TRUCK-FARM LABOR IX NEW JERSEY, 1922 15 
had filed their declarations of intention to become citizens, and some 
of these had been unable to cany through proceedings for naturaliza- 
tion because of frequent change of residence. The remaining 41 
had become naturalized. 
Six hundred and one farm employees reported concerning their 
parentage. American born of American-born fathers numbered 335 
and of foreign-born fathers 141 ; foreign-born numbered 125, or 20.8 
per cent. Many American-born minors 3 of foreign-born fathers 
were so young they were considered by their employers as of the same 
nationality as their parents. 
Over five-sixths of the farm operators considered in this study* were 
native-born, and all were white except a few negroes. Nearly half 
the foreign-born operators were German, largely engaged in truck 
farming in Bergen County. Most of the remaining foreign born 
were Italian fruit growers located near Hammonton. Nationality 
of farm operators sometimes accounted for their preferences in hir- 
ing help. 
In southern New Jersey there is a general tendency, rather marked 
in Gloucester and Salem Counties, to prefer negro labor. In spite 
of this, Italians in some instances have been forcing out the colored 
workers by offering to work for lower wages, but once thoroughly 
established and with competition overcome, the Italians have not 
hesitated to demand higher pay. The Italians studied were largely 
employed on the truck farms of Gloucester County and the fruit 
district of Hammonton to which they often go in family groups, 
[n Bergen County a settlement of German-born farmers preferred 
German-born employees; otherwise Poles were generally liked there. 
Farmers in Salem County were occasionally found to have in 
their families boys taken at 10 years of age or older from institu- 
tions for destitute children, admittedly to use them within their 
strength and ability to take the place of other labor which was un- 
obtainable. This had been going on for years. The youngsters 
were apparently well treated and appeared contented. 
Fifty-five of the 683 farm employees interviewed were women or 
girls. These were found most frequently on truck farms, and also 
on fruit farms in Gloucester and Cumberland Counties. In the 
former county they were largely Italians from Philadelphia and in 
the latter mostly native-born residents. 
Minors interviewed were 141 in number. Five-sixths of them 
came from homes near their working places. Half were employed 
on truck farms, and the rest were scattered among all other types 
except dairy farms. 
The ages of farm employees interviewed ranged from 8 to 73 
and averaged 29.6 years. Practically three-fifths of the American 
born and one-fifth of the foreign born were under 25 years of age. 
The large number of American-born minors who were working 
during the summer vacation of public schools accounts in some 
measure for the lower average age of the American born. It also 
emphasises the farm demand for cheap harvest labor and the large 
proportion of the working force which is youthful. 
3 In this study minors were considered to be those under 1G years of age unless other- 
wise specified, as this is the age limit of compulsory education in New Jersey. 
