The sun., 1919-03-30

only kind of farm we have learned as a
people. Now the pristine fertility OF our
land has been exhausted, snd we can no
longer draw sustenance from it sufficient
for our population unless We resort To the
intensive cultivation and fertilization OF
small holdings which has made every eul-
tiyated acre of western Europe many
times more productive than anything we
know Of in America
Given an opportunity to purchase small
farms ready 10 operate, with buildings,
fences, drains and equipmeIst provided,
and so, situated with respect to other
farms as to form a village Oh community
having social life of its own, DR.. Howe
believes, and the experience Of Ireland,
Australia and California indicates, young
men and women who otherwise would
waste their lives in non-productive labor
for others Will flock back to the hnd and
achieve independence and the measure OF
material comfort that is for moSt of Us
the prime essential Of happiness, the pur-
suit of which is one Of every Americans
inalienable rights.
The provision of such opportunity
would involve the purchase by The Gov
eminent Of large tracts, carefully selected
with referelfe TO their agricultural value,
proximity to markets, healthfuhess Of 10
cation, water supply, climate and other
requisites; the subdivision, clearing and
fencing eff of this tract into farm acres OK
different sizes and for different kinds Of
farming; the construction Of system Of
roads, of dwellings and Of necessary farm
buildings, and the planning and laying
out of the village centre where most Of
the farmers would have their residences
and their home garden tracts. Then these
ready-nade farms, in allotInents OF DIFF
ferent sizes, should be sold to settlers who
will pay a small proportion Of the pur-
chase price down and the balance over a
period of from forty to SIXTY years, TINS
bringing the cost Of each holding within
the means Of even a moderately indus
trious terson. As an essential part Of the
plan there should be maintained by the
community as a whole the services of an
agricultural expert to advise the settlers
as to the most effective asid profitable
methods of cultivation, the best crops to
plant and ways for community marketing
Of farm products. Much farm machinery,
such as tractors, threshing machines, &c,
could be owned in common, while the VII
lage would house, besides thc actual farm
ers, artisans Of various sorts to make it
self contained community.
III.
E1aeHy this sort of thing has been sue
cessfully undertaken IN Australia, and
within the last two years by the State Of
California. At Durham, Cal, the first
scientific colony in America, land was al
lotted to settlers on June L., 1918. There
we're more than twice as many applicants
as there were farms, and for each Of, the
farms regarded as most desirable there
we're from ten TO fourteen applicants No
settler wins had less than 81 500 capital,
or a working equipment Of implements or
live stock as an equivalent, was regarded
as eligible to purchase farm, and settlers
were advised that $500 to 5000 was a
better sum of those contemplating farm
allotment of forty acres or more. No farm
allotment valued at more than $4,000 is
sold at Durham, and there are restriec-
tons as TO the resale Of saeh allotments
designed to keep the land out; Of the
hands of SPECTATORS. Farm labUers,,
without any capital whatever, are given
an opportunity to purchase homes ID the
village. Only per cent of the cost
Of the land and 40 per e t Of the i'm
movements at the time of purchase are
required Of the settlers at Durham, the
remainder of the purchase price being
PAYABLE In semi-annual instalments COW
ering twenty years. DR., Howe states
that the payments made by settlers, the
INCOME frhu1 infarpSf and rentaIs made