The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-04-23
Will Be More Farmerettes
This Season Than There
Were Last
WOMEN'S LAND ARMY
CONTINUES ACTIVE
College Men Think Girls Look Down
on Farmers-The Farmerettes May
Give Them Different Impression
Many Eager to Farm.

Many Eager to Farm.
NEW YORK, April 23-WhiIe APP
plications from women for farm Jobs con
tinue to pour into headquarters of the
Woman's Land Army, young men, es.
pecially discharged soldiers, show
marked indifference to this sort of labor.
The women who had their first taste OF
farm life last year, under pressure Of
war demands, are eager to return 20 it
this year.
In one OF the big colleges Of the Middle
West recently a group OF male students
were asked by their professor why most
of them scorned farm work. Their reply
was Girls somehow look down on
farmer What girl would marry us if
we became farmers?"
When the Womans Land Army became |
a division Of the department OF labor re-
Gently, Mrs William II, Hubert of New
York was made national director, with |
headquarters in Washington Mrs HUI
bert has returned from a visit to many
states where the work of the farmerettc
was carried on last summer She CON
lliiueu Tue ItpOItS VI the einpiOyinenL Du-
reaus regarding the antipathy of men to
farm work. q"
I'VE have been receiving for several
weeks past, both at Washington and at
our New York headquarters, an average
of 10 applications a day from young WON
en- eager to 60 on farms this SUMNER
she said. MANY of these applicants were
members of the Land Army last year We
then had about $4,000 members This
summer we expect a large increase in
numbers. Pointing TO the statement by
Food Commissioner Hoover that the food
administration had pledged 20,000,0O0 tons
of food to Europe this year, Mrs Hubert
said: 1T is for this reason that the gov
eminent decided that the Womcn's Land
Army should not be demobilized, but
should be directed as a part of the ma
tons service from Washington If this
country is to produce the big increased
amount of food supplies this year il means
vast army TO undertake the work So
lar tho response we are receiving from
the women is most encouraging. In a
few of the states ] have Just visited, men
have shown an interest in farming as an
occupation, and l believe in these states
many men will be recruited for the sea
sons work; but in many states this in
sort OF work to that which the land Of
fers. Where this condition prevails We
shall make every effort to enlist large
numbers of women, but the Women
Land Army is not competing with mer
III farm labor; where men show Il prefer
ence for this work we are not suggesting
the employment of women.
"Thc women who enlisted for farm ser
vice last year represented women in al
walks Of he. In some units as many a
a dozen professions were represented
while others included college women an,
young women Of the leisure class, wh
were familiar with certain phases of gar
dening because OF the experience they ha
had on their own estates.
The girls served in many instances t
develop new social life in the commun:t
where they were employed, They live
in tents or barracks, located within
reasonable distance of the different farm
or estates where they were employed
Each INIT had it's own housekeeper, $
that when the girls had worked cigl
hours they were not called upon to
homework. If weather conditions q
manded extra time in getting in the croI
or in their cultivation the farmer pal
extra for it in proportion to the dai
wage of 81 i'll most cases.
The unit plan is not only advantg
Gus in itself, but as means toward
new career for women, who may take |
and manage their own farms. or WI
may eventually be placed individually
farm laborers at the tasks for which tn
are especially fitted.
Whenever unit has been establlsh'
it has helped to form a community &C
ter and community spirit in rural d
triets The women have learned to 10
farm work and TO adapt themselves
country life.
MANY young women who became fal
laborers last summer just to help OF
found il so congenial, interesting a
healthful that they have since becol
permanently identified with country Ii
! have heard Of some who have MARI
farmers; Others, young women OF mea
bought small places OF their own and
veloped them, and still others who w
daughters OF large estate owners beca
interested in gardening and propo
TO continue it on their own propert
$50 it may be that the young WON
filed with enthusiasm for this new !
may lead the young men OF the coun
hack 10 the land No, the Womens l.;
Army il in no sense a matrimonial
icau. But it would be a fine thing if
young women of the country set
good example to the young inen who
now seeking employment here
sWe have hundreds Of letters fl
farmers expressing satisfaction and q
tude for the helm given to them last $
ner By the girls From the Atlantic
the Pacific they plotghed planted, c,
waited and harvested crops; cut. STAG
aud loaded hay, corn, rye and wheat,
did silo work. They worked on the
commercial farms, dairy farms, u
farms nriyate estates and in home
dens They did poultry work. dairy W
Bookkeeping ard teaming. They leal
90 handle tfaetors. harvestegs and 0
farm machinery In slack seasons
scythed brush, sawed and stacked V