416 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



wanted, with a little encouragement, who will be very inef- 

 ficient if found fault with. 



Men who are worth employing at all know that it is for 

 their interest to do Avhat the employers want, and will try 

 to do it, however unsuccessfully. It is a proof of the far- 

 mer's good judgment if he can select those who give 

 reasonable prospect of success, and who will become efficient 

 with encouragement and instruction, and can drop those 

 who will surely be a source of trouble, from their bad habits 

 and irregularity. It is better still if the farmer can make 

 this selection beforehand. If an undesirable applicant 

 comes, the farmer may decline to employ at that time ; or, 

 if in great need of help, he may put the man to work for a 

 short time, with the understanding that he will be employed 

 only so long as he shall do well. In this way very ordinary 

 help will do reasonably well for a week or a month, and at 

 the end of the time can be paid off, and, as opportunity 

 offers, the place can be better filled, temporarily, till a satis- 

 factory man is found. Then it is equal proof of the farmer's 

 good judgment to keep such a man. 



It is a mistake to find fault with men. It is a mistake to 

 discharge a man before his time is completed, for any ill- 

 considered cause. It is an equal mistake to keep a man 

 long employed, if he does not comply with your wishes and 

 use his best efforts to meet your requirements. One such 

 man, kept after his character is known, is a source of 

 trouble with all the other men who ma}^ be employed. 

 They are quick to notice, perhaps quicker than the em- 

 ployer himself, unfaithfulness and wrong habits : and, if 

 these go long unnoticed, they will soon take like liberties 

 themselves, and will drop their standard to that of the poor- 

 est man allowed to retain a permanent place. On the other 

 hand, if they find that this poorest man is pretty promptly 

 dropped, they will take good care to do better than he did, 

 and the standard can be made higher every time. 



It is poor policy to discuss with one's neighbors the char- 

 acter of the men employed, either their good qualities or 

 their bad ones. If the good qualities are made public, some 

 one may hire the men away from you; if the bad qualities 

 arc mentioned, you condemn yourself for keeping such men, 



