The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-03-09

at intervals holes at half the height. it
was built more than three years ago
by the military. for defense against
the possible coming OF the Boche, End
the holes are for machine guns.
The war dispatches have been full
Of important engagements fought on
Just such farms as this.
It is the same IN the ADJOINING farm,
where q few milk COWS are still kept,
though both their quality and their
output is steadily dTindlins.
a ruddy-faced woman is carrying
water, another is Wheeling a barrow
toward the COW barn; refugees from
the devastated districts, these, ana
they DO the most OF the work on this
farm.
Over there. in front of the clean
stucco cottages. stands Ted-cheeke6
toddlcr. Grinring shy!y at the visitors;
2. refugee baby. born here since the
var.
Life goes on just the same, so ia,
as it knows, and is normal, and as
life should be.
Out there the soup garden, its tall
stalks OF Brussels sprouts as brightly
green as il this were midsummer, but
only the fourth Of the once spacious
vegetable garden is under cultivation,
for only fourth Of the labor IS here
10 feed.
On the small individual farm it is
the same.
Chickens and rabbits have become
a more important crop each year.
since they multiply rapidly. and earn
a living without much assistance.
Here, behind its paneled wall o.
Srouting and stucco, a gentleman's
country place, its diSniied co!umned
and porticoed house set in Srave!ed
court, and surrounded by countless
suSar-loaf trees
Fruit is the industry Of this place.
and the orchard is a garden, where
peaches grow against the walls, and
the pear trees are hand-trained to stay
low and spread their few branches
straight, out like board fence, and
the apple trees are cr:ss-crossed in hip
high treIliscs which line the garden
walks.
$50 fIamboyant luxuriapce Of branch
and leaf and wasteful blossom here,
for only half dozen branches are al
lowed to each tree, and those branches
are devoted strictly TO the business OF
growing large, luscious apples, the
sale OF which now goes TO the support
of warning France.
at once end OF the garden, where
the peach branches are trained against
the wall as rigidly vertical as a row OF
holiyhocks, works q pinkcheeked boy,
trimming and pruning and fastening,
his white teeth flashing rs he meets
smile Of comprehension, for the tend
ing of peach trees is the thing he was
born to do, and does best.
But he is only a boy. and one boy!
At the other end of the garden. where
the old pear trees are thick as an arm
and have trust out their six branches.
three each way. like the arms of
telegraph pole. works a plUmp-cheek-
ed and white-bearded old man. his eyes
sparkling and his skin criss-crossed by
the countless little bright rcd veins
which outdoor life brings to the skin.
But he is only an old man, and one
old man!
These, and the German prisoners,
and the women. are the answer to the
monotoay of green turf which covers
the once-checEered landscape. are the
answer to the dwindlinS agricultural
output OF France.
Labor. that is the difficulty.
The millions of men in the best
years of life who have been taken out
of the heart of France and massed on
her borders. have not been adequately
replaced by the old men and women
and boys and German prisoners and
refugees.
IN spite of all the efforts which both
Official and individual France have
made to supply the deficiency, there is
not enough labor to till all the soil. to
plant ard raise and reap all the crops
which used to be grown out OF this
fertility. and which nov so urgently
needs to be grown: so more and more
81 the fields have been left for nature
to do with as she viii.
BraveIy France struggles on; with
desperate courage she has attempted
to keep alive her fields so that she may
keep alive her heroic people: and
while she strives to help. herself. she
looks across the seas to US with crate
full eves. for her need was imperative,
and we have heard her call!
It Is our great, good fortune to be
able to give OF the fruits OF that fer
tiIity IN which America has been so
blessed. and with that mishtiest Of all
munitions, while our soldiers fight
side by side with the soldiers OF this
greatest alliance OF the world, we shall
the sooner conquer the most dangerous
foe which civilization has ever known.
and when the victory is achieved. and
may once more turn back to
peace, the golden grain will again
wave upon this beautiful land. and
lowing kline will dot the broad pas
lures, and the shadow will be lifted
from the green fields OF France!
Another Chester article on FRANCE
TO-DAY viii appear in The West vir-
Sinian Monday.