The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-08-03
ssAck TO THE FARM


cry for many Q yearf-a cry which
became > danger signal, with the en-
trance of the United States into the
world war, and which has not ceased
to sound its warning note. since the
close Of hostiIities But failure afte,
failure has attended the efforts IL
bring the city and the farm together
an DIT has taken q New York woman
a woman with vision, to solve the
problem In any satisfactory way,
So successful has she been, however
that in 1919 she saved to the state OF
New York $1.5o0.o00 worth of fruits
and vegetables, by establishing sum
mer camps for farm helpers More
over, last year twenty per cent OF the
LOO farmerettes in these camps de-
cided to spend the winter OF 1919 and
| 1870 IN agricultural colleges, to pre-
pare themselves to do better work in
the summer OF 1920.
Brown Landone, writing OF this In
Nautilus, points out that when the
movements were started. the first
summer or the great war, to have boys
and girls from the cities to help on
! the farm, less than two per cent held
out for two weeks. The other ninety
| per cent returned to the city or went
to summer boarding places for a sum-
mer outing.
The reasons given for this failure.
was, first. that the spirit of adventure
was soon lost, under the hot sun. when
the novelty wore off, second, the
great difference between city and
country life; third, the extra farm
help crowded the farm house and made
work harder for the farmers wife.
After two years Of effort" says Mr..
Landone, the volunteer farm help
land army men, farmerettes, ETC., were
recognized both by the organizers of
the movement and by the farmers. as
failure. One thing, however. had
been accomplished. People with vision
realized more than ever before, the
great need of additional farm labor
during the summer. For instance, an
investigation in one county of the
state of New York showed waste of
food products during one summer
amounting to $1,000, 900.
This amount could have been saved
II there had been sufficient help for
short period of six week only
OF all the men and women interested
in this movement. there was Just one
who would not give up. She worked
out system of central farm help
camps-one in this village and one in
that each camp to be located some it, |
tie distance from the farms that were
to be supplied with labor. She planned |
good food, well prepared, with stand
ardized menus, and good sleeping ac-
commodations. But the keynote of |
the whole thing was the use of auto /
mobiles, morning and night. to take |
the workers to the farms and bring |
them back. There were social evenings /
planned and Sunday gatherings with |
movies, entertainments, and picnics, to
relieve the monotony of farm work |
She convinced others that her plan of |
moving hundreds of farm workers by
automobile, morning and evening, was
practical.
AS a result in 1919 she established
twenty two such camps. In that year
in her camps 100 per cent of those who
went from the city to help on the farm
stayed throughout the entire season
and the farmers reported that 81 per
cent of this help was entirely satis-
although it was inexperienced
IN farm work when it left the city.
one hundred per cent of the
at the end of the summer
IF 1919, begged to be sent back for
he season of 1920. In value, these %
camps saved $1.50o.oo0 worth Of vege-
ables and fruits that would have rot
ed on the ground had it not been for
he help of the camps.
As Mr.. Landone comments: Chang
ng a 80 per cent failure to 81 per
,ent success was the result Of IDEAL
zing a plan of action" That the
movement paid was demonstrated in ,
he fact that for every dollar spent on ,
amp equipment, S137 worth OF food
vas saved: and for every 81 900 spent ,
1877 900 was saved.
More and more is farm life improv-
ng. The tractor and the automobile i
ave had much to do with this inn
rovement In the South, the farm :
emonstration agents and domestic
cience teachers have had their share. :
Tow, with the introduction of summer :
amps, there can be no doubt but what
onditions would improve all over the
ountry. :
Already these camps are being ex- )
ended The movement is spreading !.
ON New York into other states. 1t !.
a wonderful idea, and will do much
, bring the farm and the people to-
ether and to relieve situation in
lis country that for the past few :.
ears has been most serious one.
i