220 HUMAN FACTORS IN COTTON CULTURE 



states. 22 Only white farmers were studied, and localities 

 were chosen in which average farming conditions pre- 

 vailed. The data were gathered during the years 1922 

 to 1924. As will be seen, the study represents a high 

 level of southern farming conditions. Three hundred and 

 seventeen families were studied in New England, 1,439 

 in the North Central States, and 1,130 in localities rep- 

 resenting the dominant type of farming in three southern 

 states: South Carolina, Alabama, and Kentucky. 23 Cash 

 tenants, share tenants, and croppers were included, form- 

 ing almost 30 per cent of all farmers studied. 



The average size of farms reported was 147.5 acres, 

 their average value, $13,788, and the average value of 

 belongings was $1,597.50 per family of 4.4 persons. 24 

 The New England families owned personal goods to the 

 value of $1,692.20, and southern families ranked last 

 with $1,551. For all families the farm furnished $683.70 

 worth or 42.8 per cent of total value of all goods; the 

 New England farms furnishing $656.40 or 38.8 per cent 

 of goods consumed by their families as compared to 

 southern farms which furnished $707 worth or 45.6 per 

 cent. 25 Food proved, of course, to be the most important 

 item of the living, making up 41.2 per cent of the value 

 of all goods used. These findings agree with previous 

 studies. The houses occupied by New England families 

 were largest with 9.6 rooms, in comparison with 5.9 

 rooms per southern household. This gives two rooms per 

 person for New England families and 1.2 per person 

 in the South. 26 



22 The Farmer's Standard of Living, Dept. of Agriculture Bulletin 

 1466. 



2 Ibid., pp. 4-6. 24 Ibid., pp. 7, 13. 



25 Ibid:, p. 15. 26 Ibid., pp. 21-22. 



