WHY BOYS LEAVE FARM 



life in which no self-respecting man should ask 

 a woman to participate. I say this because of 

 the ceaseless care and unlimited toil which fall 

 to the lot of the farmer's wife. 



"While I have many minor reasons, the fore- 

 going are the most important that occur to me at 

 the present time." 



(8) "On the farm, there are longer hours, 

 harder work, and smaller compensation. ' ' 



(9) "It has been a matter more of accident 

 than of choice. When I was fifteen my father 

 retired, being then fifty-five or more. My elder 

 brother is a farmer (market-gardener on about 

 fifty acres) and my other brother a civil engi- 

 neer. As far as finances go, the farmer does 

 better than the civil engineer, although I judge 

 their abilities equal, each in his line. The civil 

 engineer has perhaps less work and more time 

 for recreation. I believe, however, that if the 

 farmer would be satisfied with savings per year 

 equal to the civil engineer, this condition would 

 be reversed. 



"I believe the answer to your question lies 

 in the narrow-minded and selfish attitude of far- 

 mers toward their sons rather than in anything 

 unattractive in farm life itself. In my own 

 case, my choice is by no means final and is due 

 to accident rather than to deliberation." 



101 



