FARM LABOR 341 



they usually plan to farm for themselves later. Most of 

 the farm labor is from this source. Estimates by farmers 

 scattered all over the United States indicate that 70 to 80 

 per cent of the farm laborers and tenants find it reasonably 

 possible to acquire farms of their own. 1 



This class of help should be treated as the equal of the 

 farmer in every way. The almost universal custom is for 

 the farm family to take such men into the family circle as 

 members of the family. Usually it pays to discuss plans 

 for work with such a young man. In this way, his interest 

 will be held. Very frequently such a man will take as 

 keen an interest in the farm as does the owner, provided 

 the owner discusses plans with him. 



Men of this kind do not need to be worked in gangs. 

 In fact, it is usually desirable to scatter men so that if a 

 breakdown or delay occurs, few men will be stopped. 



Another kind of hired help is the less reliable kind that 

 gets drunk whenever occasion arises. The farmer can 

 sometimes help to hold such a man on the farm by pro- 

 viding reading matter or something else to hold the interest. 

 Sometimes the best thing to do is to discharge him. 



The best men usually hire by the year. They do not 

 want to spend the winter loafing. It follows that one must 

 so organize his farm as to provide a full year's work if he 

 is to secure his choice of men. 



In the Eastern States, married men are more frequently 

 employed. Probably this is because there are more 

 houses on the farms than are needed. In many cases in 

 other sections, it will pay to build a house, if good married 

 men can be secured regularly. When the house and all 

 other items are counted, married men usually cost more 

 than single men, but are often more reliable. 



1 U. S. Dept. Agr., Yearbook, 1910, p. 199. 



