MONTHLY EEP.Q; 



UBkARY 

 NEW YORK 

 BOTANICAL 



GARDEN 



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Department of Agriculture, S^^atjsttc'al Division, 



WasMngton, J\'Q^. Januar.p 31, 187D. 

 Sir : I lierewitli report for x)ublication statistiBS^-^owins ta€ average 

 rate of wages of farm laborers in the several States of the TJiiiou ; 

 tabular statements of the average yield per acre of farm products for 

 the year 1869, with the average prices per bushel for the same, January 

 1, 1870 ; notes on the growing crops of winter grain 5 a variety of 

 extracts from the correspondence of the Department; together with 

 articles on cotton as a surplus crop, the Michigan fruit region, tea cul- 

 ture in California, menhaden fisheries of Long Island, mineral food of 

 plants, beet-sugar manufacture in the German Zollvereiu, farm capital, 

 grape tests in Vine Yalley, (New York,) live stock receipts at New York 

 and Chicago, the prices of domestic wool for fifteen years at New York, 

 exports of petroleum, meteorological tables and notes on the weather 

 for December, &c., &c. 



J. E. DODGE, 



Statistician. 

 Hon. Horace Capron, 



Commissioner. 



THE EATE OF WAGES OF FAEM LABOEEES IN THE 

 UNITED STATES. 



An investigation of the subject of agricultural wages was undertaken 

 in December, 1860, through the statistical correspondents of this De- 

 partment, and reports were received from nearly three-fourths of the 

 counties of the United States. The results obtained were entirely 

 satisfactory, furnishing internal evidence of carefulness and accuracy 

 in the original statements. It was found that the average rate of wages 

 in the United States was about $26. The average, when board was fur- 

 f iiished in addition to wages, was $15 50, leaving $10 50 as the average 

 r- allowance for board. Thirty years ago the pay of farm laborers was 

 J. estimated by Mr. H. C. Carey at $9 per month with board. - 

 J- It was also shown that while the M'hite laborers of this country 

 obtained $336, the average English farm laborer received but $182, 

 '^'including the value of all extras and allowances ; and that while our 

 i labor has been subject to competition by millions of immigrants, its 

 rate of reward has been gradually increasing, and the demand for it has 

 outrun the supply. 



A further examination of the same subject has just been completed, 

 which shows that the rate of wages has not been greatly reduced dur- 



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