6 



ing operations, these will surely fall far short of that success 

 which is possible and desired. And again, that the more in- 

 telligence that is put into manual labor, either in its direction, 

 or in its performance, so much more will be accomplished, and 

 with a decreasing proportion of exhaustion to the muscles. 



In extensive farming operations, where much work is done, 

 and many workmen employed, the head farmer, while he must 

 have had full experience as a farm worker and understand its 

 requirements fully, has little opportunity to do more than ob- 

 serve and direct the whole, from the first preparation until the 

 consumption, or sale, of the crops. Such experience is neces- 

 sary also to enable him to deal justly by his help and expect 

 all, but no more, than is reasonably possible of a faithful worker^ 

 while he urges on the more tardy. 



A great trouble that farmers have to contendwith, and one 

 which is greater than it at first seems, is that labor cannot be 

 easily secured by the day for a part of the season. There are 

 times when we should like extra help for a few weeks during 

 periods of planting and harvesting, and when it would be great- 

 ly to our advantage could we hasten such work by securing 

 more extra labor than our localities often can supply. Our 

 planting is the better in proportion to the quickness with which 

 we can get our crops into the ground, from the time of first 

 stirring it to the time of getting the seed covered. 



It is not good economy to direct too few men at any one 

 time. It would be best to complete the planting and harvesting 

 as quickly as possible with extra help and not let it drag along ; 

 and consume the intervening time in tilling and tending the 

 crops, and making improvements with the regular force on the 

 farm. Would it not be advisable on the score of health for 

 men, whose regular employment is not on the farm, but in its 



