24 



sure, the feeling of pride and joy at the fact might very properly 

 become universal. 



We think it safe to say that the average increase of farm labor- 

 ers' wages, within the last fifteen or twenty years, has been at 

 least one hundred per cent. ; with no small diminution of the 

 hours of labor, and little, if any, general increase of farm pro- 

 ducts. And the question presses heavily upon many farmers — 

 causing, in some cases, the abandonment of their farms, — " How 

 can this change be borne by those whose income is to be derived 

 entirely from the soil ?" In the vicinity of large markets, where 

 supplies for them are mainly produced, the hardship complained 

 of may not be felt. But, in remoter rural districts, it is obviously 

 a very different matter ; and all the worse, because in those dis- 

 tricts the pi-ice of labor and the hours of employment are gradu- 

 ated by the general practice in these more fortunate localities. 

 It is said, on the other hand, that the cost of the laborer's living 

 is greatly increased, and that the value of the products of his 

 labor is, in many cases, doubled. We admit that the cost of liv- 

 ing is very much greater to the employed as well as the employer. 

 But this increase is, in most cases, to be met by the farmer him- 

 self who must board the laborer. And we have yet to learn that 

 the prices of farm products in general bear any proportion to the 

 advancement in the cost of living and labor. It should be remem- 

 bered, too, that the laborer seldom, if ever, has any large tax to 

 pay ; while the farmer is taxed, for real and personal estate, in 

 many cases, six or eight hundred per cent, more than he was 

 taxed twenty years ago. 



This aspect of the heavy pressure upon many farmers renders 

 the subject worthy of consideration by agricultural societies, if 

 haply, some remedy or alleviation of the evil may be found. We 

 shall not pretend to propose any remedy or alleviation, but deem 

 it proper to offer these suggestions, in order that other minds may 

 be induced to give the subject attention ; and with the hope that 

 they may devise some plan by which the employer and employed 

 will be placed in more equitable relations, and the disheartening 

 circumstances under which many, if not most farmers are now 

 laboring, may be removed. 



The question, whether the time of a day's labor shall be re- 

 duced by law to eight hours, is now before the public, and elicits 

 ardent support from many among the laboring classes. One of 

 the arguments in favor of this reduction, which we have seen re- 

 ported, is, that on the establishment of the present system of ten 

 hours as a day's labor, the wages of labor were raised twenty 

 per cent. ; and that a reduction of two hours now must necessa- 

 rily be attended with a like proportionate increase of wages. 



Are hired laborers upon the farm overworked now, or any 



