190 EXPERIMENT STATION EECORD. t Vol. 36 



Dairy barn construction, L. A. Higgins and D. Scoates {Miss. Agr. Col. Ext. 

 Dcpt. Bui. 2, pp. 8, figs. 7). — This bulletin points out the essential features in 

 dairy-barn construction, and gives diagrammatic illustrations of the more im- 

 portant details in construction. 



Building- instructions for homemade silos, G. L. Olia-er (West Virginia Sta. 

 Bui. 157 (1916), pp. U-23, figs. 8).— This is a revision of Circular 8, on the 

 construction of wooden hoop silos (E. S. R., 32, p. 888), with additional infor- 

 mation, prepared in cooperation with the U. S. Department of Agriculture, on 

 the building of stave and plastered silos. 



Poultry houses, E. J. Peterson (North Dakota Sta. Circ. H (1916), pp. i, 

 figs. 4 ) . — The general requirements of poultry house construction to meet North 

 Dakota conditions are outlined. 



A farmer's poultry house, J. G. Halpin and L. M. Schindler (Wis. Col. 

 Agr. Ext. Serv. Circ. 62 (1016), pp. 4, figs. 2). — Plans and a bill of materials 

 for a poultry house to accommodate 125 hens are given. 



A dual-purpose poultry house, J. Hadlington (Agr. Gaz. N. 8. Wales, 21 

 (1916), No. 9, pp. 656-659, pi. 1, figs. 2).— Plans and brief specifications for a 

 poultry house to serve as a brooder and laying house are given. 



RURAL ECONOMICS. 



Successful farm organizations, O. R. Johnson (Missouri Sta. Bui. H2 

 (1916), No. 9, pp. 656-659, pi. 1, figs. 2). — Plans and brief specifications for a 

 already noted in Bulletins 121 and 140 (E. S. R., 32, p. 791; 35, p. 692). 



The author, in summarizing the results of this survey, indicates that about 

 40 per cent of the farmers in the regions studied made less than .$200 labor 

 income, and about 70 per cent made less than $600. The average labor income 

 was about $1.35 per day. The most successful farmers had farms larger than 

 200 acres. 



The least successful farmers had 7 per cent more of their capital invested in 

 real estate than did the most successful farmers. This difference in capital 

 was chiefly invested in live stock in case of the better class of farmers. On the 

 more successful farms the workmen handled from 60 to 100 per cent more crop 

 acres than did the workmen on the less successful farms. The better farmers 

 kept more live stock and a larger proportion of this stock was in productive 

 stock and less in work stock. The less efficient farmers received from $17 to 

 $25 per animal unit while the better farmers received from $37 to $47. 



Sixty-eight per cent of the best farms had more than three important sources 

 of income. The crop yield index on the best farms was 124.8 and on the poorest 

 farms 86.8. The farmers realizing the better incomes used one-fifth less feed 

 for each animal unit kept, but realized four times as much in return for each 

 $100 worth of feed used. 



Farming on the cut-over lands of Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, 

 J. C. McDowell and W. B. Walkeij (U. S. Dept. Agr. Bui. 425 (1916), pp. 24, 

 figs. 10). — Among the conclusions set forth by the authors from their study 

 of conditions on 801 typical farms in this area and an investigation of farm en- 

 terprises on 80 farms, were the following : 



With average yield and average price, potatoes furnish a satisfactory cash 

 crop in practically all parts of the district. Large acreage, however, is not to 

 be generally recommended on account of the danger of low prices resulting from 

 local overproduction. Other valuable cash crops adapted to certain areas are 

 hay, clover seed, peas, beans, hairy vetch, seed corn, oats, rye, wheat, barley, 

 jgmall fruit, and garden vegetables. 



