When the Brook Farm Association became the Brook Farm Phalanx, the
industries of the place were organized in the serial order. The tilling
of the soil was conducted by the Agricultural Series, with special work
assigned to different groups, as the Farming group, the Orchard group,
the Garden group, etc. The household affairs were in charge of the
Domestic Series, comprising the Kitchen group, the Laundry group, the
Waiters’ group—a very jolly group, that, and two or three others. The
Manufacturing Series directed the work of the trades; and the Festal
Series had charge of recreations and entertainments. The last named
series had attractions proportioned to the destinies of every member of
every group in the industrial organization, and a deal of care and
attention were deliberately given to its functions. Six days we labored
and did all our work and did it well. We did not labor the same number
of hours each day but took two half-holidays every week for having a
royal good time under the management of the Festal Series.
No one was closely confined to any of the specialized groups but, as a
rule, every one found his right place and attended strictly to business
therein; subject, however, to an emergency call in case of need. In the
planting season and the harvesting season, for example, we could put
fifty hands in the field, or more if required. Agriculture was our main
interest and farming became a very attractive industry when potatoes
were to be quickly put in the ground or when hay was to be rushed to
the barns.
On the whole it can be truly said that the serial order worked first
rate in agriculture, which I happened to know most about, and the
practical experiment of organizing industry was immensely successful so
far as getting work done was concerned. As to profit and loss that is a
matter about which I am not informed.
Agriculture is the basis of support for the human family and will
continue to be the basis in the new dispensation. The Organization of
Labor in agriculture will necessitate the drawing together of workers
in communities, each neighborhood uniting to dwell at a convenient
central location. At this central home, all the problems of the
isolated household will be provided for by this organized community, by
the conduct of domestic affairs in the scientific order of the series.
Such a community will be a Phalanx, and the Phalanx will be the unit of
Organized Society.
Fourier anticipated many inventions, mechanical devices for taking the
place of handiwork in the household, among others. The hard and the
disagreeable tasks now assigned to servants, would in the Phalanx be
performed on a large scale by machinery.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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