OFFICE OF FARM MANAGEMENT. 423 



expenses, types of farming, and size of farms necessary to success in 

 these sections. 



FARM PRACTICE IN ITS RELATION TO CROP YIELD. 



Data on factors affecting crop yield have been collected on more 

 than 1,500 farms, 448 farms having been studied during the past 

 year. Material is also being gathered from the regular farm-manage- 

 ment surveys regarding certain features of the work. Circular 57 

 of the Office of the Secretary, entitled " The Influence of Eelative 

 Area in Intertilled and Other Classes of Crops on Crop Yields," has 

 been published. 



LOGGED-OFF LANDS. 



Studies relating to methods of clearing land for agricultural pur- 

 poses have been about completed. The problems remaining relate to 

 the testing of new appliances for work of this kind which occasion- 

 ally appear on the market. During the past year the phase of the 

 subject which has been under investigation relates to the economic 

 conditions under which commercial removal of stumps is practicable 

 and those under which work of this character must be left to those 

 who are willing to make some financial sacrifice as a means of gain- 

 ing a foothold on the land. The studies indicate that the original 

 forests which covered much of the good agricultural land of this 

 country have been, in the main, removed at an expense out of pro- 

 portion to the immediate economic results. But the economic loss 

 appears to have been balanced by other advantages, for the sacrifices 

 thus made enabled an army of men with their families to acquire 

 economic independence. It appears that under the conditions which 

 prevail in most localities where the problems of clearing land is a 

 serious one, the land must in the main be cleared by its owners at a 

 financial sacrifice, the financial loss being balanced by less tangible 

 advantages. 



