Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-12-28
Farm Labor.

Those who are engaged In cultvatiug the soil
In the Older sections OF the country are troubled
to get sufficient help to perform the ordinary
labor Of the farm. Skilled help is out of the
question; other business can employ it at higher
wages than agriculture can afford; only the
poorest and most inefficient are left for the
telhgence Of ordinary farm hands, and the sup
ply Of this kind of help is not equal to the de-
mand. Many do not attempt permanent. i'm
provement from this cause.
The price OF labor has doubled since the year
Just preceding the war, with quite . falling in
quality. Produce brings no more than in those
years. We must have cheaper or better prices.
An equilibrium must be reached In some way,
or the farming interest must materially decline.
pc rssted i'm.
men will work on railroad and public works at q
less price; the pleasure of associating together
and living In cities and towns renders the isola-
ton and quiet OF farm life unsnduraole.
SO unpopular has domestic service become
that female help can hardly be ad at any price.
Almost sny employment or means OF subsist-
ence Will be accepted in preference; the incon-
venience arising from the want of suitable help
in doors Is very great. In case of sickness it is
positive hardship; 1 have known good fami-
lies to suffer from want Of some one TO prepare
the necessary comforts, and in some cases, but
for the kindness of neighbors the sick would
have received no care.
The story of poor sewing women in cities
does not excite much sympathy from the DWELL
good homes aud fair wages; there would be no
DANGER from starvation, and something could
be sccumulat, d for support in old age.
The use Of improved implements and ma.
chimes has done much to revolutionize labor;
without them it would be impossible TO do our
farm work. One must be good mechanic to
keep in order and operate successfully the i'm
PIGMENTS of the present time; the skill and
knowledge improves and developes the mind.
No avocati0n or profession requires a more va
Iied and extensive knowledge at present than
to be scientific farmer. While we rejoice TO
see cultivators Of the soil taking higher posi-
ton than ever before, We deplore the want of
able and Intelligent assistants. Could we afford
to employ such help as we should like, farming
would become much more pleasant and attrac-
tive : IAN at present. We do not wish to degrade
the Isborer in order to accomplish this. We de.
sire no pauper labor in this country, but such a
condition of things inaugurated that the CAPT
tai and skill OF the employer be as well paid as
the laborer.
What / have written does not accord with the
teachings of some Of our writers and speakers,
many of whom are ignorant of practical agri-
culture; judging from their teachings one would
suppose that there were no drawbacks in our
business, but have written from what has ac-
tually occurred in my own experience, and. til at
OF my friends and neighbors, and which have
good reasons to suppose exists in all parts of the
country, hoping the time may come when these
evils may, in measure at least, be remedied.-
w. Broson, in Country Gentleman.