Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-08-04
THOUSANDS OF BOYS
TO HARVEST CROPS
Government Now Has 100000
Under Twenty in This
Service.
WANT MILLION NEXT YEAR
Training Camps Teach Method
of Operating Tractors and
General Work.
WANT MILLION NEXT YEAF

WASHINGTON August 3.-Approxi-
'nately 10000 boys between the ages
Of ntteen end twenty years will help
the American farmer harvest his crops
this summer. Because OF the increas-
ing shortage in labor. the government
Is planning TO enlist at least 100000
boys for this service for next year
At the present time there are about
100000 boys working on farms in this
country They are members Of the
United States Boys Working Reserve
recruited by government agents en-
gagged by the Labor Department. Last
year a few thousand boys were mo-
bilized in cities and towns and taken
TO nearby farms for work in the har
vesting season.
This year the boys were trained in
camps and went TO the farms soon after
school closed. Some OF the young men
have been coached in the use Of
tractors, and will work far into the
fall in the harvesting fields. For the
most part the boys are paid 81 day
and found. The young men who run
the tractors arc paid at least $50 a
month and found and some OF them are
receiving SIS month.
In general way the outlook for
sufficient farm labor to get in the crops
appears bright In some States there
is a shortage, but every effort is being
pu, forth TO meet the needs OF the
farmers. Maryland al the present time
could use from 200 TO 300 more boys
Later in the season the peach crops OF
Michigan and Wisconsin Will open new
fields FOR the young, many OF whom
are now in the eight or ten training
camps which are proving a powerful
factor in preparing the boys for the
discipline OF work on the farms.
An effort in some States will be
made TO have many camps for boys
next year. The States will provide uni
forms and other equipment. and the
boys enrolled Will receive military as
we'll as farm training. This year the
government Is encouraging the boys
by awarding a bronze medal 10 all who
work six weeks on a farm. each week
consisting OF six c!ght-hour days. !.
Il boy remains on the farm until all
crops are in and the farmer is willing
TO release him from the work. the gov
eminent will award him the right TO
wear the gold chevron OF service.
Up TO date abou, IS per cent OF the
boys who have been sent TO the farms
have come UP to the requirements OF
their employers.
TRAINING CAMP SHOWING
COME EXCELLENT RESULTS
Tho best farm supply camps are
those IN Massachusetts and Pennsyl
vania, according TO the government Of
tcials. The best training camps have
been established in Maine. Vermont.
Nevada and Pennsylvania In the
quantity and quality OF boys enrolled
the records OF the States read: Illinois.
Indiana. Michigan and Wisconsin.
The best State organization OF the
Working Boys Reserve is in Mary
land. In the South excellent supp"
of the movement has been rendered by
the members o. the boys and girls
pig and corn clubs
The Labor Department this year be-
leves that by moving the farm
laborers from Arkansas and the Middle
Southern States northward all crops
in the wheat belt as far as the border
can be readily handled. 1t is an open
secret, however. that with the increas-
Ing need OF men in the Industrial and
war munition centers and with the pos
sibility of an increase in the draft age
requirements of the army, the sup
ply OF men for farm work will be
greatly reduced by next summer. Gov
ernment experts frankly admit that the
farm crops OF America cannot be har-
vested in 1919 unless the Boys Work
ing Reserve enlists at least 1000, 600
boys. 1t Is believed that 10000 boys
are available for the service