1867, 



NEW ENGLAND FARRIER. 



397 



The rapid introduction uf mechanical appli- 

 ances, and new and improved methods of hus- 

 bandry have increased the demand for active, 

 intelligent and skilful labor. While the for- 

 mer suppl>- has been thus cut oil", another class 

 of lat)orers has come from other sources. 

 How well the latter meet the requirements of 

 farmers need not be stated here. It is suffi- 

 cient to say that the vexations and discourage- 

 ments experienced with modern help have been 

 the turning point in the sale of many a farm, 

 and in other cases have caused operations to 

 be contracted into the narrowest limit possible. 



AVhile some farmers are thus giving up in 

 despair, and others waste time in regretting 

 over the past, or in desponding over the pres- 

 ent or future, it is well to inquire if the best 

 mode of dealing with this new material has 

 yet been adopted. It is evident that the sys- 

 tem practicable with the former class is not in 

 all respects advisable for the present class. 

 So radical a change in the character of the la- 

 borer must be met with a corresponding change 

 in the manner of dealing with him. 



Under the present plan of boarding their 

 hands, farmers are dependent upon the young 

 and inexperienced, or on older men of thrift- 

 less or indifferent habits, who, having no par- 

 ticular attachments to any place, are fond of 

 change, and Hoat about for novelty and ex- 

 citement, if they find no other pretext for leav- 

 ing an employer. These are so unstable that 

 it is difficult to make them fulfil a contract for 

 a single season. The old apprentice system is 

 an institution of the past, and there is no re- 

 straining this roving disposition of young help. 

 Provided there was, by the time that young 

 men become thoroughly useful they naturally 

 desire to establish a home of their own. This 

 cannot be done in their employer's kitchen. 

 The only alternative for them is to leave him 

 and go where they can. 



Such a system has inherent defects, and is 

 not adapted to the exigencies of the times. 

 Something is needed that will induce the young 

 men to remain a few years longer, and give a 

 more permanent character to labor. That 

 want will be supplied when pleasant and com- 

 fortable tenemettts, one or more according to 

 the size of the farm, are provided for the 

 workmen upon the farm. Then the services 

 of married men can be secured ; those having 

 maturity of character and the requisite experi- 

 ence for profitable hands. Such men, having 

 a family and home upon the farm, will natural- 

 ly take a deeper interest in their employer's 

 business ; will be less inclined to rove about 

 and quit a good place on the slightest variance. 

 It is not enough to employ married men who 

 have families miles away, or in a neighboring 

 village within walking distance, and the men 

 board at home. For with their families in one 

 place and their work in another, their attention 

 is likely to be divided, and often when most 

 needed they are not to be found. 



The families of these men will increase the 



supply of female help for the«farm and neigh- 

 borhood ; both kinds of which are scarce in 

 most rural districts. The wives of the labor- 

 ers, if foreigners, will gladly accept of extra 

 jobs at the farm-house ; and those farmers who 

 know so well how to turn the time of their 

 own children to profit will see that these chil- 

 dren will be cheap help for the busy seasons. 

 Well trained lads are far more profitable upon 

 many kinds of work than men of twice their 

 strength. With plenty of such help at com- 

 mand there would be no excuse for weedy 

 fields ; and the cultivation of small fruits and 

 of fruit generally, with root crops, &c., would 

 be practicable where they are now considered 

 unprofitable, with only heavy, clumsy men tu 

 do the work. The multiplication of machine- 

 ry upon the farm favors the employment of 

 young, light and active help. The great want 

 of farmers is permanent cheap help to diminish 

 the cost of production and increase the profits 

 of the farm, and it is this occasional help 

 which can be had at call for specified work 

 which is cheapest and best. Is there any way 

 of obtaining it except by a resident population ? 



The expense of this plan need deter none 

 from adopting it. A few hundred dollars, at 

 present prices, will erect tasteful and comfor- 

 table tenements of four or five rooms, which 

 with a small garden and some trees can be 

 made an attractive home — far better than most 

 of the present class of hands ever enjoyed in 

 their native lands or can command in crowded 

 cities or manufacturing villages. Often a 

 large portion of the materials and labor for 

 construction can be furnished by the farm. 

 Whatever the cost, a fair percentage could be 

 deducted from wages for rent. 



I am confident that farmers' wives and 

 daughters will not object to a plan which at 

 once relieves them of so much hard and disa- 

 greeable work. The complaints that are so 

 often heard over their hard lot are not without 

 foundation. Farmer's kitchens under present 

 arrangements are noted places for unceasing 

 toil. Young girls have an intuitive dread of 

 them ; and not a few older ones, when they 

 have learned how comparatively easy people 

 in cities and villages live, prefer to jog along 

 solitary and alone, rather than assume the du- 

 ties of a farmer's wife. The wives of no 

 other class of men, with the same capital in 

 their business, perform so much downright 

 drudgery. Not long ago the apprentices and 

 most of the help of mechanics and small trad- 

 ers lived in the families of their employers ; 

 but through changes in our social condition, 

 that custom no longer exists, and surely far- 

 mer's wives have enough to do without keeping 

 boarders, and may plead the same good rea- 

 sons to be relieved of this heavy burden. 



But some may say, we board our hands to 

 maintain the strict economy which farming com- 

 pels us to practice. To make keeping boarders 

 profitable, is acknowledged by the experienced 

 to be a difficult business. Without the closest 



