The Washington herald., 1909-05-16
Mount Vernon High School Building at Mount Ida, Va

are about two hundred acres under culti-
vation. and two hundred acres additional
cleared and ready for the pioE.
During the past season sufficient straw
berries were planted which. in addition
% those already bearing. viii bring the
total in Strawberries UP 20 one hundred
acres There are forty acres IN cotton,
fifteen acres In corn, fifteen acres in po-
tatoes. and eighty acres IN miscellaneous
vegetables. II Is estimated that next
spring, during the strawberry season, the
Italians AZ ST. Helena viii ship each day
more than one solid refrigerator carload
OF strawberries 10 the Northern markets.
and under market conditions as good as
those OF the past year this crop viii
bring more than $1,000 in cash into the
colony
Our experimental work with colonies
has necessarily been zone az great ex-
pense, and We have made the usual mis-
takes which may be expected in pioneer
work. But from these we have reached
some conclusions.
We believe that the North Italians are
particularly desirable for North Caro-
lins, South Carolina, and Georgia. be-
cause they are used 20 a climate similar
20 ours They have been healthy and
vigorous. and st. Helena has practically
been free from sickness for three years
As 10 the immigration OF North Italians.
the South has no cause 70 fear the de-
scendants Of the people who were the
builders OF Rome and Venice and OF
Florence and Milan.
To the immigrants We sell land, houses,
and mules on long time. We also furnish
those who are without means with seeds
and fertilizers. and give them instTuC-
tons as 10 planting and marketing
The Italians Of ST. Helena are desirous
Of becoming American citizens: their
children are attending the public schools.
and the men and women are anxious 10
learn the English language. They take
great pride in their community. and show
a spirit Of cooperation in many WAYS.
They have organized q brass band Of fif-
teen pieces. and on holidays and feast
days they find great satisfaction in play
ing alternately the favorite airs Of Italy
and America.
HOIIanders Are Desirable.
. We find that Hollanders viii also prove
very desirable coIonists. They are among
the most skilled agricuiturists in the
world In one locality, from which the
Hollanders at Castle Hayne have come.
{ there are six hundred people making d
living. by intensive farming. on a tract
Of land which has total area Of fifty
acres
We feel certain that the race problem
Of the South viii be either solved by i'm
migration or VIII be so greatly mini
mized that its solution viii not be a
matter Of supreme importance
II seems clear that the development OF
the South cannot be continued in the
same ratio as for the past few years. ex-
cept through an increase in its agricul-
tGraI population. As has been shown in
the West, this VIII not reduce the price
OF labor. nor viii q adye-seIv affect the
value Of farm products
The failure Of the Wittekind experi-
nent. and the failure Of the attempt 10
bring English spinners to Greensboro.
demonstrated that the immigrants
should be directed TO agriculture. and
from this source the other demands for
labor may later be supplied The first
immigrants 20 be brought 70 the South
cannot be broadcasted- They must be
I treated with great care, Just as one
would DO with rare plants being brought
I 70 new locality. HUGH MacREA