Pennsylvania School of Horticulture for Women - Wise Acres Yearbook (Ambler, PA)

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Cooperation of British and American Womens Farm Work Special to the Christian Science Monitor from its Eastern News Office. NEW YORK, New York—When the English land army was officially demobilized on November 30, there were still about 9000 women engaged in active work on farms, according to Mrs. May Elliott Hobbs, of Kelmscott, England, formerly administrative inspector of the women’s branch of the Board of Agriculture in London. She believes that many more will continue at farm work, as there is real opportunity in it for th,em. In an interview with a representative of 1 he Christian Science Monitor, she said that women had shown themselves particularly capable in the care of young live stock, in dairy work, looking after the production of clean milk and milk products, in inspecting and testing certified milk, and in horticulture. “What, is needed is more training, more opportunK.es for education in colleges, agricultural schools, and in extension work by itinerant teachers. There are many openings for women to do this itinerant teaching, to carry agricultural education right to the doors of persons living in rural communities. CO-OPERATION ADVISED “Then, too, there are opportunities for women to develop cooperation in small places, cooperative dairy projects, and market gardens. Individual effort on small holdings does not amount to much, but cooperative effort, aided by our motor transport system, will be worth while and will bring producer and consumer more closely together. The war gave great impetus to cooperative activities; now we want to establish cooperation between groups of country women and bodies of city women. We have already in England a national federation of women’s institutes, really unions of rural women, self-governing units in parishes, federated into county and national bodies We lock upon them as the most important influence upon the life of the countrv women that has come out of the war, for it was not imposed by city women, but sprang up among the country women themselves, who have organized to promote their own economic and social welfare and to make country life'better so that people will like to stay there and not be continually trying to get away to the city. LAND OPPORTUNITIES “Many women are now taking up small holdings as under the land settlement bill. FVrmer service women have the same facilities as former service men for acquiring land. But in order to make their livings they need education in agricultural work. We are discouraging them from taking up land without that. Just now many wish to emigrate, so the government 6

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comparatively small plots. Some of our thrifty neighbors—the Italians, for instance—do not need this admonition as their well kept and tidy little plots show whenever there is a square foot of ground to be utilized. And in the face of this what a dreadful mistake for some of the larger cities to give up the Public School gardens. Wise-Acres is rejoicing in having on its staff Miss Lee, Miss Williams,1 Miss Fullerton, to hear from in Europe; and Miss Exley soon will make a visit td England. Mrs. Peeler, in China, will be heard from. Mrs. Schedin, Class of ’18, and Miss Buckler, ’19, are near by doing interesting things on their own farm—and will contribute. SEND IT IN { If you have a bit of news, Send it in; Or a joke that will amuse, Send it in. Something helpful that is new, Something you have learned to do, We should like to hear from you, Send it in. If it’s only worth the while, Never mind about your style, Send it in. —COPIED. The Juniors have passed their first mid-year exams—the first ordeal. After this there will not be the same anxiety and flutter of hearts. This is their “coming out party” and no debutante was ever more nervous over her first ball. Both Seniors and Juniors have registered some of the highest marks possible this June. The Specials, so happily free of June exams, will have left us by the time this issue of Wise-Acres appears—both Specials and Regulars wishing Specials might be Regulars—and so stay on. SCHOLARSHIP ANNOUNCEMENT The Marion Reilly Scholarship of $200.00 won by Amy R. Thurston, m ’ll), will again, at the end of this year, be awarded to the Junior holding the highest record for class and practical work and loyal school spirit. 5

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has appointed commissions of women to visit all the governments to inquire concerning the proper openings for them and to make plans definitely to control emigration fur the good of both the women and the dominions. “The important thing is that we should keep in touch with what other countries are doing along these lines. We think that there should he an interchange of students between this country and England, students of agriculture and horticulture. The Women’s Farm and Garden Association of the United States is now negotiating with the English organization for the establishment of a number of international scholarships in these subjects. “This is particularly necessary just at this moment, as in all countries there is a strong agricultural movement. The importance of food production has made the farmer a much more important person than he was formerly considered. Thus it is necessary to pass around all the knowledge of methods and machinery ossiblc. And w,e are hoping that the International Institute of Agriculture a Rome will be supported and encouraged to extend its work. INTERCHANGE URGED “Other valuable means of keeping all countries in close intimate touch would be the fostering, by departments of agriculture, of visits of commissions and individuals to other countries to study methods pursued in agricultural and horticultural work,” continued Mrs. Hobbs, adding, however, that as large bodies were unwieldly, not more than two persons should be appointed on any one commission to accomplish the most. The rural community, she said, was to be depended on as a stabilizing force in the economic and social development of the country, and not for politics. Women’s institutes must not be mere debating societies, but must work on an economic basis, make more opportunities for earning money, and so help bring about a better social order. And their members, she concluded must strive in every way to make women economically independent as far as possible.—From the Christian Science Monitor. YOUTH Springing joys, swift poignant griefs; Unreckoned faiths, professed unbeliefs, Careless, selfish, swift to rise To the heights of sacrifice; Varn ting petty vanity. Hidden deep humility; Daring heaven, and afraid Of the things himself has made; Prince, who goes alone and proud, Scorning favor of the crowd. Beggar, wandering in dejection; Craving crumbs of Man’s affection : Folly, seeking Wisdom’s wells, Seer, wearing cap and bells; Self-blinded worshipper of Truth ; Wanton, wistful;—such is youth. —DOROTHY BULL 7