No. 7. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 5 



the laborer had to support himself and family. In Ireland the aver- 

 age compensation for farm labor during the same period was but 

 $2.72 per week. The report referred to makes the statement that 

 there has been no particular change in conditions since the above 

 figures were compiled. 



By way of comparison, the same report states that it is not sur- 

 prising, under the circumstances, that the number of agricultural 

 laborers in England and Wales should have dropped from 1,110,31 1 

 in 1851, to 609,105 in 1902, notwithstanding the increased population 

 to be supplied and the marked development in other industries by 

 which an increased demand for farm products is created. It is appar- 

 ent that the larger the per cent, is, of the population of any country, 

 that is employed in manufacturing industries, the greater must be 

 the demand for farm products. Such demand must be met in some 

 way, and the only way that it can be done is by increased production 

 at home or by increased importation. Wherever agriculture is 

 reduced to such an extent that living wages cannot be secured by 

 those who till the soil, the people must either emigrate or engage in 

 other emijloyments. 



So far as our own country, and particularly our own State, is 

 concerned, the existing conditions are much more satisfactory. 

 There has not only been an enormous increase in manufacturing 

 industries, but there has been a like increase in the yield of farm 

 products. 



In England the majority of wage earners are now engaged in man- 

 ufacturing pursuits, and as they cannot bear an increase in the cost 

 of food without an increase of wages, the decline in agriculture in 

 Great Britain is not only unavoidable, under present conditions, but 

 it is likely to continue for an indefinite period of time to come. When 

 compared with the agricultural classes of other countries, the Penn- 

 sylvania farmer has great reason for self-congratulation. Persons 

 who have traveled in Ireland and witnessed the extreme poverty of 

 her laboring classes, express themselves as being able to appreciate 

 the desire of these people to emigrate to the United States on account 

 of the immeasurable change for the better, experienced by those 

 who come to this country. 



The development of American agriculture in recent years has been 

 most remarkable, and Pennsylvania has accomplished her full share 

 of the progress made. Larger yields of farm crops are being secured 

 as the result of better methods, more skillful and intelligent soil cul- 

 tivation, and the application of proper fertilizers and soil preserva- 

 tives which our farmers are coming to understand better and better 

 every year. 



Labor saving machinery is, year by year, becoming more common, 

 and without its help the farmer of today would be in an almost help- 

 less position. Although decided progress has been made and crops 

 are produced with possibly one-half the physical effort required 

 by the farmer of a score of years ago, conditions are, nevertheless, 

 such as may well awaken fears for the future, owing to the fact 

 that other pursuits are attracting the attention of many of the best 

 young men and women reared in the rural districts and rapidly draw- 

 ing them away from the farm. It is to be hoped that with con- 

 tinued improvements in farm machinery and implements by which 

 the labor of the farm is constantly being made lighter, and with the 



