Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-12-11
Belgian Farmers for Io,ca

acres In siss that the greatest returns
per man are secured. Tho Belgian
farmer gets twice - much from each
acre. but the Iowa farmer gets ave
times ~ much per man. What we are
after 10 large return per man rather
than large returns per acre. We are
interested in land only 30 far az 1t
ministers to human comfort, and when
we in Iowa strive for large acre yields
and low returns per man, we shall work
toward European peasant conditions
What we need In Iowa IL the family
farm. and by that we mean a farm Of
120 to 400 acres In size. Other condi-
tions being equal. it IL our own belief
that the family with the large farm
will make the greater amount Of money
simply because 1t can use its ma
chinery, labor and buildings with
greater efficiency. A. Iowa becomes
more thickly populated. we shall Of
course have near the cities smaller
farms devoted to market gardening
and dairying. The standard Iowa farm.
however, should continue to average
at least 100 acres In size. *
It Is our guess that the Belgians
will not farm our soil any more skill
fully than the men who are now farm
ing 1t. They are accustomed to USING
large quantities Of manure and COM
mercial fertilizer in Belgium. They
can get manure all right In Iowa. but
present freight rates on fertilizers
make them too expensive to be used
in any large quantities. Being unfa-
miliar with our climate and the tastes
Of our consuming classes. they will
make many mistakes which our ma
tive gardeners have learned to avoid.
BY the time they have become accli-
mated, they will see that they can Sc
cure greater returns for their labor In
other ways than by intensively cult
waiting few acres Of land.
It would be a fine thing II we could
get q few-say 5.00o-of these Bel
gian farmers. They work hard and
live simply. II would be better still
IL we could get 10000 or 10000 Bel
gian boys and girls. young enough to
train in our ways Of doing things. But
we are afraid the older people would
not be Of much use to us.
Like the English and Germans, tho
Belgians are great beer drinkers, the
average Belgian consuming fifty gall
Ions of beer a year, as compared with
twenty five for Germany, and eighteen
gallons for the United States. Several
years ago. the governor Of one Of the
Belgian provinces, purposely exag-
gerating. no doubt, made the following
statement: ITO be always thirsty.
Everywhere, and under all circum-s
stances. seems to be the national char
acteristic Of the Belgian. For him
every occasion justifes q drink. He
drinks in the morning awaken him.
self and pull himself together: be-
fore dinner to get up an appetite, and
after dinner to aid digestion: after
working hours to restore his energy,
and before retiring to make him
| sleepy. He drinks on Saturday be-
cause 1t 81 payday, on Sunday because
it is rest day. and on Monday because
it is the morrow Of yesterday He
drinks when he Is sad, and when he IL
gay he drinks more. He drinks for
consolation and for enjoyment. be-
cause his affairs 90 well, or because
they go badly. because he inherited
from an uncle. or because an aunt has
left him nothing"
We well remember an entertain
ment which we attended in Belgium.
It which were five different kinds Of
wine at the plate OF every person. Hos
pitality IL Invariably offered in the
form Of drink OF one kind or another
II the family can afford It. It Is said
that In rural communities a mans So
cial position Is determined ny the kind
OF drinks he offers to callers.
We have q great respect for the
Belgians as a farming people. but we
think 1t we'll to pause and think before
we ask any large number to come to
this state. Most of the Belgians will
be needed in Belgian anyhow as soon
as the war IL over.