The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1917-06-11
Disabled British
Soldiers On Farms
Government Now Making
Asriculturists Out Of
the Wounded.

home.
About this there is great specula-
ton. Many thinkers believe that mill
lions OF men who have gone out to
make the supreme sacrifice and who
never before were face to fact with
realities of life and death stripped OF
all make-believe, will come back Inn
bued with new ideals, which they viii
demand shall be put into practice
forthwith. Others think this q highly
exaggerated point OF view-that the
average soldier gives very little
thought to matters outside the daily
round OF duties, and that-he will be
very glad to return to a free and dem
ocratic country like England, content
to accept very much the same condi-
lions OF living as Of old.
But most people are agreed on two
issues. One Is that the old social dis
tinctIons that have been obliterated
in the trenches, where aristocrat and
workman have lived and fought to-
Rether like comrades In q democratic
army. will never be revived to the
same extent when they return to civil
life.
For Open Air Work
The other belief Is that many
soldiers who before the war lived an
artificial life in offices and workshops
In the great towns will seek an occu-
patton which will enable them to live
the healthy life in the open air to
which they have become accustomed
In the army.
This fact was impressed upon the
government quite early In the war
with the result that schemes for
placing a large number OF ex-soldiers
on the land, on farms and on small
holdings of their own were consid-
cred. In the midst of the preoccupa-
ton of a great war II was obviously
impossible to set on foot q large com
prehensive plan OF .Iiis kind, but what
was possible was a scheme for the
large number of soldiers already per
manently disabled and who were
nevertheless able to work on the land.
The British people are determined
that all Of these broken heroes shall
be well cared for and trained for re-
munerative and secure occupations,
and great work is being done for the
totally blind and the men who have
lost their limbs.
The plan for placing disabled men
on the land is already working in
many parts of the country under the
auspices Of the government, and there
Is every prospect OF II being vastly
expanded so that by the time the war
is over the machinery will be avail
able for offering land to ex-soldiers
whether disabled or not.
Training In Agriculture.
A start was made by giving gov
eminent grants Of money to men
hitherto unskilled in agriculture who
were anxious to take q course OF
training In an agricultural college.
The scheme was drawn up jointly by
the war Office and the board OF agrt-
culture.
The course Of training Is to enable
the men to become small farmers on
their own account or take appoint
ments as managers or foremen for
other farmers.
At the end of three months educa-
ton these men have acquired a good
idea of how a whole years routine
work on a farm Is done.
There are simple lessons in botany.
in seed testing, in weed killing, and
also laboratory work in chemistry.
There Is now q farm colony in
Yorkshire Of $500 acres for ex-sol-
diers. The colony consists of forty to
fifty holdings Of sixty acres each and
the land was speedily prepared by
motor tractors.
Many soldier farmers have been
settled here: excellent farm holdings
have been created with large we'll
built cottages.
Nominal rents are paid by the tenants
who cannot AFFORD to purchase their
holdings and the government acts as
banker TO all the tenants
Two other similar colonies are being
establish in other counties. In time It
Is believed that every county will have
its own colony.
First Colonies Experiment.
The FIRST colonies. which are naturally
something OF an experiment. the work
ing Of which will help to decide the lines
on which a greater scheme will be run,
have each a central farm under a man
aging director. skilled and experienced
agriculturist. ready with advice for the
men on the small holdings.
From this central farm are supplied
all the machinery, horses. etc. that are
required.
These three pioneer farms" As they
are called. are estimated to cost ESQ 900
One authority has estimated that II
will be possible to settle on land in
England 100. 900 OF the ex-soldIers at
cost of s100, O00, 900, assuming that
acres IL given to each man.
To do anything like this, OF course,
the area OF the land under cultivation
in Britain will have to be enormously
increased by the reclamation Of waste
and other lands.
Intensive CULTURE Is being taught,
and It is thought the government VIII
have to guarantee reG,unerative prices
for the produce II the settling OF all
these soldiers on the land is to be a
hnRncial success.
Rich men in Britain cave come for
ward with gifts OF land. One man has
given 800 acres. while the Duke OF
Sutherland, a great landowner. has
given 1900 acres. A woman's scien-
tific cooperative farm for disabled SOL
diers has been started.
seIf-OwnershIp Plan Favored
There is a growing feeling in favor
of the self-ownership system which Is
so successful In ireland. Denmark, and
the Channel Islands.
There Is no question about the de-
mand. Scottish soldiers alone have
applied for 10000 holdings.
Recently 1900 out OF $1,000 SOL
oilers who were asked agreed to be
settlers. Forty-six per cent of the
men OF a battalion from an agricul-
tural county were eager The worst
response came from a rife battalion
composed II men from a big city.
II Is anticipated that some men
will want to settle in the British colo