Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1912-12-14
Wild LAND FARMS
What Bohemlans Accomplished
by COOPERATIVE Work.
Families From New Jersey and ohio
Make Homes In Tennessee Wild
erness--Are Not Only Making
Living but Show Profit.

Nashville. Tenn.--In the spring OF
1911 the Tennessee Central railroad
located colony of Bohemians on the
Cumberland plateau at Maryland. un-
der the name of the Bohemian Co
Operative Farming company. They
purchased $500 acres in the woods
without clearing, houses or fences
Immediately from New Jersey and
Ohio bohemian families came to the
plateau and the work of Transforming
the wilderness into productive fields.
gardens and orchards began. The
story OF this wonderful development
10 told by Rutledge Smith, industrial
agent of the Tennessee Central rail-
road, as follows:
The land was subdivided into fifty
acre tracts. one tract to the family.
so chat the entirs purchase would care
for 100 families. Mr.. Leonard
Schwartz Of New Jersey. an educated.
cultured and trained farmer of large
experience. was made manager OF the
colony, and the work of development
has been under his Immediate super.
vision. AS the colony Is cooperative
In every respect. all the work Ia done
by the Dohemians. no outside help be-
ing employed
The first work that was done after
the property was subdivided was to
build few comfortable cottages to
care for the pioneers This done.
they elaborated careful program OF
procedure which would automatically
expand with the Increasing population.
Il went up last week to see the
fruits of their labors found nearly
100 light haired and bronzed faced
SONS and daughters of Bohemia. in
telligent, happy and content. Salts
faction relgned supreme with them,
and they expressed themselves as
having reached a cline as near per-
lection to their ideals of life as 1t was
possible to find. 1t made me feel good
to receive the sincere gratitude of
these sturdy people for bringing them
to the plateau of Tennessee.
Mr.. Schwartz showed me over the
lands. Where formerly the timbered
jungle stood we're modern. imposing
barns overfowing with feed. The
fields OF timothy had cut nearly two
tons per acre, and these had been
turned and planted in turnips and cab.
bage FOR COW feed. and II looked as
though they would produce enough to
feed the mountain.
Then there we're patches of buck.
wheat, rye and the vegetable gardens.
all luxuriant and profitable. Vegeta-
bles have been canned for winter use
and to sell
mot only have these thrifty sons
OF Bohemia supported themselves
while making their homes. but are now
reaping a distinct profit They all
have money. pay for what they buy.
are good citizens and blessing to
Tennessee.
Every day Is workdRy for them. 1t
is never too hot or cold; they keep
everlastingly at 1t. They work with
intelligence. with definite idea in
view and accomplish what they start
out to do. They do not practice the
habit of our farmers In going to bed
at dark and rising before day. After
supper they read and lay out the work
for the morrow. discuss together the
best means for advancement. spend
an occasional evening In social enjoy
menI, anu at u redbOndDie uOuT IN the
morning are In the fields and there
they remain until dark Success can
only crown the efforts OF such intelli-
gent labor.
I'm the field the Bohemian rides, no
walking between the pillow handles for
him There is nc dragging the plows
around at the head OF the land but
the horses keep on moving. Everything
that horse or machine can do the
Bohemian makes them do.
They are now turning their Rtten-
tion to horticulture and orchards are
being laid out on scientific scale and
thorous lilly prepared. Also dairying
Is coming in for It's proper share
Just as rapidly as they can build
cottages, without taking the proper
time from the fields, families from
New Jersey are ready to fill them, and
It will not be long until their full hun
dred families are enjoying the peace
and plenty OF those who by intelligent
effort are Transforming the plateau
into the south's garden spot"