The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-03-12
Boys, Why Not
Try the Farm?
By DR.. VIM. A. McKeever,
Professor OF the University of Kan
saS and nm Authority on
Social PPobiems.

TOR the tcnderfoot city boy
who feels the call to get out
on the soil and try out his
fortune there was perhaps never a
greater opportunity. Farm help is
going to be scarce everywhere, and
the wages will be relatively good.
In a vast agricultural territory
stretching, say, from Columbus,
Ohio, to Salina. Kan, and from Ok
lahoma City to Fargo. n. Oak,
there will be places for tens OF
thousands more agricultural helpers
than the market will be able to
supply.
But of the scores OF city boys
who in times past have written beg
ging me to help them get out on the
farm. nearly all have displayed
striking lack of initiative and OF
clear idea as to how to proceed. So.
more than ever before, / am going
to specify carefully the lines TO fol-
low.
March first and during the entire
month of March is very good time
to strike out for farm work.
The first step for the boy ventur-
ing farmward is to arm himself
with letter of commentator from
some good busintss man or Other
person who can speak from knowl-
edge as to the boys character and
reliability.
The second step is faithfully to
spend the money for a ticket to the
place selected on the map. If one
starts In l,
should hit northern Oklahoma or
southern Kansas.
Now, as soon as the town IL
reached, let the youth inquire at
the Chamber OF Commerce, the Gov.
eminent Postoffice building, or the
local newspaper office for n place
TO work on farm. Hesitate very
little as to choice of places, The
presumption is that you know moth
ing about farming. Engage any
where for week or two on trial,
TO work for your board and tut
ton.
Admit frankly that you do not
know anything about farming, but
that you are eager to learn.
Then, so to it with all your might
and learn-how to feed and harness
team; how to milk a COW or care
for swine: how to feed poultry or
clean out a barn; how to chop stove
wood or repair n field fence: how
to guide a horse or run a furrow;
how to put out garden or run
grain drill: etc, etc.
What you must work for asSiGu-
ously for the first two or three
weeks is, first, experience: second,
reputation. You must learn how 20
a 4. ~
work with reasonable sclf-assur-
ancc, and you must try so hard to
please that the farmer will either
desire to retain you for tho season
at good wages; or n lie has not
enough work for that. YOU must
earn his commentator.
This ccrtilcs that John Jones,
the bearer, has helped me on tn
farm for period OF three week
past, and that he is a faithful AMI
reliable farm assistant. 7 commend
him to any ono who may need him
for similar work"
Again 7 say In all carncstness
that the first asset for tho tender
foot starting to tho farm Us faith.
lie must make tho plunge in faith,
as | hayc described and his reward
VIII be practically assured. ThH
faithful, reliable effort such a.
have just outlined will get n Eo1l
young man in anywhere he may
wish TO rick his fortune.
To tho city boy. accustomed 10 his
81 per day. the farm wages viii
not seem high enough. Perhaps Sia
10 SIS per week VIII be the limit
for while. But hc must rcr'cut' -
that this money " prpctjrNlN ~
fsin, Board. lodging and wsshius-
should be included. And tho az
pense for clothes will be almosaS