leadership farmer had an income in both periods far 

 above the figures which are indicated on the chart. 



Every section of the country showed a marked 

 increase in the value of the farm crops. The advance 

 was least in New England (see Map I), where the in- 

 crease of 48 per cent was only about enough to cover 

 the increase in cost. It was highest in the great agri- 

 cultural belt of the central portion of the United 

 States, showing an increase of 123 per cent in the Cen- 

 tral West and South and an increase of 125 per cent in 

 the area between the Mississippi and Rocky Moun- 

 tains. 



Better Business Methods on the Farm 



The war profoundly affected farming in many 

 ways. It promoted better farming and better busi- 

 ness methods on the farm. To illustrate, large num- 

 bers of farmers, especially those of the leadership 

 type, must now make an income-tax return. Hence, 

 it is now necessary to keep farm records. Farmers 

 now far more generally recognize the necessity of 

 keeping farm accounts. Agricultural colleges and 

 other agencies have prepared farm business record 

 books. County agents and bankers are distributing 

 these books and instructing farmers in their use. 

 Naturally this emphasizes the importance of knowing 

 costs. 



Nearly every survey of hundreds and even thou- 

 sands of farms shows that a considerable propor- 

 tion of farmers get nothing for their own labor and 

 managerial ability. They barely make interest on 

 their investment. When this fact is brought home to 

 the farmer in a written record he will naturally be 

 stimulated to get expert assistance, to improve his 

 farm methods in a word, to become a more efficient 

 farmer with a larger income. 



[27] 



