The Washington herald., 1918-03-10
GFYT0FACE
SHORTAGE OF
GARDEN TRUCK
Farmers VIII Plant Less
Than Last Year; Labor
H.. Shortage.


msr, caused by intentions Of nearby
farmers to plant 30 or 20 per cent less
crops this year than last. and in
tensined by needs Of the hundred
thousand added war population Of the
> city. came out in bold reality at q
meeting OF farmers, under the
auspices OF z. +. Colladay, chairman
OF the garden committee Of the Dis
trict Council of Defense, yesterday In
the District Building.
with approximately 10000 In the
city and in hotels" Mr.. Colladay ap-
pealed to the farmers. you must do
something. We must be supplied with
enough. food. And with this added
population, II you plant less, where
are We to stand? Where will we
make up the deieit. with q tense rail-
road situation on our hands,?
C e Ager. Of HyattsVille. Nd,
stated that although he tried to care
for 1SO acres Of truck last year. he
would cut this amount down by more
than twenty-five acres on account OF
labor shortage.
To look into these plans Of farmers
for the coming year and gauge the
production of this summers crops,
were the causes for the meeting.
Charles Grimes located near Seat
Pleasant. Nd, stated that he would
plant eighteen acres less than last
year. when his farm comprised only
thirty or forty acres. Shortage OF
labor the cause again.
other farmers made similar esu-
mates.
since this is the case" declared
Mr.. CoIladay. I'VE must see where
the crops are coming from. when
I'VE need to feed four or i've persons
this year when food for only three
vas needed last year. What the
farmers propose to eliminate Is the
planting to crops that need much
care, and in lieu the planting OF
other crops which can be handled
with facility.
city Must Help.
"Beets, carrots and root plants will
have to be cared Tor BY the people
OF Washington. The farmers are TO
specialize on crops such as corn.
Washington must make up the def
cit i'm crops by planting many home
gardens, or by supplying labor to
the farms"
!. Mr.. Conaday advanced three propo-
I siIionS to the farmers, all OF which
were received more or less favor
ably.
The nrsi vas the hiring of eolored
= labor through an employment bureau
opened by -Olored ministers OF this
city. Ar. Colladay told the farmers
that he could get a considerable
number of cOIored labOTers suitable
for unskilled work on the farm
= and that coIored ministers had even
asked him to get work for these men.
Only mild approval was given to
this proposition. although after TAX
sing a consensus Of opinion through
vote It was found that all Believed
that som" good could be done in this
manner.
NOmen's Land Army.
The second proposition was the
establishment of camp by the
NOmcH's land army. which is being
UrSanized throughout the United
States. to carry on work similar to
that now being done by women and
siris in the fields of France and
EnSland.
I'm France" MIR. COlladay told the
farmers nearly all cultivation of
the soil today Is being carried on by
women. The pioneers of this move
IN YOu'Il get women with brains
and well trained brains Many of
the members of this army IN an
other State, are graduates Of Bryn
Mawr College, II is such women as
these that aIe volunteering for
work ON the farm.
NT. COlladay read a letter from
Mrs. r. l. RansOme, who is or
=anizins the army camps of this
district. The letter state that there
were enough volunteers. but no en-
plOycrs.
You're the candidates for en-
pIoyers," Mr.. ColIsday told thu
farmers.
FnrmeFs to Confer.
! II was decided that the farmers
WOULD speak to their neighbOrs
about the advisability of employing
such women for their farm work
| IL enough are found In q community
Who are desiTOus of female
help. a request will be made
for the establishment of a camp
| of women in the land army
| under the chaPeronage of an older
woman. Report on progress would
be made at weekly meetings to be
held by the farmers. every Satur-
| day during the spring in the Dis
tTiCt building, or by card to the
Garden Committee OF the District
Council of Defense in the Union
| Trust Building.
The third proposition is the EN-
pIOyment of boys IL to 10 years of
| age after schools close. Details Of
this plan will be formulated at a
later date.
Another meeting will be held next
Saturday. II is planned to hold
meetings all through the spring. 10
farmers will attend every Saturday
afternoon when they are finished
selling out their products at Center
| Markell.