ucts consumed and in the average rations of the several 

 groups. Not only are striking difTerences shown to exist 

 in groups of States, and greater still in individual State 

 averages, but in every State there is variation in its county 

 rates, due to the same causes which operate to diiferentiate 

 the wages of geographical sections. One of these causes is 

 density of population, as in the neighborhood of cities, which 

 results in high rents and dear food, and wages correspond- 

 ing. While farmers have suffered from low prices of certain 

 products, they have been unable to reduce the rate of wages. 



It might be supposed the depression in agriculture, of 

 which so much has been said and written, would be attended 

 with a decline in the rate of compensation paid for labor. 

 This has not taken place. The demand is well sustained." 

 Wages have not declined. On the contrary, a careful analy- 

 sis of all the data collected concerning farm wages from 1840 

 to 1865, in comparison with results of the more recent in- 

 vestigations, will show that in fifty years the compensation 

 of farm labor has very nearly doubled. Many a farmer com- 

 plains that labor costs too much, that values of products do 

 not warrant the rates demanded, and yet he must have it 

 and promptly makes the engagement. It is the compulsion 

 of competition, an indication of general employment and a 

 fair degree of prosperity. 



In comparison with other countries, American farm 

 labor stands first in rate of compensation. The present rate 

 of $282 per annum for labor of the Caucasian race can 

 scarcely be approached by any country unless by Australia. 

 According to the above report, the w^ages per month without 

 board by the year or season for Massachusetts Avere $38.94 

 in 1866, $35.95 in 1869, $31.87 in 1875, $25.00 in 1879, 

 $30.66 in 1882, $28.75 in 1885, $29.50 in 1888, $30.00 in 

 1890 and $29.70 in 1892 ; wages with board were $22.36 in 

 1866, $22.16 in 1869, $20.25 in 1875, $15.33 in 1879, $18.25 

 in 1882, $17.85 in 1885, $18.00 in 1888, $18.50 in 1890 

 and $18.00 in 1892. Average day wages paid for tran- 

 sient service in harvest : $2.41 in 1866, $2.37 in 1869, $1.90 

 in 1875, $1.50 in 1879, $1.75 in 1882, $1.70 in 1885, $1.80 

 in 1888 and $1.80 in 1890; with board the wages were 

 $1.92 in 1866, $1.95 in 1869, $1.50 in 1875, $1.00 in 1879, 



