1917] RURAL ECONOMICS. 191 



As there are few large cities, the demand for truck crops is somewhat lim- 

 ited in most parts of the district. The well-managed farms produce an abun- 

 dance of home supplies, such as vegetables, small fruit, milk, butter, eggs, and 

 meat. 



Dairying combined with cash crops is financially profitable when production 

 per cow is high and crop yields above the average. The production of sheep or 

 beef cattle as a major enterprise, while not common in the district, is furnish- 

 ing satisfactory incomes on a few farms. Hog production may be profitably 

 combined with dairying where, corn matures and on farms where rye, barley, 

 soy beans, or Canadian field peas can be substituted for corn. 



On account of the opportunity to use extra labor to advantage at all seasons 

 of the year, either in lumbering or in clearing land, seasonal distribution of 

 farm labor has not yet become an important problem in recently settled sections. 

 A large amount of family labor is available, much of which is not used to ad- 

 vantage. The crop area per horse is too small for the most profitable iise of 

 labor. Small irregular fields and numerous stumps prevent the most efficient 

 use of farm machinery. Few farmers in this district are rapidly accumulating 

 wealth, but, with ceremony and good management, there is an opportunity to 

 maka a living and a little more. 



Management of muck-land farms in northern Indiana and southern Michi- 

 gan, H. R. SiiALLEY (U. S. Dept. Agr., Farmers' Bui. 761 {1916), pp. 26, figs. 

 12). — Four distinct types of farms were found among the muck lands, namely, 

 celery, onion, peppermint, and grain and stock farms. 



Among the conclusions drawn by the author were that the use of fertilizer, 

 especially potash, on muck soils is very profitable, the yields being increased in 

 most cases from 50 to 200 per cent. 



Celery and onions require an enormous amount of man labor as compared 

 with corn, oats, and hay. Peppermint, cabbage, and potatoes occupy an inter- 

 mediate position. The gross acre value of the intensive crops is high, but the 

 value of these crops per day of man labor is not so high as in the case of the 

 extensive crops. The average labor income for 28 celery farms was $394; for 

 23 onion farms, $1,782 ; for 10 peppermint farms, $1.519 ; for 39 grain and stock 

 farms, $1,056; and for 7 of the more successful grain and stock farms, $1,994. 

 The grain and stock farms provide a much better distribution of labor through- 

 out the year than the other types and are deemed a much safer type of farm- 

 ing, although the profits per acre may be less. 



Cost accounts on some New York farms, C. E. Ladd (New York Cornell 

 Sta. Bnl. 311 (1916), pp. 111-815, figs. 3).— This bulletin gives the results ob- 

 tained from keeping a complete set of cost accounts on 13 New York farms for 

 1912 and 31 for 1913. It contains a large number of statistical tables, showing 

 the hours of labor for man and horse and the cost per hoiir and per acre. It 

 also gives the cost per acre and per horse for equipment, the extent, value, cost, 

 and profit of various farm crops, live stock, and the monthly distribution of 

 labor by entei'prises and operations in connection with the individual enter- 

 prises. 



Cotton ginning' information for farmers, F. Taylor, D. C. Griffith, and 

 C. E. Atkinson {U. S. Dept. Agr., Farmers' Bui. 164 (1916), pp. 2h, figs. 25).— 

 The authors conclude that the present mechanical construction of gins makes it 

 almost impossible for them to maintain the purity of each grower's seed on ac- 

 count of the added expense to the ginner in bringing about such conditions as 

 will insure the accurate separation of seed which is to be used for planting 

 purposes from the seed of other varieties of cotton. They consider it desirable 

 that gin manufacturers develop some device which will insure a quick and ac- 



