640 



READINGS IN RURAL ECONOMICS 



(farm income) available to the farmer to pay interest on mortgages 

 and for living expenses is less than $700. 



In Table II is given the distribution of labor incomes for the 

 fanners in six states. Out of 1209 farmers who operated their 

 own farms 5 per cent, or one in twenty, received over $2000 as 

 a labor income. Twenty-three and six-tenths per cent failed to 

 make a plus labor income. 



Under normal conditions in the Northern states we are led to 

 believe that about one-third of the farmers make less than $100 

 a year after the interest is counted on their investment. Severe 

 weather conditions or low prices often result in heavy losses, and 

 in many years only a few men receive a plus income. This condi- 

 tion is especially liable to occur in regions of specialized agriculture. 



TABLE II. DISTRIBUTION OF LABOR INCOMES OF 1209 FARMS 

 OPERATED BY OWNERS 



PROFITS THAT TENANTS RECEIVE 



Approximately one farm in every three is rented (37 per cent 

 in 1910, United States census), hence it is important that we 

 know what the tenant farmer is receiving for his work. Unfor- 

 tunately it is often assumed that all tenants are poor farmers and 

 no credit is given them for the part they play in the agriculture 

 of this country. 



From a careful study of over 700 tenant farms, we are forced 

 to conclude that the average tenant is a capable worker, utilizing 



