New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-02-21
AgricuIturists Contribute
Seed, Livestock and
Implements.
DISTRICTS
SWEPT BY WAR
Lord NorthbrOok Heads Organi.
zation That Has Just Begun
Reconstruction Work.

'NiATNh''f'N'tH"
London, Feb l0.-No more practical
sympathy has been shown by the Brit
ish nation TO their French allies than
the efforts now being made by English
farmers to restore the devastated agri-
cultural districts of France.
Lord Northbrook, who il at the head
Of the organization carrying on this
work, told Of what has been done al
ready. He explained that the work is
only just beginning.
although farmers in England" he
said, "have contributed generously to
the farmers branch Of the Red Cross,
they have also subscribed s250,000 and
many gifts in kind for the benefit Of
the ruined ngrcultrrists of France,
with the object of restocking, at least
to some extent, their ruined farms.
"Our work started very modestly
some months ago, and has been concen-
.rated on the districts of the Marine and
the Mouse. which received the full
shock of the German onslaught. We aim
at two things first, to supply the
French farmers with seed and agri-
cultural implements. and secondly, to
restock the land with cattle.
Vast District Laid Waste.
"The vastness of the task is realized
when il is remembered that the ten de-
partments of France wholly or partly
invaded cultivate 100000 acres of
wheat. 2,250,000 acres of oats and 6l2,-
500 acres of sugar beets alone. AS far
as livestock is concerned, there were in
the war-ravaged departments previous
TO August, 1914, $4,000 horses, 100000
pigs. l,500 900 head of cattle and $780,
00C sheep and lambs. This stock almost
entirely disappeared, the Germans de-
stroying almost all they were unable to
utilize or take away.
$50 far we have been able to send
out a moderate quantity of seed and
number of ploughs, drills. reapers,
binders and thrashers. The first con-
signment of farm animals was made
last September, when sixty-one South
down rams and number of large
white and Berkshire boars were
shipped across. Included in the num-
Der were FIVE prize rams presented by
King George. During the winter we
have been collecting and purchasing
large stocks of seed as well as cattle
and they will be sent in the early
spring.
What struck me most during my
tour of these districts was the wonder
full patience and fortitude Of the
French peasant In district after dis
trict the land had been simply swept
waste. Scarcely a farm building re-
manned.
Only Old Men and Boys Left.
"Only old men and boys were 70 be
found, and farmers and their wives,
who before the war had been prosper
Gus, were living in cellars and holes
dug in the ground. Despite this, they
keep their spirits amazingly. and the
moment our gifts were received they
started work again, old women as well
as men, with an extraordinary indus
try to restore their ruined farms.
zone advantage they possess is the
wonderful system of agricultural or
ganization in France. Each district
has its director of Agriculture, who, as
sisted by projects, is personally &C
quainted with every farmer near by.
He knows the exact necessities OF each
and thus enables US 10 make the most
Of our resources.
"Of course, the real work cannot
start until the end of the war. But
we are doing our best now to get the
movement started and our organiZa-
ton completed ready for that time.
And our aim is not to stop at France.
1t is up to us to do all we can for Bel
GUM and Poland as well. Serbia IS
likewise in a terrible plight The Ser.
bian farmers chief need is oxen, and
we had just arranged large purchase
for them when the Germans finally
overran the country.
81 know that British farmers will do
their utmost, not merely out OF sym.
pathy for our Allies, but as part OF
their work in the war. We have also
received promises of help from all
parts of Canada, and believe all the
British dominions will help in this
work, which, I am sure, will command
the goodwill of all the world"