38o 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
June 5 
AMERICAN FARM HELP. 
CONDITION OF THE HIKED MAN. 
1. Is it hard to obtain good help on the farm ? 
2. If so, what in your opinion is the reason ? 
3. Can you obtain Americans for farm labor ? 
4. What are the average wages paid, and how 
do these wages compare with former years? 
5. Do you find that improved farm machinery 
has displaced many farm laborers ? 
6. If so, what seems to have become of these 
laborers; in other words, what are they doing 
now ? 
Notes from New England 
1. Yes. 2. Too long hours, too little excitement. 
3 No. 4. 820 to $22 per month and board; $1.75 
per day and board themselves. 5. Not to any ex¬ 
tent in this section. 6. A great many prefer to 
go to town or city, get short days and a few busy 
ones, in the end have less than they would on the 
farm. Ninety per cent are either of foreign birth 
or else descendants of foreigners. a. w. b. 
Harvard, Mass. 
1. It is difficult to obtain good help on the farm 
in this section. 2. The reason, in my opinion, is 
that our best young men all go to the cities, and 
the prevailing idea is that it is degrading to do 
farm work. 3. It is difficult to get Americans for 
farm labor. 4. The average wages paid are $18 
per month for eight months and board; not 
much, if any, change from former years. 5. Im¬ 
proved farm machinery here has not displaced 
many farm laborers, except in the haying sea¬ 
son. We do not find it profitable to depend on 
foreign labor. The majority of the farmers, if 
they cannot get American labor, lay their plans 
for the season accordingly, and will not hire for¬ 
eigners. j. w. 
South Merrimack, N. H. 
1. It is almost impossible to obtain farm labor 
in Rhode Island unless we get it fresh landed 
from the old country, free from notions. 2. The 
craze to live in cities. 3. Scarce and unreliable. 
We prefer Scotch, Scandinavians and Portuguese. 
4. Farm hands $18 to $20 per month, and the 
neighbors pay higher. 5. No, because the ma¬ 
chinery enables us to take better care of the land 
and keep just as many men. We farm higher, 
and there is still so much room for improvement 
in this respect that we see no prospect of good 
farm laborers being thrown out. Take a Portu¬ 
guese boy just landed, and get him to do a day’s 
work around trees with a spade, and he will 
always be in demand in our section. 6. Loafing 
around cities, living in part on churches and 
misdirected so-called charities, afraid to do an 
honest day’s work. The sudden growth of the 
city has so dazzled and turned the heads of nine- 
tenths of the total population, that every man 
thinks that he must aspire to live in a city, 
whether he can support himself there or not. j. 
From New York Farmers. 
1. It is not very hard to obtain good help nn 
the farm. 2. -. 3. Yes, Americans can be 
procured on the farm. 4. The average wages are 
$15 to $20 per month and board. They should be 
certainly in favor of the present time. 5. Good 
machinery is certainly a great saving of labor; 
but it is not used extensively enough to discard 
good laborers. 6. Good labor is always in good 
demand on our small truck farms. a. h. 
Long Island. 
1. Yes. 2. No man who can get other employ¬ 
ment will engage as a farm hand. Reasons: Its 
solitariness, slow pay, long days, no chance to 
rise. 3. Yes—nothing else here. 4. Eighteen dol¬ 
lars per month for six months—$10 to $12 per 
month for the year—boarded and washing done. 
5. Not in the past 20 years. Much machinery is 
used, but much larger crops are raised (greater 
acreage!. Brick and terra cotta industries have 
taken a great many men from our farms in this 
locality. Our young men are better educated 
than formerly, and many are teaching school. 
Allegany County. T. 8. p. 
1. There has been plenty of good help in this sec¬ 
tion this season. 3. Most of the help here are Ameri¬ 
cans, a few English and Irish. 4. About $18 per 
month with board; day help, 75 cents in winter and 
$1 in summer, with board. Until this year, wages 
have been $20 to $22 per month, that is, for good 
farm hands. 5. I do not think it has very much, 
as although farmers used more machinery, they 
did more work on their farms; but for the two 
years past, and especially this season, it has had 
the effect to displace the farm laborer, as farmers 
are doing what they can themselves, and letting 
the rest go to grass. This includes some of our 
best farmers. 6. Some are renting farms or 
working them on shares for farmers who have 
moved into villages, many are working by the 
day, when they can find work, and many still 
looking for work. t. h. k. 
Tompkins County. 
I have every reason to believe that this county 
is one of the most favored agricultural sections 
of New York State. Its chief products are but¬ 
ter and cheese. Times are hard here, money is 
close, yet I believe that the farmers of this sec¬ 
tion know nothing of the scarcity of money as 
do the hop growers of Madison County, or the 
grape growers of Chautauqua. This place is run 
as a market garden, and the 10 acres cultivated 
are wholly within the village limits. 1. I have 
never experienced any difficulty in obtaining 
good help. I have my choice of at least a dozen 
applicants. When school closes, I hire boys from 
17 to 20 years of age to hoe onions, carrots, etc., 
to pick peas, dig early potatoes, or whatever 
else there is to do. The number of boys who apply 
for a “job” is legion. In the matter of picking 
berries, currants, and gooseberries, I generally 
let women or girls do that. I think if I had 1,000 
acres of small fruits, there would be more women 
anxious to earn a dollar than I could give em¬ 
ployment. 2. My opinion of the matter is that 
there are too many human beings in this section, 
or not enough money in circulation, probably the 
latter. 3. I never heard of any one experiencing 
difficulty in this section in obtaining Americans 
for farm help. Some half dozen years ago, I 
asked a young man visiting here who has a posi¬ 
tion as teacher in an institution upon thelludson, 
what help the farmers of that section employed. 
He told me that they had to put up with the scum 
of Castle Garden. This may have been an exag¬ 
geration, yet I doubt whether any such remark 
was ever made of farm help in this section. 4. 
From $16 to $20 per month and board. Sometimes 
a maiden lady or a widow who has a farm upon 
her hands, will give a little more than this to a 
steady man upon whom she can rely. I can get 
good help in school boys for 50 cents per day of 10 
hours. The boys board at home and generally 
spend every cent they earn as fast as they get it. 
I think wages for farm help a little lower this 
year than in years past. w. g. b. 
St. Lawrence County. 
Pennsylvania Farmers Talk. 
1. Not if you have the money to pay for it, and 
are willing to pay a fair price. 2. -. 3. Yes. 
4. Average wages per day, 75 cents; per month, 
$6 to $8, compared with $1 per day and $10 to $15 
formerly. 5. Through harvest and haying, yes, 
otherwise, no. 6. Some of these displaced labor¬ 
ers have gone West, some have gone to towns to 
work in mills, etc., and when work is slack, which 
is quite the common case at present, these labor¬ 
ers frequently, or whenever an opportunity offers, 
return again to the farms to work. h. c. w. 
Northumberland. 
1. Yes. 2. To a great extent, I think the foreign 
element has a great deal to do in regard to ob¬ 
taining good help on the farm. These foreigners 
will generally work from 25 to 50 per cent cheaper 
than Americans, and in a great many cases, this 
discourages American farm labor. I live five 
miles from the coal fields, and tnere seems to be 
a continual rush of this class to the country in 
search of work, and as cheap labor rules in other 
industries, it rules in farm labor as well. They 
can generally be obtained at any price, and in a 
short time, some of them make fairly good farm 
hands, and are able to go ahead and do the neces¬ 
sary work required of them. I think that, in my 
neighborhood, the foreign laborers will exceed 
the American two to one. 3. It is very hard to 
obtain good American farm laborers in this sec¬ 
tion. 4. The wages paid farm hands average 
from $12 to $18 per month. This, I think, com¬ 
pares very favorably with wages paid in former 
years. 5. The introduction of improved farm 
machinery has not displaced farm labor to any 
extent. w. 8. o. 
1. Very hard, indeed. Contractors and foremen 
in other occupations tell me that they experience 
the same difficulty. 2. Men of sufficient intelli¬ 
gence to be helpful on the farm are constantly 
looking around for an opportunity for better¬ 
ment, by engaging in the same business for 
themselves, or securing a position in some com¬ 
mercial, municipal, or corporate concern, per¬ 
haps more congenial, that promises shorter hours 
(this latter is being fulfilled to the letter here¬ 
abouts of late), with more time for relaxation 
and social intercourse. 3. Extremely difficult for 
the reasons given above. 4. Hard to answer, 
but about $16 per month, with board, would be a 
fair average. Wages run from $13 to $20 per 
month, which is the same as formerly. 5. In sec¬ 
tions devoted exclusively to grain growing, this 
question might be answered in the affirmative; 
but with us, no displacements have been made 
on that account, though good tools seem to call 
for more intelligence in their care and manage¬ 
ment. To sum up, I have never known a person 
who identified himself so closely with his em¬ 
ployer’s interests that his presence seemed neces¬ 
sary for best results, who ever had to look for a 
SI DO YOU SHAVE? SI 
If so, you want a good razor—one that 
you can’t make cut you. There is only 
one such. It is the Safety. The price 
is $2. You can’t buy it any place for 
less, because it is worth it. B'or just one 
month—June—no longer, no shorter, we 
will let you have one for less than they 
cost us by the dozen. Any time during 
the month of June, you may send us one 
new subscription and $2, with 10 cents 
extra for postage, and we will send you 
the razor by return mail, and the paper 
for a year to the new subscriber. Of 
course, you will get $1 for the new sub¬ 
scription, so the razor will cost you only 
$1 besides the postage. This will hold 
good only for the month of June. We 
positively will not repeat this offer after 
June. If not satisfied, we will return 
the money. Now is the time to act if 
you want comfort for the rest of your 
life in shaving. 
The Rural Nkw-Yobker, New York. 
job for any length of time. Neither does he, as a 
rule, have to move far from home to obtain em¬ 
ployment. Such men are usually appreciated at 
their face value, in their immediate neighbor¬ 
hood. It seems impossible to get a competent 
foreman who knows how to handle men to ad¬ 
vantage, and plan work intelligently. m. g. 
Luzerne County. 
There is no scarcity of farm help in our part of 
the country. Very few foreigners are employed. 
Our workmen are mostly whites, a few trusty 
colored laborers find berths with farmers, but 
the mass of them, like the foreign element of our 
population, congregate in the towns and cities. 
Wages have not perceptibly declined within the 
last 10 years. They range from as low as $6 per 
month for those who are dear at their board, up 
to $18; $11 up to $15 secures a very fair class of 
workmen. In paying higher wages, we expect, 
besides muscular skill, a higher order of intelli¬ 
gence; men who, with the means, would be fully 
competent to run a farm successfully for them¬ 
selves. Of course, these prices include board 
with the employer. A very fair average hand 
(Continued nn next vaoe.) 
Economy 
A daily constitutional | 
and a Columbia bicy- § 
cle — there’s healthy f 
economy for you—in- j 
vigoration in the exer- I 
cise—economy in the j 
wheel. Perhaps Colum- § 
bias cost a little more in [ 
the beginning, but they | 
are cheapest in the end. [ 
| Columbia Bicycles 
STANDARD OF $lf|n T0ALL 
THE WORLD. ALIKE. 
j HARTFORDS, next best, 5 60, 5 55, 5 50, s 45 
POPE MFG. CO., 
Hartford, Conn. 
g Catalogue free from any Columbia dealer; by 
mail for one 2-cent stamp. 
CIDER 
MACHINERY 
Hydraulic, Knuckle Joint and Screw 
Presses, Graters, Elevators, Pumj 
etc. Send for Catalogue, ny -J 1 
ROOMER & BOSCHERT 
PRESS CO., _ 
118 YV. Water St., Syracuse, IS. Y. 
CIDER & WINE PRESS 
MACHINERY. 
POWER AN1) HAXI) PRESSES. 
Capacity, 10 to 120 Ebls. in lohrs 
SEND FOR CATALOGUE. 
EMPIRE STATE PDLLE Y & PRESS CO., 
FULTON, Oswego Co., N.Y. 
Farmers, 
Gardeners and 
Fruit Growers 
To economize should freely use the time 
tested reliable brands of FERTILIZERS 
we manufacture. The goods Increase 
quantity and improve quality of Grain, 
Grass, Vegetables and Fruit, and make 
healthy Trees } Vines and Shrubs. 
Brands for all soils and all crops. 
tW* Some prefer making their own “ home 
mixings." for such we always keep in stock the 
Chemicals and crude materials required. 
THE CLEVELAND DRYER CO., 
No. 130 Summit Street, Cleveland, Ohio. 
WHEAT 
Will probably bring good prices 
next Fall—now for a big crop. 
NITRATE OF SODA 
Applied in the Spring, 50 to 100 
pounds per acre—will greatly in¬ 
crease the yield. It can be ob¬ 
tained of any enterprising fer¬ 
tilizer dealer. 
Please ask for pamphlet with full instruc¬ 
tions for using NITRATE on Wheat and 
other crops and instructions for MIXING 
FERTILIZERS at home. Address 
S. M. HARRIS, Moreton Farm(P.0.)N.Y. 
$20 Phosphate for Wheat and Grass 
Sold to farmers direct. We have no agents. Senp 
fur Circular. Low prices for car-load lots. 
YORK CHEMICAL WORKS. York. Pa. 
THE 
FARQUHAR 
^ 11 ^PATENT VARIABLE 
FRICTION i FEED. 
Medal and Highest Award at the World's Columbian Exposition* 
SAW MILL & ENGINE 
BEST SET WORKS IN THE WORLD. Warranted the beat made. 
Shingle MUIb, Machinery, and Standard Agricultural Imple* 
menta of Best Quality at lowest prices. Illustrated Catalogue. 
FARQUHAR SEPARATOR 
LARGEST CAPACITY. 
Most economical, lightest draught, 
wastes no grain. 'Cleans ready 
for niarket. Send for catalogues. 
A. R. FA KQUH A K CO., Ltd., York,P®. 
YOU WILL BE SURPRISED 
at the testimony we will send 
you from all over the United 
States regarding the 
“ CHARTER,” 
used for nearly every purpose 
power Is applied to under the 
sun. when you drop us a line. 
CHARTER 6ASEN6INE GO. 
Box 26, Sterling, Ill. 
The Smalley Family of Feed Savers 
are used by leading “up-to-date” farmers throughout U.e United States and Canada. 
!45 years practical experience enables us to give better goods at lower prices 
than any of our competitors. It pays others to use them; it will pay you. 
_ . — our Cutters will have slircddlng and husking attachments if desired 
l fir XH/ Feed mills will have either shake, or automatic screw feed. Ensilage 
w * Carriers will be made straight, angle or semi-circle. Farm Powers, 
8 sizes of sweep, G sizes tread and 3 sizes engines. Root Cutters, Elec¬ 
tric for hand or power use. Wood Saws, “Smalley” 
‘Battle Creek” drag and circular saws. 
I 
Monarch Feed Mills. 
The bust farm and 
feed mills on earth. 
Our famous Silo Machine 
No. 14, with elevator and 
1897 semi circle carrier. 
I feed mills on ear 
| SM1L1 
Liiii ■■ iii.nm—• 
Electric Hoot Cutter 
for hand or power. 
Smalley reed Cutters for 
hand use only. Nos. 0, 100. 
SMALLEY MANUFACTURING CO., Sole Makers, MANITOWOC, WIS. 
REDUCE the Price of Your Insurance 
by roofing your building with our COEEUGATED ^ 
IRON AND STEEL ROOFING. 
, No more fires from defective flues, where the chimney 
passes through the roof, or from sparks falling upon the 
roof. Cheaper than Bliingles, because the first cost is no 
greater, while the lasting qualities are double. A COOD 
CORRUCATED STEEL ROOF at 2^ cts. per square 
foot. A building roofed with iron or steel is entitled to the 
same rate per thousand of insurance as one which is 
roofed with slate—the difference in first cost is in 
favor of iron and steel. 
For circulars, prices and estimates, address 
The Berlin Iron Bridce Co., 
PART BERLIN. CONNECTICUT 
