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Home and Farm Magazine Section Editorial Page
Suggestions From Our Associate Editors, Allowing; for an Interchange of Views, Written by Men of Experience on Topies With
Which They Are Folly Acquainted Hints Along Lines of Progressive Farm Thought.
HOME AND FARM MAGAZINE SECTION
A WOMAN WORTH WHILE.
LIFTING THE HAT is a mark
of respect.
Our liat is lifted high to Mrs.
Scott Durand.
tilie is a rich woman an! she
lives in Chicago.
A few years ago she went into
the dairy business.
Bought some Holsteins.
Bought umip (luernseys.
Mixed the milk. j
tbtaiilis. ,u nigh priced mar
ket in Chicago and sold it.
She knew nothing of the busi
ness. Sho worked it out by reading
dairy books and farm journals,
and by talking to dairymen, and
by using her own head.
Yes, we confess, she was a book
farmer.
But she made her 270 acres pay
for four or five years and then
Hie 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 lnr 200
.head of cattle.
Mie lias toiled.
She lias fought.
Hlio makes $12,000 a year.
Too bad.
If she had only not gone in for
"bonk lariiin" and that course at
Wisconsin she would bo a rich
woman.
AS THE TWIG 18 BENT.
SOMEHOW we wislr we were a
tow-headed boy once more.
There came to the dosk tho
other day frum tho 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 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 simitar
eportunitios. We havo not heard
of them.
In presenting this course, K. D.
Kosslev, director Jf the Hummer ,
School, says:
"Tho purpose is twofold the
value to the boys who attend; the
influence on the school represent
ed by those boys.
"Both consciously and uncon
sciously our ordinary school edu
cation places tha emphasis on pre
paration for the professions and
other occupations relating to a
public, career.
"In tt'.u minis of many people,
work upon tho ff.rm is menial. It
means tnrly rising and early retir
ing and hard grinding labor from
guariso to sunstt. It is not sup
posed that any intelligence or high
degree of education csn be used
by a man on the farm.
"These erroneous ideas must not
only be banished from tho 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 scientific
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 nocessarily uninteresting
and unintelligent must bo driven
out, of our schools. The skilled hand
must bo directed by tho highly
trained bria and, still above and
beyond this, it must be recognized
that only those who ean build up
for themselves ideals which will
arouse all the cuergy and ambition
of which their natures are capable,
can be truly happy in any occupa
tion or profession."
That strikes us uueointnouly like
good sense.
School boys who imbibe 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 thero are 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.
The supervision will be that of
the "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, 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 tho 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 bnt
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 courso
is to place in the possession of the
boys interesting information that
will be of some 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 thoir investiga
tions further.
"IDEAL" FARMING.
IE RECEIVED this letter the
other day. Somehow it in
terested us, for wo believe
that the misconception of the writer
is tho 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?"
Answer: City Man farming is
ideal IF
Farm lands aro low in price.
. Farm products of classes aro de
ficient in supply.
Farming is conducted on an enor
mous scalo.
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 fertiliser.
Cost of production is low by good
farm organization.
Products aro 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 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 the same suc
cesses you will find in everything
else the world over.
FARM WAGES.
THE LABORER- on the farm is
often an almost invariable
complainer.
His moan is most frequent on the
subject of his pay.
In fact, it might bo snid that his
moan is precisely that of the rest
of humanity;
"I want more money."
et consideration of his case dots
net make it the deplorable on 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. Tbo 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 33 per cent.
Wages of farra. 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 time they have steadily
tended upward. Farm wages now,
comparsd with wages .during the
eighties, are about 55 per cent
higher; compared with the low year
of 1894, wages aro now about 67
per cent higher.
The current averago rate of farm
wages ia the United States, when
board is included, is, by the month,
$21.38; by the day, other than
harvest, $1.18; 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.
Wages in different Bections of
'the United States vary widely.
For instance, the monthly rate,
without board, is $56.50 in Nevada,
$54.00 in Montana, and $."1.00 in
. Utah; but $17.90 in South Caro
lina, $19.60 in Mississippi, and
$20.20 in Georgia. Tho highest
state average, $56.50, is thus 3een
to be 3.2 times higher than tho
lowest rate, $17.90.
This wide difference in the wage
rates in different section, of the
United States is gradually lessen
ing. In seven investigations made
between ISCti and 1881, the aver
ago of wages of farm day labor
(without board) in the Western
states (whero wages aro highest)
was about 100 per cent higher than
in the South Atlantic states (where
wages were lowest); whereas, in
seven investigations mado since
1898, the Western states averaged
about 110 per cent higher than the
South Atlantic, and in thS past
year they were only about 90 per
cent higher.
The money wages of farm labor
ha e increased relatively more than
wages for labor in city manufac
tories during tho past twenty to
thirty years.
A comparison of the average of
wages per employe in manufactur
ing industries, aa reported by the
census of 1810, 1300 and 1890, in
dicates that the wages of such em
ployes increased 22 per cent in tea
years (1900 to 1910), and increased
only 23 per coat in the twenty
years; the increases in farra labor
wages were approximately 37 jw.r
cent in the ten years ad about 55
per cent is. the twenty years. This
relative gain of rurl upon 'irbaa
wages acts automatically upon the
movement from eountry to city.
Wages of farm labor have bn
increasing rapidly, not only ;n t.h
United States, but in moat, if Jwt
all, other countries of the world.
Ia Hungary the wages of agricul
tural laborer Increased about 60
per cent in tb tea years frn
1897 to 1907. In Denmark, f:eai
1892 to 1905 wages of fara labr,
with board increased about K yr
cent, and without board 22 par 5nt.
In Sweden, wages of agricultural
laborers increased 38 per cent in
the ten years irom 1898 to IMS,
For Norway we have data show
ing the ivngja in country and in
towns, wherein is shewn that
wages with board, incensed 13 per
cent in country and 15 per cent in
towns, during the ton yar3 of 1S95
to 1905, thus showing a greater
gain in country than in io-.vn
wages. In ,Tap;.n whore economic
conditions havo been ch.Viging
rapidly, the yearly money 'vnyes of
ag'icultural labor wo than
doubled in &o fvi-vlein ywj 'wj
1894 to 1908 and increased 43 jx
cent from 1898 to 190.
VALUE OF ORGANIZATION.
THE Home and Farm Magazin
Section is not interested ia
politics.
Nevertheless we keep an eye ot,
things.
Hence we nested 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,
C. J. Smith.
There are a number of lesson,
or ideas from tho nomination of
Dr. Withycombe.
First of these is that the farme
anywhere is a mighty power whea
he chooses to exert himself.
Republican farmers chose to hava
one of themselves as a contestant
for th 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 I
Another idea we received from
tho nomination of Dr. Withycombe,
wh was formerly director of th
extension department of Oregon
Agricultural College, was the valua
of cohesive organization.
Loyalty to their college caused
hundreds of O. A, C. graduates all
over Cregon to rally to tho banner
of Dr. Withycombe.
It was as fine an exhibition,
of real "college spirit" as we hav
ever seen. It brought results.
Incidentally, thoso graduates
showed their strength by standing
together.
The farmer represents the basio
wealth of this country. Alone he
is helpless. United he makes a
power that can not be withstood.
Whether it ba through co-operative
organizations or through his
Grange, the farmer united' has a
voice the very stridency of which
.can force the country to take notice
at any time.
In politics the farmer united can
make and upset political parties.
He is apt to do it, too.
When the farmers of America
realise their strength then will they
receive greater consideration than
has prsvicusly been their wout.
-J .'
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.
Y3UR farmer knows tho truth,
and he knows the averago
man's opinions are generally of
more value to himself than to any
one else.
$ .
4
A FARM is ono placo whero a fair
exchange is no robbery, even
when a farmer trades his money for
experience.
THE FARMER knows that th
banker who shakes his hand
most effusively when crops aro
good and he has money to loan,
shakes him altogether when it's
gona. I
0 FARMER can be popular an4
tell his troubles.
YOUR richest farmer moat often
is tho fellow with tho worsf
digestion. ,
$ I
ifOME farmers think they cant
5 make a hit in thoir noighbo.
hood unless they buy an auto-,
mobilo. i
A FARMER boy who lrnnefl th
country for the city shouht
know that while it is hard work
to roach tho top, it is ot;il hard&f
work to stay on toy.