Evening star., 1943-07-06

1dCGOTS. OIdle OIllCldlS duFlSeu tIldt,
for the most part and with some
exceptions, draft boards now are
deferring essential farm hands.
In at least six States a backfow
of men from industry and business
to farms became apparent. The phe-
nomenon was ascribed to draft
pressure"-ie.. a shift from nom
essential pursuits to agricultural
occupations affording deferment. In
some cases, however, experienced
farm men returned to the soil from
war plants or at the conclusion of
war construction projects.
Vacationers Volunteer.
Volunteer vacationers sWelled the
working crews, although it was ac-
knowledged that they lacked the
skill for many tasks in a highly
mechanical agriculture. Importees
and internees rendered assistance.
But in the majority of the States,
the release of men of 38 or older
from the armed services resulted IN
only thin trickle back to the land.
The decisive contribution to the
growing campaign came from
bona flde farmers. And they did 1t
the hard way. They labored longer
hours-often from sunup to sun
down or. as the colloquialists put 1t
Prom kin-see to kaint-see." They
helped themselves and their neigh
bors by trading labor and equip
ment, they pooled machinery and
set up community repair shops IN
possible, the loss of men.
DESPITE the influx of new helpers,
many States contemplate the forth
coming harvest with some degree Of
trepidation. Agricultural authorities
fear that, at best, Ohio can muster
no more than Is per cent OF the
labor required. Shortages were en-
visioned in Illinois and Nebraska.
New Jersey reckoned it would have
to have 5000 more migratory
workers. Pennsylvania calculated its
needs at 10000 seasonal hands.
To prepare for the titanic test in
these and some other States, mobili-
zation and recruiting drives are in
progress. Much will depend on aid
from townsfolk.
Pennsylvanians Warned.
J. M. Fry, Pennsylvania's director
of Agricultural Extension, warned
that people who don't live on farms
will have to help out if we're going
to get enough to eat next winter"
North Dakota, going all-out, has
begun registration in every county
and most communities under the
North Dakota plan'-which calls
for businessmen, students and house.
wives to drop whatever they are
doing temporarily and help bring in
the crops.
The commandant of Camp After
bury in Indiana has arranged to
farm out Italian prisoners in five
nearby counties. Ohio American
Legionnaires were asked to form
labor groups to assist farmers and
professors.
In the Far West, volunteers, being
organized under Extension Service
supervision, may save millions of
dollar worth of raw food Oldsters,
women and children have been
turned to in the South. In many
States the city dwellers-students
in particular-are being importuned
to spend their summer holidays on
farms. Thousands of youngsters
have enrolled.
Profitable to Many.
Some of the transplanted toilers
have found the experience pleasant
as well as profitable. Consider, for
instance, this case:
-Four hundred and eighty marginal
land tillers from Kentucky's hills
were given short courses in dairying
at Ohio State University and Rio
Grande College. Then they were
placed on farms as hired help.
Earle J. Smith, Ohio farm con-
sultanU for the United States En-
ployment Service, opined they were
better off economically. He quoted
them:
Were eatin' higher up on the hog
now-less SOW belly and more ham