Incomes of 178 New York Farms. 1^5 



PURPOSE AND METHOD OF THIS INVESTIGATION 



The purpose of this investigation was to find out the relative capital 

 required and its distribution, the relative income and expense and 

 their distribution on different types of farms in New York, and then 

 to determine the relative profits on these various types. In other words, 

 we sought to answer two questions: " What income can reasonably 

 be expected from a farm investment in New York State? " and " What 

 types of farming offer the best investment? " 



There are two methods of collecting agricultural statistics. One, 

 actually to visit the farms in person and obtain the information desired 

 by questioning the owner or tenant directly; the other, to send the 

 farmer question blanks and ask him to fill out and return them. The 

 first method is the more satisfactory of the two, but since it was im- 

 possible in this case, the second method had to be adopted. This in- 

 vestigation extended over two years, 1907 and 1908, the records being 

 for 1906 and 1907. In 1907 about 400, and in 1908 about 875 letters 

 were sent to farmers throughout New York State. These letters con- 

 tained a circular briefly stating the purpose of the investigation, and 

 a blank form for replies. 



While not intended as a study of the better farms in the state, the 

 farms from which the facts were obtained belong to the better class. 

 Although we were purposely careful not to discriminate among success- 

 ful or unsuccessful farmers, yet in the effort to secure the names of 

 men who would be most likely to reply we undoubtedly addressed the 

 better farmers. Addresses were taken from the lists of agricultural 

 societies of the state, particularly from the Grange lists; some were 

 furnished by students, and a few were sent in voluntarily. Again, it 

 is evident that if a man has been unsuccessful in his business, he is not 

 so likely to reply, while the more successful men are glad to furnish 

 figures if they can do so without too much trouble to themselves. 

 So that these results cannot be said to represent the average of 

 farms in the state, but they do represent the possibilities of the 

 better classes of farming. On the other hand, it should be said 

 that these results include none of the exceptional or remarkable 

 farms. 



