66 THE LURE OF THE LAND 



all he is worth, and even more in his present condition 

 of indifference and ineptitude. 



I could better afford to pay a careful and enthusias- 

 tic laborer, who would see that his implements were 

 properly adjusted and cared for, $1.50 a day than I 

 could pay one, equally as strong and working equally 

 as long, of the usual type, $.75 a day. When I tell my 

 neighbor farmers that we pay too low hire for labor 

 they are horrified. They say that, as it is, they are con- 

 stantly driven to the utmost endeavors to raise money 

 to pay for farm labor, and yet the labor needs to be 

 done. The growing of crops ought to be done skil- 

 fully and carefully at far less expense than it is done 

 at the present time, indifferently and carelessly. 



No laborer is fit for farm work who does not take a 

 lively interest in the work and its character, and when 

 he does that and when he is taught the skill that is nec- 

 essary, he can earn twice as much as he gets at the 

 present time and the farmer is no worse off in paying 

 him double the price. 



REGARD FOR CONTRACT. 



Another difficulty which the farmer has is lack of re- 

 gard of a laborer for his contract. Many laborers on 

 the farm are necessarily employed by the day, as it 

 would not be profitable to keep them over the lax sea- 

 son. There are two or three times during the busy 

 seasons of the farmer's year when he has to have excess 

 labor, and these are the times of planting, of harvesting 

 and of thrashing. As you look into the faces of the 

 extra help you realize the magnitude of this great prob- 

 lem. As these are strenuous days, it is customary and 

 proper to pay higher wages. I have noticed repeatedly, 

 however, that men whom I have employed by the month 



