Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-05-06

With a shortage of hired farm
labor, as acute as in 1918, threaten
ing to curtail food production on
American farms, E. T. Meredith, Sec
rotary of agriculture, has issued an
appeal to city men, college students,
and others to spend their vacations
working on farms, particularly as
helpers in harvest fields.
Reports secured by the federal de-
partment from its representatives in
practically every state in the union
show that the supply Of hired farm
labor in this country is only about
Y per cent Of the normal supply,
compared with approximately "a per
cent of normal supply a year ago.
actly the same as that Of two years
ago, when large numbers of men were
in military service.
The present shortage has arisen
in spite of the fact that farm wages
are Is to rs per cent higher than
last year. The situation, unremedied
cannot fail to have an unfavorable
effect on production, according to the
United States department Of agri-
culture, and will tend to prevent any
reduction in the prices of farm prod
ucts. While the total acreage I'M
doubtedly will be reduced as a re-
suit of the present situation, it will
not be in as large proportion as the
reduction in the labor supply, be-
cause the farmers with their families
are eXerting themselves to the ut
most to overcome their handicap
Cultivation this year will be less in
tensive than formerly. More land
will be put into grass and such other
crops as require a minimum of labor
it is said, and the titled fields will be
less intensively cultivated.
Secretary Meredith calls on all
&c 70 m
their summer holidays helping re-
lieve the present situation and so aid
in combating high living costs. In
making this appeal it is recognized
that at the outset at least, such Ia
Dor is not as efficient as experienced
farm labor, but the. excellent results
secured in 1918, when city men In
large numbers aided the farmers.
leave no doubt as to the success OF
the present drive if the men will
respond.
The United States department OF
agriculture was represented by Asher
Hobson at the meeting of the Ma
tional Farm Labor conference held
in Kansas City April 16, and the Of
flee of farm management, of Wh1ch
Mr.. Hobson is assistant chief, is lay
ing plans looking toward offering Ell
fective aid in dealing with the farm
labor situation, particularly in the
harvest season. 1t is expected Cnat
definite announcements regarding
the near future. Until other pro-
vision has been made by the de-
partment all persons interested IN
finding work on farms should write
to the directors of agricultural ex-
tension at the agricultural colleges
in the various states. These directors
are prepared to supply the names OF
county agents having farmers In
their respective counties VINO neeo
farm labor. BY this method anyone
desiring to help on a farm can get
in direct communication with the
farmer.
The following comments from rep
resentatives of the United STATE
department of agriculture and others
Intimately familiar with conditions
in their respective localities sum
Marie the situation: . T.,
From Connecticut. Ihere is
general complaint of scarcity OF farn
labor in Connecticut. 1t is estlma a,'1G
use at prevailing wages $500 more
farm laborers than we have at pres
ent. Of these approximately z,o0'
would be needed for the summer only
in the tobacco and market garder
the general farms for year-rount
work. With the lower wage bu
Maintained commodity prices, {
larger number Of men would be used
There is special difficulty IN geTel ,Ilt
I wages show an advance of Is to 81
per cent over last year."
From Indiana. "One farmer II
Elkhart county wrote us that ther'
were fifteen farms in two townships
that were without tenants or Wou!t
soon be without tenants. This Il
merely an example of numerous re
ports of this kind that are cont1n
ually reaching us. :. In man!
aoooe, 20 ore renOrtino that they