FARM LABOR IN MASSACHUSETTS, 1&21. 
23 
IMPROVEMENT OF FARM LABOR SITUATION. 
Possibility of improvement in supply and character of farm labor 
lies to some extent in the attitude of the public toward the impor- 
tance and requirements of agricultural work, but mostly in the selec- 
tion of the workers and their treatment by employing farmers. 
It is the general complaint of farmers that they can not pay wages 
as high as can industries. This attitude drives away from the 
farm work many capable men who would under proper conditions 
be worth to farmers the difference between the high and low wage 
rates. 
Providing adequate, comfortable, reasonably convenient housing 
would enable farmers hiring most or all of the year to secure and 
hold many more steady, dependable men than is now possible. Many 
men who otherwise would accept it, now refuse farm work because 
they can find no accommodations for their families in rural districts. 
More effort should be made to estimate the fitness of applicants 
for farm work. At present most of the employment agencies as well 
as the majority of farmers judge prospects by personal appearance and 
unsupported word only. A few better-class agencies require and 
verify references and statements of their applicants in the endeavor 
to supply and place men where best fitted. This service is mutually 
satisfactory. It remains for more demand to be created for it. 
The farmer should remember that his hired hand is human. The 
average man will respond to intelligent interest in him and his wel- 
fare. There are many things the employer can do at little or no 
expense to make the laborer's work easier or mere agreeable, his 
spare hours less monotonous, his quarters and conveniences more 
acceptable. The latter applies especially to the married man living 
in a farm tenement. 
OCCUPATIONS 
AGRICULTURE 
UNSKILLED 
agricultureX. 
SKILLED 
AGRICULTURE \ 
SKILLED a UNSKILLED^ 
AGRICULTURE ) 
AND INDUSTRY}"™ 
UNSKILLED J 
AGRICULTURE ) 
bNSKILLED AND > 
INDUSTRY skilled] 
unskilled! 
ANY TYPE 
PER CENT ENGAGED 
40 50 60 70 
100 
SKILLED I 
ANY TYPE J 
LIFETIME k2223 RECENT 
Fig. 5.— Percentages of 395 farm employees who had engaged exclusively in the t> pes ui work indicated. 
[See pp. 11-13.] 
