The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1877-03-03
Co.Oneratlon in rarming.

iS TINT they enable the farmer to en-
ploy more help aud do the work by
groups Of laborers nlther than by solitary
individuals. 1t is we'll attested fact
that two men working together can and
generally will ilo more than twice as
much rs one and three, four or more
can work together with proportionate
advantage. It is not only pleasanter but
easier, 10 work with others than to work
alone. Every Northern farmers boy
knows how lonesome " il seems to hoe
or plan. alone in large cornfield; how
the work drags, and how tired the work
er becomes. A dozen men and boys
making twcnty.for rows in "bout, "
changes everything. much smaller
number can work with nearly the sane
advantage. Work Of this kind should
never be done by isolated laborers. They
cannot accomplish rs much alone, aud
the fatigue is far greater. "24. Q
Working in the same field with others
is n stimulus and decidedly advantage
Olls. III harvest field with self-nldng
reaper the binders see each other only
occasionally but how the collntenance
brightens when the turns come together
and the driver OF the reaper cheers and
encourages all. lRnling and binding
hfter 4 cradle, ass I remember it, was
equally social work, There WIS con-
stant strife between Grader and binder
to see which should excel. Under this
stimulus somG Of the largest days work
on record have been performed, aud
sometimes by men WHO were not good
for much else. Theynecded the stimu-
lus Of competition and were good for
little without it. There are many more
suchlmenItlan we think. q ssJ
Our Northern farmers, owning small
farms, and mostly working them with Lit
tie help, live too isolated a life. The
remedy is not altogether in farmers
clubs, grauges aud meetings nor social
enjoyment during the season Of rest
These are all good; but they do not reach
the greater iifficulty--the isolation OF
farmers in their fields and during the
working season. "It is not good for man
to be alone" not only as to the neccs-
sity Of marriage, but this is nearly as ap-
plicable to the need for society and COM
panionship in work. Thousands Of FARM
ers become insanc-some more and some
less, and in Il great majority Of instances
this abertation is the direct result of n
solitary life. Farmers wives suffer from
this cause even more than the men, espe-
cially where children keep the housewife
closely Mt home. Children are COM
panions only IN partial sense. j They
stimulate the affections, but they are
more or less Implications OF their parents
! and do not lomand the mental activity
required by association. with Intelligent
adults. lE5ia-.. -....!oszeeH Imf
Farm help is not usually so nearly on
san equality in mental culture and intelli-
gence rs It was forty ortlfE years ago.
It is quite rare that farmers nowadays
seek, or seeking fiud, intelligent COM
panions in their hired men. I know
many exceptions to this; but what I have
written is the general rule. Farmers
mistake in this, for no matter how ignor.
ant and thoughtless tEeir help. they
ought to make the most OF It. This is
not only duty but their decided inter.
est. Any hired man will do more work
and do it better for being treated as an
intelligent being rather thnn rs q slave
whose only use was to dig and delve for
his monthly wages. This consideration
should be more thought Of in hiring
help. Any man whom you cannot afford
to associate with you cannot afford to
hire ut any price. Intelligenceand moral
worth are rs important ou the farm us
anywhere, aud il they do not command
ashigh n price it only shows tlat they
arc not fully appreciated by farmers.
% After, all, I,suspect that the true rem
ely. for the isolation Of farmers is to be
found in cooperation with each .sher.
Changing works I" uscl to be common
in all new settlements, and it is great
mistake that this custom has ever been
left to die out. The farm help should 80
far as possible be domiciled in separate
houses built for their use. This plan
generally secures better class OF work
men, besides the further advantage Of
two distinct families on tho sarne farm.
II possible, neigl,bors should build their
houses III clusters, and in NIL ctses should
live md act like neighbors. The German
custom is to have small villages Of FARM
ers, whose lind often lies one, two or
more miles distant. Our practical Yam
KEGS scorn this way Of doing things.
at is too unhanly for the work." So
everything is sacrificed to convenience
for work. I'VE labor harder and accom-
plish moro tllan the people Of any other
country, but the effect il seon in broken
down constitutions aud prcmAturely old
men, and In our Turning population the
effects Of mn almost, complete isolation
from social life. By.nnd-byc we sl!all
learn that more is gained by corporation
than by. isolation. Farmers will work
together, and their wives will also. The
baking for u dozen fhmilie1 may be done
in summer by fire in onc large stove Or
range, and Il housewife will no mnro
think Of doing the weeks washing by
hand with tho present slow processes
than her husband would Of reRping his
grim with n sickle, or thrashing his en-
tirG harvest with q lail..-,IE j. F. In
Cnmtry Gentleman. 4lr..4. ..'''