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sec all his work — because tbis work of tbe farm is not 

 a continual repetition of the same operations, like much 

 of the work performed in mechanics and manufactures, 

 but it is constantly changing ; hence skill and experi- 

 ence, as Avell as good judgment, are required for its best 

 performance. 



Farmers do not commonly estimate the difference be- 

 tween the value of the service of a really good man 

 and that of a poor one at a sufficiently high rate. The 

 men of greatest physical strength and endurance are 

 not always the most valuable, but rather those of less 

 strength, it may be, who understand the diverse mani- 

 pulations of farm labor, who are careful of tools, indus- 

 trious, and mindful of the interests of their employer. 

 It is certainly true that the aggregate cost of farm 

 labor is now more than farmers can afford ; but if they 

 would discriminate more and pay their best men higher, 

 wages, instead of paying common wages to inferior 

 help, it would be better economy, and possibly the 

 quality of labor might improve. 



The farmer's life is a never-ending conflict with weeds 

 and insects. Mechanical ingenuity has been taxed to 

 provide instruments for eradicating weeds in the most 

 thorough and economical manner, but yet some kinds al- 

 most baffle the farmer's efforts. By constant and time- 

 ly cultivation, most of the common weeds which infest 

 the garden and hoed crops, can be subdued. 



But there are some great pests like white-weed, chick- 

 weed and witch-grass, which defy the most determined 

 energy and skill and reappear like the phoenix when 

 they seem to be exterminated. Some writers have the 

 boldness to say that wutch grass has a value, and even 

 recommend it as a good grass to cultivate. But a long 

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