4 ECONOMY OF FARMING. 



large extent of land even if he retains only a little for the employment of labor. He 

 must practice the extensive method with the least employment of labor. In the 

 second case he must purchase only a small extent, not only because the land is 

 dearer, but also, because he must retain a greater capital for the payment of more 

 labor to be employed." The extensive system prevails comparatively more in our 

 country than the intensive, though it cannot be doubted, that many of our farmers 

 would find their advantage in tilling a smaller extent of land than they do to a higher 

 degree. It is sometimes the case, and our author does not seem to have noticed it, 

 that both land and labor are dear, as in some portions of our older states. In this 

 case the intensive system would seem altogether the preferable one. — Tr.] 



3. Ifwe know what is the proportional product of the field, under 

 given circumstances, to the various outlay of labor and manure, and also 

 the cash value of labor and of vegetable, and animal products ; we have 

 then the requisite data from which to estimate the gain or loss of any- 

 proposed method of husbandry. 



A. — OF THE LABOR OF MEN. 



1. The laborers in farming operations are divided into domestics^ 

 (Dienstboten,) day-laborers^ laborers by the job, and soccage-men. 

 (Froehner.) 



[For the explanation of the term Froehner or soccage-men, see below, 12.— Tr.] 



2. Domestics (Dienstboten,) are those laborers who engage to work 

 for their board and certain wages for a whole year. 



3. They receive their board either at the common table, or they have an 

 allowance of provision for their support, and themselves take the charge 

 of preparing it. The first mode is usual in smaller, the latter in larger 

 farms. 



Though the allowance-system has apparently great advantages for the man who 

 hires lab'orers, because he can thus form an easy and correct estimate in his farming ac- 

 counts, and also avoids the discontent of laborers, as to the quantity and quality of 

 food ; yet, on the other hand, it has the disadvantage of the loss of labor, since one 

 man can easily cook for thirty others ; but in the preparation o| the allowance not 

 more than five or six are joined together, and there will thus be more men engaged 

 in cooking a great part of the day ; and so this portion will be lost to labor in the 

 field, &c. 



[Thaer, Rat. Landwirth.— Vol.I.pp. 88, 89, speaks of the Dienstboten, whom he 

 calls Gesinde as " those who have hired out their services exclusively for our busine^, 

 and whom we board and pay wages." These, he also says " dwell either in the farm- 

 house, are there boarded, and in all respects provided for, and such are unmarried ; 

 or they receive a certain allowance (Deputat,) for their support, and dwell then, for 

 the most part, in separate buildings, and are married. The former mode is unques- 

 tionably the most profitable in respect to the cost, and the closer oversight one can 

 have over the men. The greater their number so much the more will the board of 

 each one be lessened, while with respect to their lodging, fuel, light, and even food, 

 with a greater number more may be spared. Where the number of servants are 

 but few, it is probably more advisable to give to all an allowance." " In most coun- 

 tries, some day of the week, or time of the year, and many holidays they have their 

 particular food, and the people would not be contented unless they have on such 

 days what they probably do not eat on ordinary days." 



Veit, also, Vol I. p. 134, gives a similar account of the system in Bavaria. Un- 

 der the head of laborers who condition their power of labor on a definite time, and for 

 this receive wages and board ; he makes the following divisions :— 



" 1. those who dwell in the farm-house where they receive board and yearly wages. 

 These are termed Dienstboten, and are usually unmarried persons. 



2. Such as dwell in separate houses, or in particular parts of the farm-buildings 



