Report for May, 1890, there is found the following : " Nearly 

 all the correspondents report that it is quite difficult to get 

 first-class farm help, and $20 to $25 per month and l)oard 

 would be a fair average of the wages paid." In Berkshire 

 County, this season, according to the returns of correspond- 

 ents, the range is from $12 to $30 per month and board; 

 in Franklin, $10 to $35; in Hampshire, $17 to $40; in 

 Hampden, $(> to $45; in Worcester, $18 to $50; in Mid- 

 dlesex, $18 to $30; in Essex, $18 to $30; in Norfolk, $20 

 to $45; in Bnstol, $18 to $35; in Plymouth, $20 to $25;. 

 and in Barnstable, $16 to $33. The lowest figures evidently 

 are for green emigrant help and the highest for foremen and 

 managers of fiirms. Judging by the returns, it is thought 

 that the avernge is between $20 and $25 per month. Board 

 is estimated at about $12 per month. It will be noticed that 

 these figures are in excess of those furnished by the United 

 States Department of Agriculture, but it should be borne 

 in mind that our figures refer to first-class help, while those 

 of the Department include all grades and classes. 



The following interesting items relative to farm help are 

 gleaned from Report No. 4, Miscellaneous Series, Division 

 of Statistics, of the United States Department of Agricult- 

 ure, which has recently been issued : — 



The investigations of rates of wages for farm labor, nine 

 of which have been made during the past twenty-six years, 

 have been very complete in method and satisfactory in 

 result. Beginning when labor was in demand to repair the 

 wastes of war, the average rates were high, gradually declin- 

 ing, finding lowest level in 1879, then rising to a normal 

 status, which has been maintained with wonderful uniformity 

 during the last ten years. 



Wages are highest in the Pacific coast States. The moun- 

 tain States hold second place. The agricultural labor of 

 New England is dear because of its scarcity, caused by the 

 great variety of manufacturing industries, which make a 

 demand for every kind of available labor. The difference 

 between wages with and without board, at various dates in 

 the several geographical divisions, affords an opportunity 

 for interesting study. This difterence stands practically for 

 the cost of board, and represents variation in prices of prod- 



