The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1904-08-23
pigs, ETC., by them. They at least might become
a source of annoyance and trouble.
IMPROVED MACHINERY


Another question that can be considered IN con-
n~ection with this is improved farm implements
and machinery. If we can make the two blades
with less manual labor and with less expense than
we made the one blade with, we might well be
termed self-benefactors This is just what i'm
proved farm machinery and implements are in
tended for. The self-binder in the wheat field
has taken the place of the cradle, not only is the
work done more quickly and easily, but more eco
nomically with machinery than by hand. In many
sections the riding pillow and riding cultlvators
are taking the places of the old style turn plows
and cultivators.
Every farmer must be his own judge as to
whether his farm is adapted to improved machln-
cry and implements or not and then he can gov
ern himself accordingly. But where they can be
used to advantage, the present scarcity OF labor
should prove a strong argument for their adop-
ton. That is the only way that L see by which
we can materially increase the working capacity
of our labor as now constituted.
DISCRIMINATE BETWEEN GOOD LABOR N POOR
LABOR.
There is one other almost unanimous practice
among our farmers that in my opinion needs cor
~rection. That is a lack of discrimination between
the painstaking, efficient and Industrious hand
and the ordinary or trifing laborer in regard to
the wages paid each. A laborer is a laborer with
most of us, and we pay all alike. There is no
class of people that are treated in this way that
l know of except the common laborer. l contend
that a man should be paid according to his work.
The practice would be an inducement to the in
dustrial and efficient worker to continue as such
and might act as an inducement to those belong
ing to the other class to improve their ways so
as to get better wages.
[ know-that when laborers are worked in gangs
that a boss usually supervises them and drives the
careless and lazy so as to do as much work as the
best hands, thereby compelling them to earn their
wages. But with the average farmer that is not
at all practicable. l believe the change suggested
is worth considering.
THE EMPLOYER.
In the management of labor very much depends
upon. the employer or superintendent. In my opin-
ion 1T requires fully as much good judgment and
tact to successfully manage labor as it does to
drive a baking horse or a yoke of unruly steers,
and we all know with how much more seeming
ease some people can manage these than others
can. just so with labor. Some people have the
tact of getting very much more and better work
out of laborers than others can get, and at the
same time to do it in such a way as to make it "a
pleasure to the laborer to put forth his best eff
forts. This can often be done by judicious praise
given at just the right time.
1t is unnecessary to tell a negro that he is as
black as the ace of spades, for he can look in a
glass and see that for himself, but if he does his
work we'll and satisfactorily | think it we'll to tell
him so In words or actions and generally in both
ways. However, I do not advise indiscriminate
praise. Give it only when it is merited, and ON
the other hand, if after showing one how to do a
thing, he still persists in doing it the wrong way
or in not doing it satisfactorily, tell him pleas
antly but plainly that his work is not satisfactory.
and point out in what particular it is not pleas