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Show oo - 1 Secretary Urges Vacationists to Become Farmers Pro Tern Help on the farm is going to be very short this year, says B. T. Meredith of the department of agriculture, who Is circularising commercial clubs, chambers of commerce, universities, colleges and high schools and other uivic uuuius in mo interests ot tno farm situation. Ho ' proposes that business men and students with tho time to spare should spend as much time as possible on the farms. Mr. Meredith says: "Reports received by the United States department of agriculture show that the present supply of hired farm labor. Is 15 per cent less than last year, and approximately 72 per cenf of tho normal supply which was almost exactly ex-actly the situation In 1918. Tho farmers farm-ers and their families, our reports show, will do their utmost to keep up production, but they cannot secure tho hired help that they formerly have had. In consequence the food harvest may bo measurably reduced unless others give assistance. If within the next fortnight the business men and students of tho country will declare '(ViaSt- roarlinoca In wnvt I tho finite? this coming summer, farmers will bo more likely to make normal plantings. plant-ings. "Of course, one with little or no farm experience should not expect to cam as much at first as a seasoned farm hand, but in a few weeks practically prac-tically all men and boys who are adaptable, alert and strong should be able to earn good wages in tho harvest har-vest field. Tho demand for farm labor la-bor has brought about a ponsiderablc Increase in the level of farm wages. This Increase, however, docs not permit per-mit tho farmer-employer to compete on equal terms with many industries, but a man or a youth spending his summer on the farm is in a position to savo a considerably large proportion propor-tion of his wages than if ho were working in the city. At tho same llmo he will have an experience both broadening and wholesome. "Unquestionably there Is man power pow-er available in the schools and cities sufficient to materially relievo the farm labor situation. I bclicvo that tho men will respond "vhen they learn conditions, and so afford another practical demonstration of tho neighborly neigh-borly and co-operative spirit which characterized the efforts of tho people peo-ple during the war. Many men have relatives or friends in the country to whom they could offer of-fer their services; others who arc interested in-terested should write to the director of agricultural oxtonslon at their state agricultural college, stating tho time at which they will be available and their qualifications. The diroctor will put them in touch with county agents who know farmers in need of help," |