490 Report of Farmers' Institutes 



of from 81 to 100 acres in extent, the average labor income was 

 $884, and 34 per cent of the farms made over $1,000. There is 

 a pretty regular ascent in the scale of increase in labor income 

 until we reach the sixth average-sized farm of about 200 acres, 

 where the labor income is $1,575. This emphasizes the point 

 already made ; namely, that, other things about equal, tlie average 

 family farm having somewhere in the neighborhood of 200 acres 

 is likely to be most profitable. 



Now, in respect to profits, let us turn to some of the profits in 

 the East, as shown by some work of the State College of Agricul- 

 ture. The Department of Farm* JManagement, under Dr. War- 

 ren, has consistently taught that farming is a conservative busi- 

 ness; therefore, one must expect conservative returns. On an 

 investment of $9,000- or $10,000 there might be expected an 

 income of perhaps $1,000 or $1,200 above the business expenses 

 of the farm. In addition to this, of course, the family would 

 have the use of the house and some farm products. The houses, 

 however, are not like city houses. 



I take it that there may be -those present who have been con- 

 templating going into farming in some part of the East. The read- 

 ing of agricultural literature — at least certain kinds of agricul- 

 ture literature — is likely to give rise to many erroneous ideas 

 and many mistaken notions regarding farming. There is a great 

 mass of magazine literature and* no inconsiderable number of 

 books written on agriculture that are altogether deceptive and 

 misleading. 



There are a great many men with business experience, yet lack- 

 ing in practical knowledge regarding agriculture, who get mis- 

 taken ideas as to the possibilities of farming — more especially the 

 possibilities of farming in the East — from the literature in ques- 

 tion. They are led to believe that almost any one without pre- 

 vious experience can go on a farm and make it pay from the 

 start. In parts of the West, notably in California, Washington, 

 and Oregon, I have known of successes coming from business men 

 who went into these fields. There, however, the work is verv 



7 7 vi 



different from farming in the East. The industries are very much 

 specialized. They have more the nature of commercial opera- 

 tions than the natural production of crops. Furthennore, the 



