168 Seventeenth Annual Repokt of the 



to immigration in previous reports of this bureau, and, it is be- 

 lieved, will eventually lead to their better care and protection, and 

 the placing of immigrants in an environment which will make ol 

 them better citizens, and greatly increase their opportunities. 



During the past season some investigation was made in order to 

 discover additional ways of supplying needed farm labor, but while 

 practically all of the farmers interviewed on this subject were of 

 the opinion that large numbers of farm laborers were needed in 

 their respective communities, few of them had any idea of how 

 the bureau could supply that need. A few were of the opinion 

 that a number of foreign families coming from good agricultural 

 sections, placed in the same neighborhood, so that they would 

 furnish each other with society, could be induced to bring immi- 

 grants to their homes who would then supply the neighborhood 

 with both domestic and outdoor help. The growing families of 

 these people would also assist in the work of the neighborhood, 

 such as the picking and preparation for market of berries, vege- 

 tables and fruits, and be of some assistance in caring for and 

 harvesting the general farm crops. These opinions coincide largely 

 with those of the bureau. 



Experience has shown that people speaking foreign languages, 

 when isolated on farms, unable to speak their employer's lan- 

 guage and with no one in the vicinity with whom they can con- 

 verse, soon become homesick and leave their positions. A trip 

 through the country in almost any direction convinces one that 

 more farm help is badly needed. To the lack of such help can be 

 attributed the desertion of the farm by so many of the farmers' 

 sons and daughters, and the reluctance of those raised in the towns 

 and cities to engage in that occupation. The farmers of the state 

 have before them the opportunity of their lives. Values of farm 

 property are lower than in other parts of the country, and for 

 this condition of affairs there is neither need nor reason; for the 

 farmers themselves by making proper effort and assisting this 

 department can attract the attention of large numbers of people 

 in our western states who are seeking new homes; can bring to 

 their neighborhoods Americans returning in large numbers from 

 Canada, and Canadians coming to take up their homes in the 

 States, and also a good class of immigrants to assist in perform- 

 ing the labors of the farm. But in order to accomplish much 



