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HOME AND FARM MAGAZINE SECTION
A WOMAN WORTH WHILE.
~ 1FTING 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 she went into
tho dairy business.
Bought some Hoisteins.
Bought some Guernseys.
Mixed the milk.
EstaaiiL.. 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,
and by talking to dairymen, and
by using her own head.
Yea, we confess, she wras a book
farmer.
But she made her 270 acres pay
for four or five years and then—
£he went to the Wisconsin Agri
cultural College.
What in the world ever possessed
her ?
But she went and studied and
talked to college professors,
and
returned to her farm and her 200
bead o f cattle.
Hhe has toiled.
She has fought.
She makes $12,000 a year.
Too bad.
I f she had only not gone in for
1 ‘ book lam in ’ ’ and that course at
"Wisconsin she would be a rich
woman.
L
AS THE TWIG IS BENT.
OMEHOW we wish we were a
tow headed boy once more.
There came to the desk the
other day from the Oregon Agri
cultural College at Corvallis, Ore
gon a catalog of a b o y ’s short
course iu agriculture.
That means the opportunity to
any young Oregonian to imbibe
farming lore 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 simi'ar
cportunities. We have not heard
o f them.
In presenting this course. E. D.
Kessler, director of the Summer
School, says:
“ Tho purpose is tw ofold —the
value to the boys who attend; the
influence on the school reiwesent-
ed by those boy«.
“ Both consciously and uncon
sciously our ordinary school edu
cation placfa the'emphasis on pre
paration for the professions and
other occupations relating to a
public career.
“ In the minds of many people,
work upcn the farm is menial. It
means early rising and early retir
ing and. harl grinding labor from
sunrise to sunset. It is not sup
posed that any intelligence or high
degree 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 wiINbe
the future farmers and farmers’
wives, but an opportunity must be
given to show what a great field
for the application of scientific
training is offered, how the great
est creative genius may be cailed
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 *un nteilig?nt must be driven
out o f our schools. The skilled band
must be directed by the highly
trained br&ia and. still above and
beyond -this, it must be recognized
thit only those who can build tip
for themselves ideals which will
ar use all the energy and ambition
of which their i t t i w are eapable,
can be truly happy in any occupa
tion or profession. ”
That * nkes us un:cmmon!y lika
good »'.sa .
S
School boys who imbibo scien
tific farming at their earliest years
are going to be inspired with tho
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 aro easier ways of do
ing things than the school-of-hard-
experience method.
The youngsters at Corvallis will
study a few hours every day. The
balance of tho time they will spend
hiking, in sports and recreation.
Tho supervision will be that of
the “ big brother” order.
The instruction will bo very prac
tical and suited to the ago o f the
boys.
As a result o f 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, learn
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,
so that by the time the boys reach
Corvallis the various vegetables
will be available for their study
and cultivation; will be able 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 ill the possession of the
boys interesting information that
will bo of somo practical use to
them immediately and will fill them
with an appreciation of tho great
scope of the study and arouse their
interest in pursuing their investiga
tions further.
“ ID E A L’ ’ FARMING.
E 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. T was always
under the impression farming was
an ideal occupation. My farming
friends say I am wrong. Which is
right 1 ’ ’
Answer: City Man— farming is
ideal IF—•
Farm lands are low in price.
Farm products o f classes are de
ficient in supply.
Farming is conducted on an enor
mous scale.
The producer has a reputation,
especially for breeding pure bred
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.
fo st of production is low by good
farm organization.
Products are staple in character.
That is about all for the pres
ent, out we think you will catch
our drift, City Man.
You will find some of those con
ditions on every farm.
There are mighty few farms yon
will find them all.
In other words, farming is idyal—
In Utopia.
Anywhere else it is just a plain
business and profession with the
sane hardships and the same suc
cesses you will find in everything
else the world over.
W
FARM WAGES.
HE LABORER on the ftirm is
often aa almost invariable
eomplainer.
His moan is most frequent on the
•j
subject o f his pay.
In fact, it might be said that hia
moan is precisely that of the rest
of humanity:
T
“ I want mere money.”
Yet consideration of his case does
not make it the deplorable one it
has been pointed out as being.
The 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.
Sirce 1902 the increase has been
about 36 per cent.
Wages o f 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, sinco
which time they have steadily
tended upward. Farm wages now,
compared with wages during the
eighties, are about 55 per cent
higher; compared with the low year
of 1894, wages are now about 67
per cent higher.
The current average rate of farm »
wages in the United Statos, when
board is included, is, by tho month,
$21.38; by the day, other than
harvest, $1.16; at harvest, $1.57.
When board is not included, the
rate is, by the mouth, $30.31; by
the day, other than harvest, $1.50;
by the day at harvest, $1.94.
Wages in different sections of
tho United States vary widely.
For instance, tho monthly rate,
without board, is $56.50 in Nevada,
$54.60 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, $541.50, is thus seen
to be 3.2 times higher than the
lowest rate, $17.90.
Thin wide difforenee in the wage
rates in different sections of the
United States in gradually lessen
ing. In seven investigations made
betwoen I860 and 1881, the aver
age of wages o f farm day labor
(without board) in tho Western
states (where wages aro highest)
was about 100 per eent higher than
in the South Atlantic states (where
wages were low est); whereas, in
seven investigations made since
1898, the Western states averaged
about 110 per cent higher than the
South Atlantic, and in the past
year they were only about 90 per
cent higher.
The money wages of farm labor
have increased relatively more than
wages for labor in city manufac
tories during the past twenty to
thirty yearn.
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 cent in the twenty
yearn; the increases in farm labor
wages were approximately 37 per
cent in the ten years aa«l abont 55
per ceat i* the twenty years. Ib is
relative gain o f rural upca urban
wages acts automatically upon the
movement from sountry to city.
Wages of farm labor Lave bcea
increasing rapidly, not only in the
United States, but in moot, if not
all, other countries of the world.
In Hungary tho wage* ct agricul
tural laborers increased about 60
per cent in tbe tea yearn
1897 to 1907. in Denmark, trim
1892 to 194)5 wig** of fa r * labor,
with board iacr^ased »beat $0 ywr
cent, and without board
per
In Hweder. wage« of Sfrievltaral
laborers ¡«<c’«i^ed 38 per cei* in
the ten years from 1898 to 1903.
For Norway we have data show
ing the wages 'n ecantry and in
towns, wherein is shown that ]
wages with board, increased 19 per
cent in country and 15 per eent in
towns, during the tea years of 1895
to 1905, thus she win* a greater
gain in country than in town
wages. In Jap-:.a where economic
condition! have been «hanging
ranidlr. the yearly money wages of
7 0 ,*e
thnn I
afyicuFnral
labor
doubled in
fc*.r». n y .a .j
j
’
•
1894 to 1908 and increased 43 peg
cent from 1898 to 1966.
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VALUE OF ORGANIZATION.
HE Home and Farm Magazine
Section is not interested in
politics.
Nevertheless we keep an eye on
things.
Ilenco we noted that the Republi
can voters of Oregon nominated Dr,
James B. Withycombe to bo their
candidate at the general election
against the Democratic nominee, Dr,
(3. J. Smith.
There are a number of lessons
or ideas from tho nomination o f
Dr. Withycombe.
First of these is that the fanner
anywhere is a mighty power when
he chooses to exert himself.
Republican farmers choso to havo
one of themselves as a contestant
for the ultimate prize at the general
election. They proceeded to carry
out that idea 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. Withycombe,
who was formerly director of th®
extension department of Oregon
Agricultural College, was the walu®
o f cohesive organization.
Loyalty to their college caused
hundreds of O. A. C. graduates all
over Oregon to rally to the banner
of Dr. Withycombe.
It was as fine an exhibition
of real “ college spirit” as we have
ever seen. It brought results.
Incidentally,
those
graduates
showed their strength by standing
together.
The farmer represents the basic
wealth of this country. Alone ho
is helpless. United he makes a
power that can not be withstood.
Whether it be through co-opera
tive organizations or through his
Grange, tho farmer united has a
voice the very stridency of which
can forco t he country to take notice
at any time.
In politics the farmer united can
mako and upset political parties.
IIo is apt to do it, too.
When the farmers of America
realize their strength then will they
receive greater consideration than
has previously been their wont.
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FARMER knows that a bank
savings account is the most
beautiful thiDg on earth. There are
no microbes in it to steal away his
peace of mind. It is a promoter o f
sweet sleep, and an aid to digestion.
--------- — .
CITY man who tries bis hand
at farming is filled with good
resolutions, but they too often die
o f malnutrition.
A
A
OUR farmer knows tho truth,
and he knows tho average
man’s opinions are generally o f
more value to himself than to any
one else.
■»
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FARM is one place where a fair
exchange is no robbery, even
when a farmer trades his money for
experience.
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IIK FARMER knows that tha
banker who shakes his hand
most effusively when crops are
good and he has money to loan,
shakes him altogether when i t ’s
gon*
^
Y
A
T
O FARMER can be popolar and
tell ms troubles.
M
Y
------ ..
,
OUR richest farmer most often
is the fellow with the worst
digestion.
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OME farmers think they can’t
make a hit in thoir neighbor-
hood unless they buy an auto-
mobile.
I
S
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FARMER boy who l«a#*« tba
country for tbs eily should
know that while it is harl work
tr r< f-!i the top, it is -t/*l harder
wor* to ¿lay on tap.
A
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