Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1886-01-05
THE FARM LABOR PRoBLEM.


NJ doubt mo., Of our readers are now
making their plans for next seasons cam
paign upon the farm. and studying re-
suits and kgurcs Coz their guidance.
Farming i q business or profession,
and mus, b. conducted uPoa bushes.
principles The 6nAl result must be =
gain Of money. no, only for the purpose
o. paying running expenses. bat the cap.
i,al ard labor employed mus, bring IN a
dividend each year.
There Is 10 industry among the whole
lisi In which men are Engaged. that calls
for such a s,fici use Of the principles ,hA,
govern eli branches of labor. A. farming,
and none - readily respond 70 good
treatment o. the reverse, a. does the
farm. 80. in mAking our calculations. We
mus, hsure 10 % manage ,hA, our original
capital i hep, good. and also that moth
ing goe, undone upon the farm OF around
the house or barns. that will in any way
increase its value. 81 Ne Jay Il down
a. an AXIOM that the more labor en-
ployed. jadiei0asly. the greater the in
come.
We have frequently heard the expires
sion There Is al~ays enough 70 DO up
on a farm" Too of,sn this j. 'Poksn IN
a mAaner that implies deri'ion. This l.
great mistake. Ia fact. there being
al~ay. work ready. Is oas of the bes, ar
yumsn,s in favor Of farming a. an occa-
paiion The mechAnie and lahore. Who
kno~ that each de day is % much dead
loss 90 them. vii a. once understand the
advantages of a business that always Of
fsrs YORK ~ fair compensation. IA the
aggregate. 90 course. msny dAys labor
arr speni upoa the farm every year that
30 not. a. once. bring returns Bat. ia
ally, each little improvement. each little
addition 20 The producing capacity. every
rod of permanent line fences. and every
atom of plant food Added % oar soh. IN
crsasss the value Of The farm. and makes
oar working capital Just % much larger,
jus, a. every Penny sdded 10 oar me-
ehanic irisnd'. bAnk.bcok Increases hi'
capital Therefore every reasonable oai
lay Coz labor j, warranted. for by - DO
ing. We can increase the per oeai. Of
profit
There may BE-. Among oar readers.
,ho.s -ho Are studying this problem Of
hiring the help ior the coming season.
Rsason and prudenoe alike dsmAad that
our expense. be made jasi A. small a.
possible: bat when ~e eramp ourselves,
and ~ a,ogt the labor OF spfing. poorly
supplied ~iih labor. ~e f.i % gei the
returns that ~e might reasonably expect.
and TIA, cur labor enti,lss us TO. Mo-,
farmers have the necessary teams And
tools fof carrying oa their farm opera
,ion.. and II few more acres sfe ADDED
10 the amour, cultivated, this team and
toci labor practically cost bat very little.
n one ~ill cAreially compare results be
~ili tad that. often. be Allo~s himself 20
De badly pinehsd. 1ni works TO .reA,
disadvantage because be fails 10 supply
himself With a plsniy q eonPe,en, labor
THIS fac, osiea arse. from a wish 20
make expenses a. small A. possible, and
| i. commeadAble a. faf As Il does 40; ooa-
/ fici 9TH running the farm 70 iis fall ca
paciiy. And realizing all the net prohis
possible. No;hing Is ever gained by
drawing a fogr.horse loAd with two
horse teams an exchange very truly
.Ays. The bane of our New EaglAnd
farms to-day Is the mAay uawoiked. IN
improved acres. We veniurr the asset
ton that oai Of every ten farms through
oat the coantry there Arr nine which are
worked 70 les. than half Of their eApaei-
". This fact leads 70 frequent diseour-
asemenis. Anl Is The cause %. mAny de-
serted farms and abAndoaed homes 10.
day. A. preventive Coz yoang men
lsavins The farms We arse the careful.
practical working of every available acre.
/ This leads 10 results that are pleasing and
cal. oai ambitions IN the young ,hA,
would always have remained dormant II
oae-hAlf Of The farm home bad always
been allowed % go,o waste and show Il,
ELECTS IN barren h-lds Aai consequent
small rv,uras.
Ia solving the labor problem. there
comes ia = question hos Il shall be faf.
nishsd There isqaiie = question Ia oar
MAD whether small farmer. should par
chase machines o. dspend on hired men
ior mosi Of The labor Of the farm. II he
provides himself With planters. seed SOW
srs. etc. there Is the iaisres, on the in
yes;meni. and necessary wear Of the ma
chimes 20 be tAken into account, To Off
.e, this We have the board and other ex-
penses Of the lAborsr. and whether the
latter i most desirable. depend. greA,
deal upon the manner ia which We are
situated. II We have plenty Of help in
the house no, otherwise employed. and
room 20 comfortably lodge our help. we
may provide ourselves with the necessary
extra nsn to accomplish our work IN the
mos, expeditions manner. Or. by a lib
erAl expense for machinery. We may
make ourselves Independent Of hired help
and leave the energies Of our women for
more eongeaiAl. and. perhaps, profitable
onployncLt
We have gieA, faith in the future Of
the farm dairy. Ia bat few years there
vii be much more dairy products 70 d..
rec, from the farm than Is the case to-
day Pouliry-raising offers extra induce.
meats just now The business i light.
pleasant. and can be made profitable for
the women folks aud younger members
Of ire fAiiily.
Bat even under the NOS, favorable cir
eamstAnces 10 farmer should ever erAmp
himself for capital for bis necessary run
ming expenses, BY purchasing machinery.
The two systems can be carried along to-
gether. gradually working in,o machines
a. our capital will warrant. And when
the farm Is fully equipped We shall find
ourselves well pleased with the results
In Considering ,hi. problem Of farm
labor, ii Is necessary 20 look AZ one thing
carefully. Farmer A may raise good
crops this year. His fields. perhaps,