1937-10-19 — Page 22

LIFE ON A COMMUNIST FARM

HAVE-travelled in most countries,"

and since farming is my subject, Iturally to the farms that 1. have looked first. I there

is one

countrywhere farming in theory and farming in practice are two very different processes, I la Soviet Russia,

In thedry the Commoints clini almost 100 per cent. deleney in their farming operallons, showing.n confidence that many a former In other countries would dearly like to quthorities have sa possess. The

muny

statistics tlist the stranger Is likely to be bewildered by their efficiency. +

or

be

"Ask how many peaches are grown "How many in Abyssinia?" sardines are caught Japanese waters every year?" or "What does Morcaro spend on artifical mapures?" and Moscow will answer your ques- tion in a few moments. There is, in fact, an astounding accumulation of facts, most of which would be useless, even if they were correct, which in the majority of cases is 10 doubled.

Believing that there is nothing like working on a form to find out about It, I managed to get a pince. Looking back, and that while living on a Communist farm may be a unique experience for a Belton, It is one that I have no desire to repent, Incredible Inefficiency

The farm on which I went to live was wholly co-operative, and all the workers lived on the farm itself. They were all Russlan Jews, which is unusual, for the modern Jew is not usually in agriculturist, although in Palestine he is rapidly developing With their wives and into one. Families the workers numbered about 300.

The main object of this Red Stor farm was to supply Kharkov, about 15 miles away, with milk and datry produce. It was one of the emelency farms, but I found that the road to harkov, along which every bit of

had to be carried, was tile more than a track, and in winter no motor vehicle could get within a mile of the farm without being bogged. The farm carts used to plough their way in daily with the milk, and each cart churned up the road into a quagmira.

The inefficiency was Incredible. Expensive pedigree cows, pigs, and poultry had been imparted from abroad, but were absolutely neglect- ed. Expensive milking equipment had been installed, but was totally

Hand-milking out of order. carried out.dirtily and badly finished. 'Milk records were made; bút were of mo-value-except to thote who made

ibem.

- Worthiem-Records......

was

From what I saw no tussian agri- cultural records could be of any value, as they were chleßly products of the imaginition. In charge of the form was a brilliant Communist director, but he had little or no power with the workers, who seemed to spend most of their time in smoking and endless discussion round the stoves, often In the office of the director,

Many useless experiments were being carried out which land been accomplished In, all other countries years ago, but of which the Russiatis nover seemed to have heard. They really belloved-they were making as- tounding discoveries. But it was n foregone conclusion with overy ex- periment that the

result marked as

per cent, efficient. Russian Incubators, apparently, gove n 100 per cent. hatch,

but I'

nover discovered how they accounted for the wholesale mortality. This was a feature of all the livestock, and a "plague cart" went round daily to collect the dead.

100

would

be All

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19,

Quads, Quins, Triplets & Twins..

I'm Glad I

Born ALONE

ATEST about the St, Neots Quads is that they have learnt to walk. And from ¡Callander, Ontario, comes the news that all visitors have been forbidden by Dr. Dafoe to see the Dionne Quins.

Mr. Dionne himself has had to climb through a drainpipe into the hospital yard to peer through the windows at his children, so scared is Dr/Dafoe, of the infantile paralysis epidemic. Yet, "it is. „keljeved that the Quins begin to realise that they

are being watched."

Are you left-handed? Or equally clever with both hands?

If so, you were probably nearly twins or quins yourself. It is more than possible that of the Plonne Quins, one will be found to be ambidex- trous or normal, two will be left-handed, and the remaining two right-handed..

Thousands of words, you see. have been written about quina and quads and triplets lately. But it I al "human interest ** and nursery gossip.

Datoo and English doctors have kept their scientific observations Only Dr. Adler, very oplet. eighteen months ago, went so far as to say that for their own happl-

ness the Quins ought to be

separated.

eurtenles.

Ocnettes, biology. heredity, environment and in many respects most important of all psychology: these are, the problems in these poor vivisected bables, that sele 13 studiu. And here are some things, that science is going to learn from them.

A

BOUT twinship, quin-

ship and genetics less is known than in almost any other branch of science. The more we discover, the less we know for certain.

Do Latin races have more multi- ple births than Nordics? (In pre- Civi-War Spain, for instance, quintuplets and even sextuplets were quite often in the news, and the Dlonnes have French blood.)

Are quads and triplets mentally backward? Why does "twin- ning" run in families? Is it a sign of racial degeneration, or vice versa? Are there more multiple births than there used to be, or is It Just that they have more news value than formerly?

Twins occur in one per cent, "or" birth; triplets in .01 per cent. -births; quads-in-0001-per-cent; qulus occur relatively once in a blue moon. Many are still-born, so it is extremely difficult to make International comparisons, or assess the frequency of multiple births,

Certain it 18, however; that the frequency varies from place to place, from period to period. It ought to be possible soon to pro- phesy, years in advance, when and where the next outbreak of quad- ding and quiraning will take place.

ORTALITY Increases with the number born. we in England have had our quintuplets and even sex- tuplets, but they have always died. of triplets, 50 per cent, girls and 37 per cent. boys survive. Very few quads live, and it was, to be expected that two at least of the recent Thetford, Quada would die.

Quads are born in England about once a year; but in the last ten years only the Miles children.

In a special laboratory a gnome-educated on the idea that nothing

outside Russia is of any use, professor carried out experiments at such times as his claborito clectrical- It did not strike them - as in the equipment wax working. Young least extraordinary-that-ayhile they pigs, calves, and lambs were brought talked there were tractor and ma- Binïto him, ́d-needle was stuck into chinery just outside, completely

them, and their heart-bents were re-

broken down through misuse. Young men with a superficial mechanicat corded electrically. No one seemed to have the least idea of what could

knowledge drifted about, rather alm- be learned from the records. The

tesaly tinkering. Often they ended apparatus had been specially made

by sathing something new. No one In Germany, and must have cost at

seemed to care, and they thought Joost £1,000.

they had done their best.

Razers in Demand ·

says ALAN JENKINS.

at St. Neots have' survived.

They

are still very tiny, but will be absolutely normal by their sixth birthday.

Quadruplets are, in 60 per cent. of recorded cases, Identical (born from the same egg-cell)! If ther are girls, it is generally found thai. the father was one of a large 'family and that he had twin brothers or sisters, The mother's family usually contains no twins. Therefore the multiplicity appar- ently comes from the father's side.

Probably

"Apparently You see, scientists don't know for certaini That is why modern quads and quins are destined to be human guinea-pigs, Usually science has only dogs, banana- flies, salamanders, chickens, sea urchins, armadillos and plants to experiment on.

It is known that identical twins must be of like sex, which isn't so obvious as it sounds; and that any differences between them will be due

to envirogment and not heredity. In fact, 03 per cent, of all twins are of the same sex.

IDENTICAL-twins-are- always "Blamese twins" and often have to be separated at before they are born,

birth Fraternal twins, however. born from

different egg-cells. resemble their relatives than cach other. Any whor triplet or quin can be altered from. his brother or sister by bringing him up in a different environ

environment

more

but fraternal twins the more so. If you meet a criminal who has been separated from his den!)- cal) twin for years, and then make inquiries about the twin, you may be sure that the twin will turn out to have criminal record too, because heredity rules almost everything for identical, twins.

Triplets are more frequently of unlike sex: one at least is notice- ably different from the rest,

Your body is composed of ting cells. In cach cell are still mero minute bits of material called chromosomes: the same number in each cell, arranged in pairs.

Men have a strong one (X) and a weak one (W) in each pair; women have LWO strong

oncs

was

To the scientists they are just human guinea-pigs. And it may mean unhappi- ness in later life.

(XX). These chromosomes are mainly responsible for shaping the characteristics of offspring, and the minor differences or .. resemblances between twins, quads and quins:

If It is true (as appears from and photographs) that Emilic Céelle Dionne are noticeably more cross-eyed than their sisters, it is not unlikely that something in their heredity is responsible for it. If there is any tendency in a family towards near-sightedness, colour blindness, backward intelll- gence, and so on. it will be mainly governed in. offspring by the chromosomes in their cells, as well an ordinary chamcteristics like brown hair, fatness or slender- ness, and even fingerprints.

S

HOULD one of the St. Neots quads over take to crime, Scotland Yard will have great difcully in prov- ing that he, and none of his brothers, did it! Moreover, it one -

1937.

vived at all shows that their mothers are "women of unusual strength and vitality,

America is crazy about twins, quins and multiple births generally. American scientists have written far more treatises on them than any English scientists. That

why the Dionne Quins are so important to them.

But they arė "blologists, genetic- Ists, men with microscopes. Psychologists take a much more human view of them.

For the happiness of the Dionne, family, the children must be nor- malised somehow. Is it too Inte for them to go home with their parents and lead an ordinary Uf as far as possible? Or are they already on the road to publicity- consciousness, awareness of bring abnormal?

There is much to be said for the inte Dr. Adler's proposal to sepa- rate them, get other families to adopt them while allowing their parents to be with them as often studied at a respectful distance. as is convenient. They can still be

B

citizenship.

UT meanwhile, our St. Neots Quads are well on the way to normal Unpampered, they need fear no complexès; their up- pearances in the news will be only spasmodic, more and more intre-

of any group of quads develops any such disease as tuberculosis. the others will probably get it, too-- even though they may be in four different continents, simply (bem. cause proneness (If any), to cer- tain diseases is in them already. and * It does show itself. It will appear in all four at the same age --for mere reasons of heredity.

-they-go-to-different-schools-quent on the other hand, they may show Yes, I was left-handed as a child. very different rates of progressBut my right hand gradually took.. because Intellectual development is dependent chiefly on enviroh- nient. Health, too, is hereditary; the fact that the Dlonne Quins and the St. Neots Quads have sur-*

precedence, just as one of the quina and quada will eventually become the leader of the rest. And I am glad I was not twins any other multiplicity after all?

You can

your

to

help

child

grow

up

CONSIGNEES' NOTICE. SOME people enjoy work. Most of us do if it is work that gives scope

BARBER-WILHELMSEN LİNE

NOTICE TO.......CONSIGNEES

for self-expression. It is up to parents to guide and help their children not merely to gain a living but to enjoy doing so. And they should start gulding carly.

-

The first thing that parents have to do is a lillo character reading, Know your child, try to reallse his talents and develop his gifts,

Watch him try-to-unknot a plece Lastly there ure books. It is of

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OUR BRITISH CROSSWORDS

ACRO86

As Intelligent also.

6 No dull supporter of Gladstone.

Engilah county.

10 Vegetable,

11 Unforlunale.

13. Guide straight of course.

14 One can't very well have less

Thani Ulls:

10 Interest, that tells one of the football players his position.

M/S TAI YIN” · 'FROM U, S, A.

of string or mend a broken toy. Is enormous value in life to be well Consignees of Cargo are hereby he nimble with his fingers? Is he read, Let your child read as many informed that same will arrivo por gifted with much patience?-

books as he can and will." TAI PING" about 19th Oct. and

It not enough only to encourage Choose them wisely, of course, but delivery may be obtained from the talent; you must supply deficiencies do not limit them to

the standard latter vessel at ship's tackle at also. There are many ways of doing works for the age of the child in 21

only,

Brat, for they are, next to people, the kauge just how much a child under-26 No claims will be admitted after most important ing in a child's stands or grasps, but if a book holds his attention and gives him useful in- the Goods have left the ship. 'Ute'.

All broken, chafed, and damaged

formation, thig is for all normal pur-

My visit at least introduced a neué the buoy, in consignees lightersen's. Toys provide the best means at question. It is a diaeult matter to

The urge for efficiency did not, un- fortunately, extend to, the elimination of dirt. One could forgive the Inck of privacy, but not the lice in the social event into their lives. I had dormitory After living in most parts with me a new razer, and the strap- of the world. I can only say that the ping arrangement fascinated them. African bushman has the habits of a Night after night I had to give de rentleman compared with the Rus sian farm workers 1 met, children's creche was the cleanest spot, and after that, the Lenin corner.

Talking for Houra

The

monstrations. If roubles were of Goods will be examined on board any real value, one could become a by our surveyors, Messrs. Goddard millionaire by selling razors to Rus- sinn farm workers. Their own razor and Douglas, before the goods are blades are vile, and the visitor who delivered. gives away a razor blade is looked In the case of dutinblo cargo, upon as a benefactor.

consignees are requested to in- The food was coarse and unpalat- able, and took hours to serve, but

I stuck it for three weeks, and then form the Import and Export Ofleo time was of no account in anything felt I had learned enough. My train that they havo such goods for Talking for hours is still the chief from Kharkov to Klev was only 24 examination, and to make arrango-į Ituesion, pastime. The astounding hours late, and I was warned to be ments for the goods to be landed thing was the way in which the careful of bandits on to into Bonded Warehouan.

White sheets, baths, hot water, arid youths on the farm would impress on one the vast superiority of their decent food secmed, a miracle, and methods compared with those of could only reflect that shiee the capitalist countries. The fact is that. Ruslans 10 longer believe In God, they are completely ignorant of they must thank. Nature for being

very, very kind to them. everything in the outside world. A generation bas grown

Charles Cooper, up,

new

Bills of Lading will be counter signed by

DODWELL & CO., LTD.

Agonte. Hongkong, 10th October, 1937.

At four or five years a child likes poses test enough. to have toys which can be made into things. Clay, bricks, scissors (with dull ends) and paper, jigsaw puzzles, steel building outils are the sort of it toys that help a child to learn to

concentrate.

LL these are indirect ways of

A guiding & child's testen, but

10. Scotamen who is always to be

found in the Isle of Man,

you' 20- If you disturb this bird may make it weep.. The bit of the charge to upset the bird, Englial motorists dislike this In the engine, but it is good on the Continent with the car.

27 Surely the League of Nations.

would not publish propagando in this form?

28 Row.

20 What part of a fort sounds like

woger the drinks?

30 To shed tears about her is not

fruitless.

verbs.

1 The girl responsible for the

falsehood about the fool.

is a mistake to talk too early to

about enctual choice of career, 31 In the way of words this ad A sensitive child can worry and be verb is obviously a helper of como diffident if a sense of responal-

DOWN. bility is thrust upon him too BOOT, THEN there are hobbles, Car-

In-his-anxiety to make up his mind pentry, tools, fihing tackle, what he wants to do, he can got fales decision, stamp albums,, "collecting" (almost make', 'a anything can be collected nowadays the idea that he has nothing, very -cigarette cards, tram lekets, old much to boast about. It is a crime colas, Press-cuttings); and these

to destroy, thé, hopefulness and cour are age of youth, Look ahead, but do useful things that treate a hobby not fret and convey your worries to for a child no he grows older. your children before the proper time.

or

2 Famous actor family of old.

3 European capital.

4 He might be a little enint even.

0 You might get resin out from

this..

7. 'Alloy *needed for rearmainent

perhaps.

1222

8 Does this official stand at hotel

・・・ doors as a reminder?

12."Rag-maid" (anag),

16 O.T. character.

10 A seaside free?

17'À definite remedy?

18 "Reedcase" (anag.).

you

10 Thle creature is exlinet, but

will find ho is around. if. dis- turbed.

23 Apparently the barrage's being

old caused the harm

24 An African tree.

24 This Shakespearean character.

would get a good report when he went off.

23 This suggests just

· ·-nothing "cisc.

Yesterday's Sölution

and

(C O R K 8 O REWE DRILL UNONIMUMSEHOOLMO BOWLEGGED WELSH

HAGY TANGERINE WOMA FEHLER N PIPERI A |BURGH CABERE NÜR FELMOS USUNDSER 1 RTO BORAXBEDA N {N ̈UNGAHS OF 61

HULLOF 8 IMPLETON

RATELLO RGNETTE DHONI MORANCHTE. TURING PITOMPINË