The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-06-04

small holdineu - not ~. an4 ~
vague generalization u very HARD ~
pin down. LACK OF cooperation - 70
sponsihle for any truth in the state
ment, but the future will see IN Inn
mense stride In cooperative methods,
and 1t is through this very growth
of co-ordinnted effort that small hold.
ing will defeat IT'S critics. Transport
the hiring OF machinery. the whole.
sale purchase OF manure and impie-
ments. egg deDots. and dairy centers,
are all subjects in which the small
holder is interested. and II Is only by
replacing the OLD threadbarc individ-
ualisrn by the larger sense of cooper
alton that the countryside will be
populated by a prosperous community.
1t is in no caviling spirit that ex-
perts point out the drawback of badly
titled small farms and holdings. and
1t is obvious that unless their produce
equals per acre that OF the large
farms. the loss in homegrown food
might become serious 1t is also con-
tended that the life Of the small holder
and his family is not equal in comfort
and prosperity to that OF the wage
Garner who owns an allotment, but
here again it lie nearly always the
holder who is working in an isolatee
way who fails tc make good.
In order to train former service mer
In the best methods. the board Of
agriculture is developing four train
ing farms. Two systems are at work:
Under the srnall-holding system, the
colony starts IS one large farm, un-
der the management OF a director. An
applicant will work upon the farm at
the rate Of wages current in the dis
ltrict until such time as ne wishes to
be allotted g rmall holding for his own
use. If the holding Is not SUFFICIENT
for his living he can continue to work
upon the undivided portion of the col
ony or upol other neigh boring farms
until he is in financial position to
undertake a holding capable OF keep
ing him A sufficient portion OF the
estate will he retained as training
center ind " the director, and from il
implements and machinery will be
hired out % the settlers. The direc-
tor will help them In every way and
a cooperative depot will be feature
of each colony.
Under the second system the colony
will he managed by the director as one
! farm. the settlers being wage earners
, and sharers in the farm profits. Each
man will be provided. II desired. with
about half an acre of land near his
cottage Settlers will be enabled to
invest savings in the form Of shares
in the canite,l of the farm. such share
capital being repaid should they
| leave the farm. One feature of the
colony is 'ha. II will teach men the
value of joint effort and be an intro
.duction to the cooperation which liz
SO essential 10 the small farmer or
grower.
Such training. however, is merely
transitory stage in the rural re-
settlement Of Great Britain. When
cooperative farming is more genersl,
credit banks. 50 essential to success.
are bound 10 follow in it's wake and
small holdings may he as pientifu1
/ and as prosperous as those in Den.
mark Even then 1t Is necessary to
keep guard oyer, those urban people
who often rom vested interests are
! led to minimize the value of the coun-
! try settlemer. and to enlarge upon the
value OF cheap seahorne food. 1t In
in order to retain the best OF the men
and women in Great Britain that fresh
legislation as 70 small holdings must
be backed by strong public opinion.
and county councils who do not per-
form the auty intrusted TO them Of
providing hard must give place to
some stronger authority. The promise
OF land settlement for former soldiers
has been made and must be redeemed
in the inter ests. not only OF them but
equally OF the national welfare