavy chain and watch. The wife was
| well bedecked with earrings and other jeweIry
! and the children wore fine display of lace and
! ribbons. One OF the visitors remarked on the
| fine appearance OF the family and said that
| such finery would hardly be appreciated on the
| farm where there was to see II
1T is very Fortunate replied the farmers
wife, that DO not need that kind of thing
| now. There in New York we were working for
clothes and style and nothing else. Here on tba
farm ciothe ourselves in order to work TO
create for ourselves a home.
There you have the contrast drawn hatweeD
the artificial life on the East Side amid soualid
surroundings. and home under natural condi-
| tons
| The Gentle left the exhibition convinced tina
the question could be answered in the afIrma-
! tive