294 MARINE FISHERIES OF NORTH CAROLINA 



the coastal counties of around lo per cent of that of the whole State (10.2 

 per cent in 1940), the number of farms is 10.3 per cent, the number of 

 farmers and farm managers 11.3 per cent, and the gross farm income 12,9 

 per cent; the average size of farms is a little larger than that of the whole 

 State (75.1 vs. 67.7 acres) and the average value per farm in all the counties 

 is slightly more than that of the whole State; the amount of mechanization 

 in farm autos and of trucks and tractors per 100 farms is of the same general 

 magnitude as that of the whole State, but less than that of the whole United 

 States, possibly by reason of the generally smaller farms and special nature 

 of the crops (tobacco, peanuts, potatoes, etc.). The percentage of farm 

 tenancy is about the same as that of the whole State, which is slightly more 

 than that of the whole United States; however, North Carolina ranks thir- 

 teenth highest among the States in percentage of farms operated by tenants 

 or thirty-fifth in percentage operated by owners. The per cent of farms mort- 

 gaged is not far from the State and national averages. Considering that the 

 coastal counties account for their share of agricultural values in proportion 

 to their percentage part of the whole population and rural farm population 

 of the whole State, some deductions can be made by examining the agricul- 

 tural ranking of North Carolina among the forty-eight States. 



In the cash marketings of farm crops North Carolina stands third, being 

 exceeded by California and Texas; in cash marketings of livestock it stands 

 twenty-eighth; in the value of crops consumed at home the State stands in 

 first position, and in the value of livestock products consumed at home it 

 stands second among all the States. Also, in the combined value of cash 

 marketings and home consumption of crops, North Carolina stands third, 

 and in livestock products, twenty-second. In total value of all products, plant 

 and animal, sold for cash and consumed at home, including Government pay- 

 ments. North Carolina stands thirteenth among the States (eleventh in pop- 

 ulation). In the percentage of the State total value of farm produce, both 

 crops and livestock, consumed at home, North Carolina stands eighth in rank 

 among the States, West Virginia being first and the southeastern cotton States 

 as a group standing at the top. From all these points of view, North Carolina 

 as a State ranks agriculturally high among all the States. 



However, the States vary greatly in size and population. When, therefore, 

 we divide the total of all annual farm values, crops and livestock, sold for 

 cash and consumed at home, plus Government payments, by the rural-farm 

 populations, North Carolina stands thirty-eighth among the States, with $380 

 per capita of rural farm population. The States with the highest percentage 

 of home consumption are the lowest in per capita total farm income, West 

 Virginia being forty-eighth and the southeastern cotton States occupying 

 positions from thirty-seven to forty-seven. (Texas is thirty- fifth.) From this 

 point of view, North Carolina, though largely agricultural, was in 1940 a 



