The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-10-31
JEWISH FARMERS
 GIVE FIRST FAIR Right In the Heart of Busy
 New York City WORK FOR IMMIGRANTS Jews coneested in the Large Cities Will be Encouraged to Go to the Fsrm-Market for Produce
 on East Side.
WORK FOR IMMIGRANTS
BY BELLE UNDER isRAELs.

(1xclusive Service The Survey Press
 Bureau)
 Right in the heart of square mile of dirty noisy streets filled with anaemic men and dragged-out women, pale, ner- vous girls and boys, the county fair blos- somed. Up on the roof of the Educa- tional Alliance. at East Broadway and Jefferson street, in the very heart of New York city, the first Jewish agricul- tural fair was held. Chickens matched in the incubator and grew in the brooder. Cream was separated in the most in- proved manner, bees stored honey, and housewives beamed on rows of canned fruits and vegetables. wonderful loaves of Sabbath bread and plates of cookies and cakes of far more wholesome ap- pearance than those displayed on push carts in the street below. Fresh vegeta- bles, prize pumpkins. fancy tomatoes, tall corn stalks, big potatoes and all sorts of learned pamphlets and new appliances told the story of farming In modern fash ion.
 The first Jewish agricultural fair was the result of the Federation of Jewish Farmers organized year ago. Certain societies having for their objects the dis tribution of Jewish immigrants and the encouragement of a return to the soil, brought about this conference between the people whom they have succeeded fin establishing on farms. Ire work of these societies complements the two Jew fish agricultural schools, the Baron de Hirsch school at Woodbine, N J.. and the National Farm school at Doylestown, Pa. The federation represents districts in which Jewish farmers are active and the delegates met during the progress of the fair to discuss matters of mutual in terest. The propaganda of the advo- cates of farming for Jews has also been carried on at the fair and lectures for farmers and other visitors who might be interested, were daily feature.
 
 The principal matter discussed was the establishment of a central market in New York which would serve two purposes to give the farmers ready outlet for their produce. and to supply the East Side, if the market could find place there, with many fresh fruits and vegetables of which it knows now only by the decayed specimens of undoubted antiquity offered for sale on neighborhood carts.
 By far the most striking features of the exhibit were the people who accom- panied it. The difference in personality between those on the sidewalk and those in the exhibition room was so vivid that it was startling. Rosy cheeks and quiet temperaments for the girls in place of the excited anaemically depressed, l6. Broad shoulders and tanned faces for the men, athletic figures for the boys, and vigorous energetic movements character ized all one saw in the gymnasium the roof of the alliance. The farmers and their sons and daughters seem to find good company in all outdoors They seem well pleased with being free from city streets. And for their intellects the problems of modern agriculture offer food enough. It is true that many more of the students from the agricultural schools get into scientific farming and dairying than buy farms of their own. Why should they not? This is the tendency of the times. Is there any reason why boys should remain clerks at $10 a week in the small retail stores, when they can be s15 week cogs in the big wheels of or gandzed industry?
 The schools at Woodbine and Doyles- town had effective exhibits at the fair. Woodbfne's was more live because stu dents were on hand to demonstrate it's features. Bee culture explained by the students and illustrated by one of their hives, attracted the largest audiences. And the people about the exhibit talked with enthusiasm of their homes in the country. The younger generation is very evidently held to the farm by its inter- est in the problems of modern aericuI- ture. The children read the papers and
 
 farmer and translate for the parents so that the guidance offered is effective. The Jewish Agricultural and Industrial Aid society publishes farm Journal in Yfd- dish, edited by Professor Pincus of the Woodb1ne school a graduate of that in- stitution. The little children of the farm colonies in New Jersey-Norma, Rosen- hain and others of this group-have prize gardens and some specimens of their pro- duce were exhibited. Several gardeners had decorative plants on view The fair was extraordinary in showing the working of the leaven of the idea preached assiduousiy by the leaders of American Jews who advocate a return to the soil. The Jew is returning Tn num- bers the farmers are not yet imposing and failures and successes have been pro- portioned as they undoubtedly are in other occupations. But tn immigrant Jew is finding his farm a source of won- der, too. In this country he may own land and what he produces is his own. Not only may he own the land. but the govern ment official who Is his enemy in Russia is here his friend. and no matter that af- fects the farmer is too small to claim his assistance.
 He is helping, not hindering the farmer The assistant secretary of agriculture went to the opening of the fair and told how much it meant to his government and their that these farmtrs shouSd suc- ceed. To be a part of nation and factor in it's growth is a new role for the Immigrant Jew from Eastern Europe. Inspiration is not lacking. The fair and the federation brought it to those who stay behind in city homes who csr- tainly showed eagerness to imbibe the teachings of this session. With the per- fecting of the organization the establish | ment of a central market and proper nurture of a budding growth, Jewish ag- riculturalists should soon be as successful as the competent farmers of other na- tionalities who make their homes in the United States.