14 



Farm Help and Wages. 



Eeplies to the question of farm help and wages vary, of 

 course, according to localities and character of work expected. 

 Available farm help is more plenty than during the past few 

 years, owing, no doubt, to the large number of mechanics 

 and laborers out of employment on account of the present 

 industrial depression. A number of correspondents state that 

 farm help is plenty and others that it is scarce. Good help 

 is always scarce. Of the 68 replies to the query in regard to 

 the proportion of good help 16 correspondents give the pro- 

 portion as ^, 12 as -^q, 8 as |, 6 as ^, 5 as ^, 5 as -|, 3 each |, 

 ■^^ and -Jq , 2 each as | and |^, 1 as |^ and 2 as only one in one 

 hundred. Wages per month with board range from |8 to $28 

 per month according to locality and character of help. The 

 average appears to be $18 to $22 per month. Per day the 

 range is from $1 to $2 with $1 .50 as the average. From $8 to 

 $12 per month is allowed for board. One correspondent in 

 Franklin County writes: "We are overrun with tramps. 

 Some of them will work a few days and then pass on." 

 Another in Berkshire County Avrites : "Probably not 

 more than 25 per cent of form help are first class. It is 

 absolutely true when I say first class help is not to be had 

 as compared with forty years ago." One in Worcester 

 County writes: "It appears from the results of the late 

 stagnation in manufacturing, that the average mill hand, 

 male or female, would rather be helped by the town or 

 go on the tramp, than to leave the village and work on 

 a farm, and that help from such sources must not be looked 

 for." One in Middlesex County writes: "Tramps are un- 

 usually numerous ; but few seriously ask for work. Our 

 town farm superintendent offers them the alternative of 

 crackers and water, or sawing wood for a good square meal. 

 About 98 per cent take the crackers and water." Another 

 in Middlesex County writes : "There are plenty of men that 

 can pick and shovel and do that kind of work. Men that 

 can drive team, hoe and take good care of cultivated crops 

 have been scarce for years." 



