Putnam patriot., 1917-11-02
DRAFT GETS MANY
 FARM LABORERS
Hartford County League Hard Pressed to Supply Men for
 Dairy Plants.
SOME ARE SELLING THE COWS
Serious Lack Of Help, Despite the Fact That the Harvesting IS Near ly compIeted-Do Not Like
 Floating Labor.

Hartford. The effect of the draft on the farm labor situation is being felt at the Hartford County league by a demand for more men than can be secured, although the league is plac. ing many men in positions every day. There is a serious shortage despite the fact that the harvesting is nearly completed and a large number of men should be released. Indications are that the army is getting the men rather than farmers that need the Ia. bor, according to the league.
 The greatest demand at the pres ent time is for men who have had dairy experience. Nearly every farm. CT who has any large number of COWS is short handed and dairy work can. not be let go. Cows must be milked at the right time, and milk or cream must be taken care of or it will sour. For most of the farmers of the coun- " dairving is the chief winter oceu-
 
 patton. As the work is not hard and the pay in some cases is good. usual ly many young farmers who work around through the tobacco districts in the summer retire to some out of the way farm to enjoy the winter months. The pay, in addition to the good board always to be found on farms, is attractive to many of these men, and when spring comes they have considerable money saved up. This year there are no men who want may result in some cases in the sell. ing of several COWS, because help cannot be secured to take care of them
 The Hartford County league is do- ing everything possible to connect the men who come here in response to their advertisements for farm help. Some days there are 10 or F appli- cants, but not all of them are fit to send out. All of the experienced men who are reliable are placed within a few minutes after they land in the office The farmers dc not however, take kindly to the floating, incompe tent labor that sometimes comes in for job.
 A few days ago two boys about six teen years old, both strong young fel- lows. who had been brought up on a farm, came in looking for job. Re- fore they had been in the office 10 minutes and while Secretary Otis H. Moore was trying to locate them one of the league members came in the office and engaged them on the spot. Between the two of them they could do even more than a mans work, and the farmer was we'll satisfied with his bargain Also a considerable part O, the applicants are aliens. Others ara naturalized foreigners who have been here but few years. Both of this class of workers make good farm help and learn American farming methods well, it is the experience of the league officials Several Swedish-Americans have been among the applicants dur ing the past few days. They are for the most part splendidly built fellows and capable of doing a large amount of work. All of these aliens soon save up few dollars and buy small farms for themselves. Also they usually buy undeyeloped farms and work the land, which. of course. is the best thing for the county One Of these men is now a prosperous farm. CT with a large, well developed and well stocked farm, although he has been in this state less than five years.