Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1907-04-11
SMALL FARMS PAY THE BEST.



With only a few weeks intervening
before the opening of spring work upon
the farm, Riga farmers are bestirring
themselves to secure suitable help,
says the Rochester (N. " Democrat
and Chronicle
A scarcity Of available farm labor
ers has enabled the practical and re-
liable man to place a premium upon
his labors that has kept the average
farmer in suspense, but now as the
season advances this class of men is
found to be desirable even at exorbi-
tant rates. Twenty dollars per month
no longer constitutes the standard and
even such offers as $500 per year, house
rent, fuel and cow kept" are being
frowned down.
In setting a price upon their work
some of the single men seem to ignore
the fact that board and laundry should
count for from SIG to $50 and set their
wages on a par with the man who
boards at home. Some farmers say
they think $50 per month, board, laun-
dry and horse kept, Is almost too much
to pay the average young man for his
services, yet the low wages paid to
farm help a few years ago would seem
to Justify something better than the
conditions and wages then prevalent.
When the farm laborer could earn
but $3.50 a year he was forced into
other pursuits and thus found his way
to the shops and factories of the city,
where, although the cost Of living is
high, the wages received will yield a
margin of profit
With the increase demanded in
wages there is q corresponding in
crease in the cost Of maintaining a
family, so that even at the high wages
paid, the farm laborer can scarcely be
pointed out as an object of envy. A
prominent Riga farmer states that the
successful farmer of the present sea-
son will be the one who finds it nee
essary to employ but little help and
that by the day. His claim is that a
robust young farmer can handle q farm
Of from 80 to 70 acres which will re-
quire two or three good horses. The
farm should contain a limited num-
Der of COWS and a small flock of sheep.
About 80 acres should be kept under
cultivation and the rest run to hay
and pasturage.
This plan would make it necessary
to hire help only during the season Of
haying and harvest. On a fruit farm
having an orchard of some size, late
crops which would interfere with the
fruit harvest should be avoided in the
main, although an orchard operated in
dependent of the farm should yield
good returns for all the labor and ex-
pense necessary to produce and mar
ket the crop.
Upon the large farms 1t IS necessary
to employ more help and here the ex-
pensive month hand is required and is
expected to make a consistent showing
with a separate set of tools. team and
general equipment. The employer takes
the chance of a propitious season or
otherwise; plans, superyises and car
ries heavy investment with a fairly
good prospect of profit. The month
man knows just where he stands and
watches the state of mind of his en-
pIoyer. If this remains serene he will
probably remain for the season. If on
the other hand the employer becomes
irritable, because Of unfavorable
weather, the month man is quick to as
sert his independence well knowing
that he can find employment elsewhere.
This situation is trying, for at the
height of the seasons work the en-
ploye and not the employer is master
of the situation.
Several fine farms IN this vicinity
have recently changed hands and few
others are offered for sale. Riga farms
sell for good price per acre, the av-
erage being about 500. On forced sale
to clear estates good farms run as low
as $50 per acre. A small farm in this
vicinity is considered a good invest
ment and any young man desiring a
purchase can readily obtain money on
first mortgage at per cent if able
to make anything like a consistent pay
ment.