WOMEN'S CO-OPERATIVE FARM COLONIES. [TO THE EDITOR OF THE "
SPECTATOR.")
SIR,—It is, probable that many of the educated women who have taken up work on the land from patriotic motives, 'and who will have to earn their own living in the future, will want to utilize the experience gained when-the return of the men at the end of the war has displaced their labour. With a view to giving such women an opening, a farm of 250 acres on the Berkshire and Oxfordshire borders has been placed at the disposal of the Women's Farm and Garden Union for an immediate experiment, in the hope that should this prove successful other similar Women's Co-operative Farm Colonies may be started later. The point of this offer is that at this stage there should be no question of pur- chase (although the owner would be ready to sell), but that the women should come in as tenant-farmers; as, however, few women can afford to risk their small capital in what is of the nature of experiment, it will be necessary to raise the required capital for stocking and running expenses. This farm has been inspected by an expert and pronounced very suitable for the purpose. It consists of equal proportions of arable and pasture, the buildings can easily be brought up to modern requirements, and there is sufficient good housing to admit of friends living in groups instead of being all under one roof. It is proposed to work the scheme as a Co-operative Colony under the rules of the Agricultural Organization Society.
The farm is immediately available, owing to illness of the present tenant, and as there is already a great demand for it this offer obviously cannot be open long. June 8th has been fixed as the limit by which an answer must be given. This answer depends on whether a number of people will be forthcoming sufficiently interested in this branch of women's work to help in raising the required capital for stocking and working, which will amount altogether to about £6,000. If sufficient response is not made by the date named to justify the Women's Farm and Garden Union taking over the farm they_ wilLbe obliged _to refuse the offer, and an exceptionally favourable opportunity for trying this experi- ment will be missed. .
Those wishing to.invest capital or to take an active part in the scheme should communicate with the Women's Farm and Garden Union. at 50 Upper Baker Street, London, -N.W. 1, where a plan of the farm is on view and where all further particulars can be
Chairman of the Women's Farm and Garden Union. L. WILKINS, Chairman of the Women's National Land Service Corps.
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