Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-06-01
S0LD|ER-FARMERs GIVE
SELVES TO OLD TASKS
Information Cleaned In Camp.
Shows That Only Small Num-
Der Stay Away.
MANY STILL IN THE SERVICE
Service Man Being Interviewed as
to Desires and Instructed IN Agri-
cultural Work-Staff Stationed in
CantOnmcnts by Government.

bLAckSBURG. VA. May SIN
spite Of letters and newspaper articles
70 the contrary, the soldier boys who
went from the farm into the army are
not baking at farm work on their re-
urn. states Jesse NJ. Jones. director
Of the extension division, Virginia
polytechnic Institute.
accurate information gathered from
at camp Lee shows that only 80 per
cent of soldier boys who were raised
on farms are not returning. The feel
ing OF the men is that they want to
get back as soon as possible as the sea-
son Is getting late. a few who are
not planning to go back to the farms
are tenants or have been farming with
tneir parents and say the planting is
done and the season is SO late / can
not help very much this year. These
men say they don't desire TO farm any
other way. but they intend to resume
their farming next year
IT has developed that large num-
farms are still held In service. This Is
true. not only at the camps men
Iioned' but at great many others as
ruled that other men could be hired
10 do farm work. Quite lumber
OF men who are not returning 20 tho
!arm are disabled and are not able to
DO the heavy work. yet 1t is interesting
70 know that at Camp Lee about so
per cent Of the disabled men applying
Tor vocational training in agriculture
we're not prc-war farmers, but were
those who had drifted away from the
farm. very small percentage had
actually done any farming at all
Coiored Soldiers Also Return.
one man who received disab!l-
ity rating OF 100 per cent will take
an agricultural course offered By the
Federal Board for Vocational Educa-
ton No, even total disability VIII
cause MIN to give up farming. For
every three men who have decided
they Will not return. there are two 10
take their place who were not farmers
when they went into the army. The loss
70 farms Will actually be less than l
per cent.
This same attitude is held by the
colored mon.
Tho extension division and the
United states Department Of Agricui-
tuTe. cooperating. have had two men
.. ca,nps around Newport News. and
ono man at Camp Lee. and for two
weeks they had Two men talkin, to the
so!dicrs in the camps around New
Nork. While there they talked to
a.oVo troops AID report conditions al
most the same in Virg mia \ re-
ror; from Camp Dcvcus, Mass SAYS
ihai 3s.l per cent Of tho soldiers re-
turning from that camp we're from the
farms In virginia for the period men
'ioncd ISL per cent of 3.oo3 OF the sol
der" soins through were from the
farms.
The mon stationed at these camps.
besines intervening the soldiers as to
what assistance can be rendered them
~ securing positions on farms, arc
nothing classes in agriculture. making
addresses on agricultural subjects
showing films on topics relating to
expenditure. and writing agricultural
ertirI"s IN the camp papers. They arc
apic - do a wonderful piece Of wori.
IN assisting those who were formerly
from farms and who desire 10 return
thereto I'm different capacities"