The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1915-02-09

Third:-Food seed, fertilizers, etc,
must be guaranteed each family dur
ing the no~n-prOductiye period of farm
development, perhaps for six to twelve
months.
Fourth:-The colony must be COM
pact; the farms small. so that the set
tiers may have something of the COM
munity life to which they have been
accustomed and which is essential to
their happiness and therefore to their
efficiency.
Fifth:-BecauSe the Elemish are
specialists in agriculture they should
be located on land which is suitable
for the particular agricultural en-
ploylnent which they practiced in
Belgium; some Specialize in truck
gardening, others in dairying, others
in fruit culture, others in poultry. etc.
Sixth:'The colony should have the
services of a proficient agriculturist
who could teach them American
methods Of farming. growing vege-
tables, marketing. etc.
In the establishment of the first
colony the exact letter and spirit Of
the immigration laws, and all the
rules and regulations of the iInmi-
grafton office were rigidly adhered to.
There has been nothing spectacular
or sensational in this movement; in
fact, had these Flemish farmers EN-
tered the United States and gone on
their Tennessee farms before the Eu-
ropean war. they would have attract
ed little OF no attention.
Some months before the great Eu-
ropean war began the Southern Set
tlement and Development Organiza-
) ton took up the problem Of settling
in the South, as "partially assisted
colonists." Americans Of native and
foreign birth, h had had farming
experience but, for one reason or an
other, had been drawn into the in
dustrial and commercial life of the
: larger cities in the north. Preliminary
. investigation indicated there were a
: large number of such men and it was
I aScertained that many would gladly
L go back to the soil if they were help
ed to help themselves" 1t was plann-
ed to group these people in colonies
sell them partly ready farms or
long time and generous terms and
c thus locate centers Of colonization in
: %iuences at strategic points in the
" South. This matter was taken VI
II with a number Of large land con
panies, boards of trade, and agricul
tural organizations with but Indifferent
n success.
e 1t appears, however, that the earlier
efforts had not been altogether futile
a for Immediately after the organiza
TONS Belgian refugee" movement be
t came a matter of public knowledge
&c there came, from a number Of point
n in the South. strong limitations tina
l. negotiations looking toward the colo
niZatiOn of AmericaniZed foreigner
TO and native Americans of agriculture
ia antecedentS somewhat along the line
Is OF the Belgian colonization plans
III were ~re-opening of themselves. TIL
Organization at nee took up the mat
Sc ter and already two large colonies c
ne ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS are going throug
the process Of establishment in tw
re of the Southern States. The indica
tons are that in a few weeks severe
ey colonies of native II foreign born e2
III farmers will be- taken out Of indus
1T tralism and placed on Southern sol
IN The solution Of this problem is niue
o. more simple han that involved
ne the settlement of the Flemish, for tf
factors are entirely domestic an
or those relating to ocean transport;
we ton and family maintenance durir
1T the non-productive period Of far
development are eliminated. Brief
the tender of land for these Amer
can refugees Of the War of Circun
ty. stances includes at least ten We;
I'D payment, several acres ready to plaT
the erection Of a houses and Outhous
of some live stock, tools, etc, and he
he from an agricultural adviser. The ella
lng Of settlers who will be placed in The
We colonies, if the campaign is success
full, include foreign born farmers,
farm laborers, who have been in tt
be country long enough to becor
on, Americanized, and Americans W
ted once were farmers, or farm Lahore
in but who drifted into the large cit
ia and lost out."
ign The argument is advanced hat
tly. such colonies succeed their potent
m value to a land cOmpany,a or CO
do munity. is manifest, for their labor I
in only will increase the value of S,
'sed rounding land, but it is reasonable
as suppose that men, with money, la
'oof will come into a community in VIII
any men have succeeded without NOR