No. 4.] EMPLOYMENT OF FAKM LABOR. 415 



THE EMPLOYMENT OF FAKM LABOR. 



BY W. A. KILBOURN OF SOUTH LANCASTER. 



The old-fashioned term, "help," has been dropped, and 

 the word " labor " used, with a peculiar significance. Fifty 

 years ago a farmer found help in the sons of his neighbors 

 of his own town, or the hardy young men from Vermont 

 and New Hampshire, who were help indeed. To-day, with 

 few exceptions, the men employed are of a different race, 

 with very different character, and, we do them no injustice 

 in saying, one which does not compare favorably with the 

 Yankee grit and efficiency. Yet the labor we have to-day, 

 such as it is, is the most important matter for the farmer to 

 consider. It is often the largest item of expense, and very 

 often the least satisfactory one. Y r et upon the farmer him- 

 self depends very much the efficiency and character of the 

 help in his employment. In other words, his help is what 

 he makes it. I do not mean that an inefficient, ignorant man 

 can be made industrious, efficient and intelligent, though 

 much may be done in this direction by a careful employer ; 

 but I mean that an inefficient, unsatisfactory man may be 

 replaced when his time expires by one more competent, and 

 he again by one still better, if the farmer is watchful, and 

 willing to pay something for faithful service. It is true that, 

 under the present conditions of labor, the farmer cannot pay 

 much difference in wages to the men he employs ; but he 

 can make it an object for the best men to stay with him 

 through the year, and through the next year too, by making 

 his employment constant, and by letting the man understand 

 that his service is satisfactory. This is a very strong point ; 

 for many men can do well if they feel that they are giving 

 good satisfaction, and will make a strong effort to do what is 



