Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1878-04-12
Farm Labor.

As the season approaches for the en-
gagement OF men for the farm, a few
s%easonable hints to the employer. as
well as the employed, may be of benefit
to both. The question naturally arises
with the farmer as to where he can Get
the best and cheapest man, and too fire.
quently he chooses the latter. He
should always keep in view that the
best is always the cheapest, and also
that he should pay his men what they
are worth. Treat them with respect,
and they will generally treat you the
same. The farmer, in engaging men.
should not only look at what they can
accomplish, but at their character. and.
II possible, at that of their parents also.
There are several classes of men from
which to select. He should make it a
point, it possible, to hire the son of a
farmer who is not %pecuniarily able to
help his sons; n who has pluck and
ambition enough to leave his home, and
try to better his condition, both intel
l~ectually and financially. This Il the
kind OF men hat give the best satisfac-
ton, and afterward become influential
farmers themselves.
Another class are foreigners who
have left their native land for better
prospects. They very generally prove
to be trustworthy and competent men,
There is yet another class that work
tor the wages they profess to earn. not
tor the benefit of their employer. The
least work they can mechanically per-
form the higher is their estimation of
themselves. This class very rarely hold
the same position two seasons in sue
cesslon, and too frequently only a few
months. These men Gas they call them
selves are frequently very costly and
Improbable, and at the end of the sea-
SOS the farmer finds himself little bet
ter OFT than he was at the beginning.
The employe that takes an interest in
everything, and works with a vim, try
ing to do his best both in regard to ouan-
tity and quality of work, and is not
afraid OF doing too much, is the one
that the farmer most needs. The man
that will rest on his pillow at the oppo-
site side of the field waiting for the sun
to 60 down, so that he will not have to
go another round, or will leave a gate
pun VI OdlS OpcH, WHcH lie KNOWS
they ought to be shut, is not one of the
right stamp, and his employer ought to
make a note of such. When a farmer
has a good hand, and the same becomes
dissatisfied, he should not offer him any
inducement whatever, as it will tend to
appease him for only a short time. Let
him go. He will do.you no good. If
on the other hand he is a good man
one ypH aannuI do well without1who
IS more than earning his wages, and who
is trustworthy, competent and indus
trlous, encourage him.
\ few words to those employed who
may chance to read these few lines.
First, remember all your time is your
employers, and you are indebted to him
for the just fulfllment of it. as much
as he is indebted to you for your wages.
Second, when at work strive. to do it in
as short a time as possible, always be-
ing sure that nc one can do it any bet
ter: Third, make yourself as agreeable
and be OF as even temperature as the
best, always willing and obedient, and
lastly but not leastly, keep your char
acter from %reprOach, e%ndeavoring to
cultivate yourself for higher positions
than those you now occupy ountrv
Gentleman.