Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-12-28
EAT FIELDS OF CHILE

Is said that only $500 900 acres are
under cultivation out OF more than
o"V",Voo acres susceptible OF cultiva-
ton, though II is not claimed that ali
this area Is equally productive With
ne lands already under the pillow. The
nalurai pasture lands approximate
a,ooo.ooo acres. The agricultural popu-
lation OF Chile is placed at . 600 900 OF.
nearly 90 per cent OF the total num-
her OF inhabitants The number OF
Agricultural families is given as 900
900. but only 10000 persons who have
stake in the soil as landowners.
The material condition of the mass
OF the agricultural population is not
satisfactory TO those who are anxious
70 strengthen the social organization
OF the country. and the welfare of the
agricultural laboring classes IL re-
ceiving attention, though IL has not
advanced 10 the stage where the same
consideration is gwen IL that the well
rare OF the worhingman in the cities
receives The solicItude for the latter
as shown in tne provisions for model
"orklnSman DWELLINGS in similar
measures. Ine proolem OF both the
material and the moral impro. ement
OF the farm iaDorefs is mo. Q serious
one, Tor IL Is more Complicated. and
mere IS more passive resistance TO I'M
provemenJ.
The Cnilean "huaso.' or countryman or
the better .ype, When he has ais norse,
as an Independent Individual. like a est
ern COW boy, ana not IIuCn disposed TO
be surly anu TO finu fau.t Win mas sur
roundinss. But taken IN a lnass or az
one or the mass OF the AGRICULTURAL
Iaporers. he has his grievances ana ewes
voice TO them, though sometimes vague
~ "A resent grle. is his Vases.
tie is Pad IN the de,recl ated and fi.ctu-
auns currency tnat Guys less ana less of
the necessities OF his dagiy lie winch
are in themselves quite simple.
This grievance VIII i'm time be cured
because the Chilean government cannot
permit the financial DISCRIMINATION to go
on forever. but there are SOCIAL conditions
which cannot be remedied by fiscal meas
ures. W hen his physical surroundings
are bettered the huaso may be more re-
cepuve to progressive innovations Ia
farming and may take more andy TO the
methods OF mooern agriculture
Renewing the soil by means of fertilis-
ers Is one Oh .nese, Ior Notwithstanding
ITS fertility II Is not inexhausao.e. While
chile has been sending the nitrates to
all the agricultural countries OF the
world, she has oeen rather sparang In
her own use of them. cut now there ID
something Lac Scientific use of them.
various prolectS Tor adding TO the dgr1-
cultural population Dy means of immi-
grafton have Decn attempted by the
government, but they have not gwen sat
isfactory permanent results. The col
onists, after they had been brought out.
often old not stay in NUMBERS large
enough TO be counted. Some OF the colo-
mes. II was declared. were pian.ed too
tar south IN the rainy belt adjacent 20
the timoer region english commercial
houses prefer Scotchmen as clerks and
as other employees for their branches Ina
southern Chile, because, they say. the
Scotch lads take naturally to the moist
climate. but Scotch .armers do not seem
20 have the same liking for rain. Those
who came out years ago a not stay.
Systematic encouragement Is given by
the government to the return of Chileans
who have settled in Argentina, and as
most Of these were from the agricultural
districts. the movement In the national
sense Is not without Importance BUT
the immigration Of agriculturalists from
northern Europe, seems to be the solu-
ton of the future of Chilean agriculture,
experimenting the measures for tine bet
torment Of the native farm population
and the general policy Of the improve
ment and further development Of the
agricultural resources. The state has
done something and Is doing more. but
Ii as yet does not give to agriculture the
same consideration that is accorded TO
other subjects which come within the
province of government. Chile has no
department of agricu ture. but there L.
a national agricultural society which
does good work.
CHARLES NJ. PEPPER.