112 AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS 



can be plowed both ways. Faithfulness demands that the work- 

 man forget the contention, and put forth all his skill and energy 

 in checking the corn so that it can be cultivated in both direc- 

 tions with ease. Workmen have been known who, under these 

 circumstances, deliberately ran the check wire too loose or too 

 tight or allowed the wire to creep across the field by drawing more 

 from one end than from the other, and in various ways botched 

 the job so that the corn could not easily be cultivated cross- 

 wise, and hence nothing was gained by checking instead of 

 drilling. Such action is proof that the workman is incapable 

 of faithful service, and hence unworthy of his position. 



Honesty is a prime requisite. The man who says he doesn't 

 know, or who avoids telling his employer something which he 

 knows and which the employer has a right to know, is dis- 

 honest. The man who breaks a tool and lays the parts together 

 and assumes to know nothing about the accident is at heart a 

 liar. There is no place on the farm for the liar, because he can 

 never be trusted. The only safe and sane way is for the work- 

 man to report his mistakes and his accidents. A mistake re- 

 ported may be adjusted and forgotten, but a hidden mistake 

 grows into a larger difficulty, endangers mutual distrust, and 

 ultimately the discharge of the employee. The only profitable 

 way is for both parties to be honest where there is clearly 

 something which ought to be said. Frankness may go too far, 

 however. Too great freedom in saying what one thinks may 

 lead to hasty and ill-advised statements. Only after careful 

 consideration should criticisms be made, but when made they 

 should always be presented directly to the one criticized and 

 not to others. 



Courage is a quality which adds greatly to the effectiveness 

 of a man in any line of work. It is important, however, to dis- 

 criminate between courage and conceit. Courage is defined by 

 Webster as : " That quality of mind which enables one to en- 

 counter danger and difficulties with firmness, or without fear or 

 fainting of heart." One who is conceited, according to the same 

 authority, entertains a " flattering opinion of one's self." Con- 

 ceit greatly reduces the value of a man to the farm. The con- 



