3
Home and Farm Magazine Section Editorial Page
Suggestions From Our Associate Editors, Allowing for an Interchange of Views, Written by Men of Experience on Topics With
Which They Are Fully Acquainted Hints Along lines of Progressive Farm Thought.
HOME AND FARM MAGAZINE SECTION
A WOMAN WORTH WHILE.
IFTING THE HAT is a mark
of respect. .
Our hat is lifted high to Mrs.
Scott Durand.
She is a rich woman and she
lives in Chicago.
A few years ago Bhe went into
the dairy business.
Bought some Holsteins.
Bought sure flnernscys.
Mixed the milk. J
listuLlib...a- a nigh priced mar
ket in Chicago and sold it.
She knew nothing of the busi
ness. She worked it out by reading,
dairy books and farm journals,
affd by talking to dairymen, and
by using her own head.
Yes, we confess, she was a book
fanner.
But she'made her 270. acres pay
for four or five years and then
Bhe went to the Wisconsin Agri
cultural College.
What in the world ever possossed
her?
But she went and studied and
talked to college professors', and
returned to her farm and her 200
head of cattle.
She has toiled.
She has fought.
She makes $12,000 a year.
Too bad.
If she had only not gono in for
"book larnin" and that courso at
Wisconsin she would be a rich
woman.
A3 THE TWIG IS BENT.
SOMEHOW we wish we were a
tow-headed boy once more.
There came to the usk the
other day from the Oregon Agri
cultural College at Corvallis, Ore
gon a catalog of a boy's short
courso in agriculture.
That means the opportunity to
any young Oregonian to imbibe
farming loro for two full weeks at
a merely nominal cost, that of his
board and transportation.
It is quite possible that in vari
ous sections, of the country other
agricultural colleges offer similar
eportuiiities. We have not heard
of them.
In presenting this course, E. D.
Bossier, director of the Summer
School, says:
"Tho purpose is two-fold the
value to the boys who attend; tho
influence on the school represent
ed by those boys.
"Both consciously and uncon
sciously our ordinary school edu
cation places the emphasis on 'pre
paration for the professions and
other occupations relating to a
public career.
"In the minds of many people,
work upon the farm is menial. It
means early rising and early retir
ing and hard grinding labor from
sunr:3e to sunset. It is not sup
posed that any intelligence or high
degrto of education can be used
by a man on the farm.
"These erroneous ideas must not
only be banished from the minds
of the boys and girls who will be
tho future farmers and farmers'
wives, but an opportunity must be
given to show what a great field
for the application of scientifio
training is offered, how the great
est creative genius may be called
into play in working out the prob
lems which confront not only the
American farmer but the great
American public as well.
"The old notion that any sort
of labor which requires manual ac
tivity is necessarily uninteresting
and unintelligent must be driven
out of our schools. The skilled hand
must be directed by the highly
trained brain and, still above and
beyond this, it must be recognized
that only those who can build up
for themselves ideals which will
arouse all the energy and ambition
of which their natures are capable,
can be truly happy in any occupa
tion or profession."
That strikes us uncommonly like
good sense.
School boys who imbibe scien
tific farming at their earliest years
are going to be inspired with the
desire to attend an agricultural
college in later years and learn
how to improve on the ways of
their dads.
Their fathers often had to learn
in the school of hard experience.
And there are easier ways of do
ing things than the school-of-hard-experience
method.
The youngsters at Corvallis will
study a few hours overy day. The
balance of the time they will spend
Hiking, in sports and recreation.
The supervision will be that of
tho ."big brother" order.
The instruction will be very prac
tical and suited to the age of the
boys.
As a result of these two weeks'
study, it is expected that the boys
will learn to identify the principal
field crops which they may see as
they go about the country, loarn
something of their method of plant
ing, cultivation and harvesting;
will have some practical experience
in caring for vegetable gardens
which will be put in on the farm,
bo that by the time the boys reach
Corvallis the various vegetables
will be available for their study
and cultivation; will be abl to
recognize the principal breeds of
cattle, sheep, swine and horses, and
to know something of the points of
a good animal; will become inter-,
ested in the problems of breeding
up a good flock of chickens that
will not only be ornamental but
profitable as well; will recognize
some of the common plant pests in
orchard and garden and know how
to treat them.
In short, the object of the course
is to place in tho possession of tho
boys interesting information that
, will bo of some practical uso to
them immediately and will fill them
with an appreciation of tho great
scope of the study and arouso their
interest in pursuing their iuvestiga-
tions further.
"IDEAL" FARMING.
I.SJE RECEIVED this letter the
( other day. Somehow it in
terested us, for we believe
that the misconception of the writer
is the misconception of many. He
said: .
"I am a city man. I was always
under the impression farming was
an ideal occupation. My farming
friends say I am wrong. Which is
right?" y
Answer: City Man farming is
ideal IF
Farm lands are low in price.
Farm products of classes are de
ficient in supply.
Farming is conducted on an enor
mous scale.
Tho producer has a reputation,
especially for breeding purebred
stock; raising the finest grade of
fruit, and so forth.
Markets are advantageous.
Animals kept are productive.
There is a large yield with rela
tively little labor and fertilizer.
Cost of production is low by good
farm organization.
Products are stanle in character.
That is about all for tho pres-
ent,
out we think you will eaten
our drift, City Man.
You will find some of those con
ditions on every farm.
There are mighty few farms you
will find them all.
In other words, farming is ideal
In Utopia.
Anywhere else it is just a plain
. business and profession with the
same hardships and ths same suc
cesses you will find in everything
else tho world over.
(j,
FARM WAGES.
IIE LABORER on the farm is
often an almost invariable
cnninlainef.
His moan is moat frequent on the
subject of hi3 pay.
In fact, it might be said that his
moan is precisely that of the rest
of humanity:
"I want more money."
Yet consideration of his ease doos
not make it the deplorable one it
has been pointed out as being.
Tho condition of the farm labor
er is, financially and otherwise,
superior to that of the factory em
ploye. Tho money wages of farm labor
increased about 2.5 per cent dur
ing the past year, and about 11.0
per cent during the past four years.
Since 1902 the increase has been
about 36 per cent.
Wages of farm labor tended up
ward during the decade of the
seventies; they were almost sta
tionary during the eighties, and de
clined from 1892 to 1894, since
which timo they have steadily
tended upward. Farm wages now,
compared with wages during the
eighties, are about 56 per cent
higher; compared with tho low year
of 1894, wages aro now about 07
per cent highsr.
The current average rate of farm
wages in the United States, when
board is included, is, by the month;
$21.38; by the day, other than
harvest, $1.1(3; at harvest, $1.57.
When board is not included, the
rate is, by the month, $30.31; by
the day, other than harvest, $1.50;
by the day at harvest, $1.94.
Wage in different sections of
the United States vary widely.
For instance, the monthly rate,
without board, is $56.50 in Nevada,
$54.00 in Montana, and $51.00 in
Utah; but $17.90 in South Caro
lina, $19.60 in Mississippi, and
$20.20 in Georgia. The highest
state average, $56.50, is thus seen
to be 3.2 times higher than the
lowest rate, $17.90.
This wide difference in the wage
rates in different sections of the
United States is gradually lessen
ing. In seven investigations mado
between 1SGG and 1881, tho aver
ago of wage3 of farm day labor
(without board) in the . Western
states (where wages are highest)
was about 100 per cent higher than
in the South Atlantic states (whero 1
wages were lowest); whereas, in
seven investigations made since "
1898, tho Western states averaged'
about 110 per cent higher than the
South Atlantic, and in the past
year they were only about 90 por .
cent higher.
Tho money wages of farm labor :
have increased relatively more than
wages for labor in city manufac
tories during tho past twonty to
thirty years. ' ;
A comparison of the average of '
wages per employe in manufactur
ing industries, as , reported by the
census of 1910, 1900 and 1890, in
- dicates that the wages of. such em
ployes increased 22 per cent in ten
years (1900 to 1910), and increased
only 23 per ctmt in the twenty
years; the increases in fara labor
wages were approximately 37 per
cent in the ten years cd about 55
per cent ii the twenty years. This
relative gain of rural upon n.baa
wages acta automatically upon the
movement from country to eity.
Wages of farm labor fcavs bn
increasing rapidly, not only in tb
United States, but in moat, if ot
all, other countries of the world.
Ia Hungary the wage3 of ftgrienl
tural laborers increased about 80
per cent in tho ten years trwn
1S97 to 1907. In Denmark, final
1892 to 1905 wages of fara libr,
with board iocrased about JO jr
cent, and without board 22 psr sent.
In Sweden wages of agricultvral
laborers jweasod 35 per cent In
the ten years from 1898 to l&OS.
For Norway we have data show
ing the wagjs in country and in
towns, wherein is shown that
wages with board, increased 19 por
cent in country and 35 por cent in
towns, during the ton yeara of 1895
k to 1905, thus ahowiii! ft greater
gain in country thnn in io?n
wages. In Jap-t.a where economic
conditions havo been changing
rapidly, the yearly money 'vagca of
ag'icultnrai labor mw. than
doubled In i'f) fourteen yea.-.; "rci
1894 to 1908 and Increased 43 pa
cent from 1898 to 1908.
$ .'
VALUE OF ORGANIZATION.
THE Home and Farm Magazine
Section is not interested in
politics.
Nevertheless we keep an eye 04
things. ,
Hence we noted that the RepubIL
can voters of Oregon nominated Dr.
James B. Withycombe to bo thoi
candidate at tho goncral election
against the Democratic nominee, Dr.
C. J. Smith.
There are a number of lessong
or ideas from the nomination of
Dr. Withycombo.
First of these is that the farmer
anywhere is a mighty power when
he choosoB to exert himself.
Republican fanners chose to hav
one of themselves as a contestant
for the ultimate prize at the general
election. They proceeded to carry;
out that idoa by voting.
The ballot box is the mightiest
power for good or bad we have.
How rarely we exercise it!
Another idea we received from
the nomination of Dr. Withycombo,
wh was formerly director of the
extension department of Oregon
Agricultural College, was tho value
of cohesive organization.
Loyalty to their college caused
hundreds of O. A. C. graduates all
over Crcgon to rally to the banner
of Dr. Withycombe.
It Was as fine nn exhibition,
of real "college spirit ' ' as wo have
ever seen. It brought results. 1
Incidentally, thoso graduates -showed
their strength by standing
together. ;
The farmer represents the basio
wealth of this country. Alone he
is helpless. United ho makes a
power that can not bo withstood.
Whether it be through co-operative
organizations or through his
Grange, the farmer united has a
voice tho very stridency of which
can force the country to take notice
at any time.
In politics the farmer united can
make and upsot political parties.
Ho is apt to do it, too.
When the farmers of America
realize their strength then will they
recoivo greater consideration than
has pravit usly been their wont.
.
X
FARMER knows that a bank
savings account is the most.
beautiful thing on earth. There aro
no microbes in it to steal away his
peace of mind. It is a promoter of
sweet sleep, and an aid to digestion,
$ .
CITY man who tries his hand
at farming is filled with good
resolutions, but they too often die
of malnutrition. 1
.
YOUR farmer knows tho truth',
and he knows the average
man's opinions are generally of
more value to himself than to any
. one else. I
FARM is ono placo whero a fair
exchange is no robbory, even
when a farmer trades bis money for (
experience. j
S 1
TIIE FARMER knows that the
banker who shakes his hand
most effusively when crops aro
good and he has monoy to loan,
shakes him altogether when it's
gone. .
$
?0 FARMER can bo popular and
1 tell his troubles. j
I
kJPOUR richest farmor most often '
I is tho fellow with the worst
digestion.
OME farmers think they can't
mako a hit in their noiglibos-
hood unless they buy an auto
mobile, j
$ .
A FARMER boy who leaes the
country for tho city should
know that while it is hard work
to reach tho top, it is &t:ll hardef
work to stay on lop.