FARMLABOR 867 



going to and from his work than the city man. He is at home for the 

 midday meal. 



In the majority of cases, the hours of labor during the busy season could 

 be reduced to ten without reducing the work accomplished. In most 

 cases men and teams could work more rapidly and accomplish just as much 

 as by longer hours and slower work. There always will be the emergency 

 demand for long hours for a few days now and then during seeding and 

 harvesting periods. 



Statistics indicate that the hours on farms are not as long as claimed. 

 While the farmer may be out of bed sixteen hours a day, he does not work 

 this many hours. In southeastern Minnesota, where crop raising and 

 dairying is followed, the average work-day throughout the year was found 

 to be 8.6 hours. In the northwestern part of the state, in a grain-growing 

 district, the average work-day was 7.4 hours. The average hours on Sunday 

 in these two districts were 3.4 and 2.2 respectively. (These data were 

 gathered by the United States Department of Agriculture and the Minne- 

 sota Experiment Station.) 



When long hours of labor prevail, the condition may be somewhat 

 ameliorated by allowing the help holidays during the time when the work 

 is not pressing. 



Wage of Farm Labor. — In comparing farm wages with those of other 

 occupations, the numerous perquisites of the farm laborer are underesti- 

 mated. Unmarried men generally receive room, board and laundry, in 

 addition to wages. The clothing requirements for farm work are generally 

 less than in most other occupations, and the incentive and opportunities 

 for spending for pleasure are also minimized. 



A comparison of wages in different occupations shows that farm wages 

 in this country have advanced relatively more than in any other line. 

 United States census reports show that the amount of wage paid farm labor- 

 ers in 1909 was over $650,000,000, or about double the amount reported 

 by the census ten years earlier. Farm wages are now about 55 per cent 

 higher than during the 80's, and 67 per cent higher than in 1894, a year of 

 financial depression. The average monthly rate of farm wages in the 

 United States, including board, is $21.38. When board is not included 

 it is $30.31. It varies widely in different sections of the country, and 

 ranged from $17.90 in South Carolina and $19.60 in Mississippi to $54 

 in Montana and $56.50 in Nevada. It is thus seen that the wage in Nevada 

 is more than three times that in South Carolina. Since 1890, wages of farm 

 labor have increased relatively more than those of manufacturing indus- 

 tries. The increase in farm wages was 37 per cent from 1900 to 1910 and 

 55 per cent from 1890 to 1910. For the same periods the increase in 

 manufacturing wages was 22 and 23 per cent only. The relative increase 

 of farm wage acts automatically in the distribution of labor. 



It is customary to employ a farm laborer by the day, week, month or 

 year. Frequently, a man will hire out early in the season for the year at a 



