KUKAIv iiCOIvOMlCS ^-5^3 



ter County, Pa, is designed to work out a method of studying farm manage- 

 ment in a particular district, to discover fundamental principles of farm 

 management and to work out their application to the agriculture of the dis- 

 trict. 



The more important of the fundamental principles of farm management 

 brotight out clearly in this stud}^ and amply confirming similar studies, are : 



The tA^oe of farnu'ng followed in any given case must be adapted to 

 local soil, climatic and labor conditions, and especially to local conditions 

 with reference to m.arkets and market facilities, as well as to the business 

 conditions existing on the individual farm. 



Wh^n the conditions affecting the agriculture of a region have remained 

 stable for a considerable period loca,l agricultural practice tends to become 

 approximately what it should be for the best results, provided the practice 

 which gives the best immediate returns does not unfavorably affect soil 

 fertilit}^ When conditions change, even slight!}- , if the change is permanent, 

 local farm practice begins to change and ultimatel)^ adapts itself to the new 

 conditions. 



Success in farming, measured in terms of the family income and stand- 

 ard of living, is directly proportioned to the magnitude of the farm business. 

 With the types of farming generally adapted to this locality many of the 

 farms foutid in this survey are too small to permit a satisfactory standard 

 of living. 



In the matter of yield of crops per acre, the point of dimishing returns 

 is reached on a considerable proportion of farms. Profits increase as yields 

 increase until the yields are considerably above the average for the locality, 

 but beyond this, increased yields are obtained at the expense of farm profits. 



In quantity of product per dairy cow, the point of diminishing returns 

 is not reached in ordinary farm practice. Hence, on dairy farms, quantity 

 of product per cow is, on the average, a more important factor in success 

 in farming than yield of crops per acre. 



It is both easier and more profitable to increase low acre 3delds than 

 high ones, and a small product per cow than a large one. In other words, 

 profits can be increased more easily by attention to the weakest points 

 in a system of farming. The more vital the weakness, the greater the in- 

 crease in profits that can easil}' be made. 



With a given type of farming, under given conditions, there is a cer- 

 tain way of dividing acreage among the several' enterprises of the farm 

 which is more profitable than any other way; that is, there is a most pro- 

 fitable acreage for each crop. .Similarly there is a most profitable propor- 

 tion of income from each source.- If the acreage of any crop or the propor- 

 tion of income from any enterprise be greater or less than this optimiun, 

 the profits of the farm as a whole are lowered thereby. 



Certain enterprises may be distinctly profitable when occu])\ing a 

 minor position in the farm business and distinctly unprofitable if made major 

 enterprises. This appears to be true of fruit growing in Chester County, 

 and, to a less extent, of poultry keeping. 



