Evening star., 1943-03-21


of assistance and instruction, farm on
cials say.
Right now, the ONCE of Education,
the Manpower Commission and the De-
partment of Agriculture are planning
with State boards for farm labor training
programs where needed
Besides the non-farm women, children
and Older counted on for the crop corps.
additional recruits will be sought from
areas of surplus agricultural manpower--
some parts of the Appalachians, Ozarks
and regions of the Great Lakes. Some
10000 workers are expected to be drawn
from n-productive stock and dairy
farms. N
Others will be enlisted among hired s
hands who, planners say, can better help
the war effort by working on productive
rather than on so-called marginal
farms-and among foreign workers whom
the Department of Agriculture expects to
import from Mexico, Canada and per-
haps the Bahama Islands.
The department has imported soma
5000 Mexican workers since last Au-
gust and states that the Mexican gov
ernment has promised up to $4,000 II
the Nation needs that many"
The Women's Land Army.
In every case, what the farmer wants
Is willing workers.
Though women will be desperately
needed for farm work this summer, they
are not wanted unless they are willing
to work hard" the Office of War In-
formation says. adding that work in the
crop corps will be anything but =
picnic" ~
Though members Of the women's land
army won't have as long hours, and rest.
periods will be provided, "sunup to sunset
is the traditional workday for farmers,s
Owl points out.
Farm work isn't done on the basis Of
a six-day week. Horses, cows and pigs
have to eat and hens lay eggs on Sundays
just as any other day.
IF horse foals, or a SOW farrows on
the sabbath, some one must take care Of
them. Potato bugs don't take a rest
every seventh day, and acres of berries
don't look at the calendar when they
reach the state Of perfection for pick.
ing"
Town and city women who want to do
their share also can release farm women
to work in the fields by taking over their
duties cooking meals and caring for
the children or helping In the canning
and processing OF foods. .t
ryIoA
horn from clarinet -. . soybean from
a black-eyed pea, or silo from stack
Of hay there are brief, intensive
courses to give them an idea Of what's
growing down on the farm.
Induction Courses.
Among these Induction courses" are
those provided by the rural war produc-
ton training program of the Manpower
Commission. Under this program, in CO.
operation with State boards for voca-
tional education, local public schools may
conduct a number Of practical courses
for out-of-town individuals youths
and adults alike.
course on the repair, operation and
construction of farm machinery and
equipment" for instance, is important to
States where agriculture is highly mech
anized .. where farm machinery must
be made to serve for the duration and
many skilled men to handle and repair
1t have left the farm. In many instances,
farmers themselves conduct the courses.
"a Skills in Milking. ~.
In some areas, the mixers course Is
more important. In California the first
course for increasing milk production
was held in Stockton high school last
fall. The American Womens Volunteer
Service in San Francisco helped enroll
the would-be mixers: A script reader
from Hollywood studio switch-
board operator bookkeeper
the wife of dairy manager.
Some "a skills required in milking had
to be mastered before the enrollees re-
ceived diplomas These skills included
everything from milking one gallon-in-
1o-minutes-byhand to cleaning the barns
and keeping dairy records.
Other courses include production, con-
servation and processing of food for farm
families; metalwork, elementary elec-
tricity, and increasing the production"
of such items as pork, sugar, hemp, poul-
try, peanuts, nuts and beef
Farm officials say they expect whole
hearted response to the plea for help.
Last year in Oregon, State civil service
employees were released on certain days
to pick the bean crops. . New York
State released schoolboys from 10 days
to two weeks to pick tomatoes, beans
and fruit. Up near the Canadian
border in Maine, Arcadian parishioners
helped harvest potatoes in addition to
help given by 780 Canadians who volun-
teered in the effort.
Children Play Major Role.
President Roosevelt declared recently
that as in Russia, the children of the
Nation should play a major role In the
food production job. He said that
Moscow last spring sent out some 300 900
young people to plant the fields.
Later they went into the forests to chop
wood, and returned in time to harvest
the crops. Thus Moscow had enough
food and fuel for the winter.
Secretary of Agriculture Wickard has
suggested to all the 48 Governors the
release of students from schools In small
towns and rural areas to help with plant