90 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



not necessary for you to soil the carpets when you come into the house; 

 there is a way to clean your feet. It is not necessary, because your work 

 is of a character that often leaves you dirty, that you should go unbathed. 

 I am giving a plain talk to plain people, but many of you know what I 

 am talking about. Many forget it. 



Now I will say a word to the men who are hiring. There are a variety 

 of ways in which you can get the worth of your money. It will never 

 pay you to maintain an armed neutrality with your men. You may be 

 able to get along with it in that way a short time, but the moment you 

 are not satisfied with your man and he is not satisfied with you, you 

 would better excuse him or have a peaceable settlement and quit. It is 

 hardly worth while to quarrel, but the moment you arrive at that stage, 

 you know it. I don't suppose there is a man in this room but, the moment 

 a man on his place is dissatisfied, he detects it. Instead of forcing that 

 man to do anything, have an understanding with him, then and there, 

 because a man with that disposition often does you damage, and if you 

 have other men he is certainly a mischief-maker. Consequently, in spite 

 of the fact that you hired him for a set term, come to a conclusion with 

 him and excuse him. 



There is a good deal in knowing how to manage men. If you are hiring 

 many you will know it to be a fact that many good boys and men will 

 become thoughtless and perhaps lag a good deal, through story-telling 

 and visiting, and thoughtless things. Oftentimes a little plain talk with 

 him will " square up " a good man. Another thing I have found very 

 useful is to have some one man that I can depend upon made foreman, 

 and practically hold him responsible for the work when I am not there. 

 A great many of our most energetic farmers feel that they can only 

 secure the best results by leading their men, doing as much work as any 

 man on the place. I have always felt proud of the ability to do it, but for 

 many years I have found better results by walking behind my men than 

 by walking before. The man who leads his men is likely to encourage 

 them to do a little shiftless work to keep up. Now, I would much 

 rather have the opportunity to walk around behind my men and see that 

 the work is done well. I can make them understand that they have a 

 job, and that at a certain time they will be through with it; and if a man 

 isn't doing as he should, show him kindly; I have in this way little 

 trouble, though every year there are men who will shirk, but we get rid 

 of them, and better men take their places; and saving the best and 

 sorting out works very well. 



Now a word about girl help. This is said to be a national problem, and 

 consequently I will not attempt to solve it, but I think much could be 

 done toward making their lot a little easier. We should provide what we 

 can for their comfort; keep them well supplied with water, with dry 

 wood, and a number of little things — carrying out slops, and little things 

 like that. If you stop to think, you are asking your hired girl to give you 

 many more hours than your men. The system is wrong. If you get a 

 good girl don't, because the scale of wages through the country is a dol- 

 lar or two per week, refuse to pay her what she is worth ; and then, if she 

 occasionally wants a little time on Sunday, and if she is pretty good- 

 looking and some of the young fellows like to see her occasionally, you 

 must not object, if she is moderate in that line. 



