Evening star., 1942-02-10
Women's S Land Army
Warned That Work
Will Be Arduous
Maryland U. Glasses
Stort Egg-CondIing
As Form Introduction

Fifty women today were asking
themselves Can I handle the heavy
work."
They are volunteers who appeared
at the University of Maryland yes
terday to begin learning farm tech
nique.
Egg Gambling and similar light
tasks were introduced in the first
classes, but instructors warned sur
vival of the fittest" would be the rule
soon with assignment of more ar
duous labors. Only strong, healthy
women and girls, who can carry
the load and take the job seriously, "
are wanted, DR.. T. B. Symons, di-
rector of extension service at the
university, emphasized.
1t was indicated that those who
did not think themselves equal to a
full day in the field or cannery
should drop out or be prepared to
vote for calisthenics in the univer-
sity gymnasium when the matter of
physical fitness is brought up to-
morrow.
Glasses will be held each Monday
and Wednesday.
Women are being recruited for
Women's Land Army to be used in
replacing male farm labor called
to military service.
First Of Volunteers.
Those appearing yesterday repre-
sented the first volunteers recruited
by Mrs. R. Ernest Dupuy of Wash
ington, in charge of the program
for the American Women's Volun-
tary Services.
To a few Of the women the do
mestic habits of the hen were not
new subject.
Mrs. Brockett Muir of Olney, Md,
owns a farm. She just wants Hor-
ticulture Chief Charles Mahoney to
teach her to plant, can and quick
freeze enough produce to keep her,
her four children and "all my city
relatives" sufficient if cut off
from outside supplies.
Mrs. Mary Ridgway has about 300
chickens on her land near Berwyn,
Md. Since her 18-year-old boy left
the farm to help man a submarine,
Mrs. Ridgway has to tend the flock
herself.
Mrs. Elizabeth Kahn's husband is
doubtful that he will be able to get
another farmer to help him with his
place at Brookeville. He wants his
wife to learn farm management in
case he needs her.
Expects to Use knowledge.
Mrs. Chauncey Snow has a farm
near Poolesville. But when she
learns to mix chicken feed and pack
eggs she expects to put in the 144
hours of labor expected of each VOL
unteer on somebody else's farm.
Among District women hitherto
unfamiliar with farms who appeared
yesterday was Mrs. Carroll Glover
of Washington. Mrs. Glover looked
over civilian defense activities and
picked farm labor as the one most
interesting to her.
DR.. Symons agreed with Mrs.
Glover's choice. Air raids are a
possibility, he told the group yester-
day, but shortage of farm labor is
an depressing factor already with us.
Mrs. H. B. Weaver of Alexandria,
Is convinced she will have to work
on farm or in a factory eventually,
so she chose farming. Mrs. Eliz-
abeth Nowinski of Washington was
another farm novice who enrolled.
Stacks and Smocks.
For their classes tomorrow most
Of the volunteers plan to attend
with slacks or smocks beneath their
dress coats.
DR.. Symons was not so certain
they would be called on for heavy
labor. There Is q prejudice against
city labor" he said. yet with
training it is possible for women to
assist in lighter phases of farm
work"
Indications in Washington were
that this band of 50ofarm course
students are the vanguard of vast
feminine land army all over the
country.
Brig. Gen. Lewis B. Hershey selec-
tive service director, said that TO-
0O0, 900 more workers are needed to
feed, clothe and arm the civilian
and military forces. Every woman
who can replace . man needed 70