448 Missouri Agricultural Report. 



hence a few landlords have fine houses, and common little shanties or 

 not much better for the renter. Now for the other side, the landlord 

 thinks he must have one-half of the corn and one-half of the wheat if 

 he furnish the seed, but the tenants claim this is too much when they 

 have to take chances with the weather, and perhaps high water and high 

 cost of teams, feed and farming utensils. So here is a rub, for much land 

 was left idle this spring and many renters are giving up their leases and 

 are going to farm just a few acres — enough to live. On the other hand 

 the tenants that are really good are few. The landlord believes he ought 

 to clear good interest on his $100 land above all expenses of taxes, etc. 

 each year. And so here we are both dissatisfied. The cost of farming 

 operations is greater than it used to be. Many more expensive tools and 

 machinery are needed. Teams are high in price. Farm labor has in- 

 creased in wages and mucli of the land is "run down." I think the 

 solution of this perplexing question can be solved in part: First, by 

 using four and six-horse teams to gang plows, large harrows, two-row 

 cultivators, etc., thus saving a hand or two ; second, diversified farming. 

 say, one-third of land in grain cultivating crops, one-third in clover and 

 grass and balance in pasture and forage for cattle and hogs; third, 

 rotation. Weeds can be held in check by changing corn land to oats or 

 barley, then to wheat, then to clover, and so on ; fourth, maintenance of 

 fertility. This can be done best by keeping stock of some kind on the 

 farm. But this system is hard to carry out with or by the average renter. 

 About all the renter can do is to raise corn, and perhaps some wheat, and 

 year after year corn is put on the same ground just because the land is 

 being leased out to renters one year only at a time. Now, I believe our 

 Agricultural College Farm Management Department could do great 

 things for Missouri farmers and tenants in general by showing a remedy 

 for this evil. And the evil is, landlord and tenant want to get it all at 

 one jump and give nothing back to the soil in fertilization. It would pay 

 to let part of the land rest by rotation to a different crop. — Chariton 

 county. 



THE FARM HOME AND WOMEN'S WANTS. 



Light and heat systems, with power for running churns, washing 

 machines, etc., would help with the work in the farm home.— Harrison 

 county. 



The woman should, just as far as possible, arrange the house to 

 suit herself, as she will then find more enjoyment in taking care of 

 things. A house cannot be too handy. The water system, furnace and 

 lighting are the things most needed. — Chariton county. 



