88 ECONOMIC CONDITION OF THE FARMER 



in this field by Professors G. F. Warren and K. C. Livermore of 

 Cornell University, namely, "An Agricultural Survey, Townships 

 of Ithaca, Dryden, Danby, and Lansing, Tompkins County, New 

 York," and published in March, 1911, as Bulletin 295. Since this 

 survey covers a partially deforested area, very much the worse 

 for the wear and waste of a century, and competing but badly 

 with the fresh lands of the newer states, this study may be said 

 to represent about the average conditions of New York State. 

 The principal topics covered in this survey are as follows : profits, 

 capital, receipts, expenses, size of farms, value per acre, soils, 

 distance from market, labor, crops, woodlot, livestock, dairy 

 herds, poultry, bees, systems of farming, forms of tenure, women 

 as farmers, education of farmers, size of farm families, abandoned 

 farms, farm buildings, roads, rural free delivery of mail, telephones, 

 farm as a home for persons otherwise employed, summary of 

 recommendations. While the survey is primarily an economic 

 study, yet it does deal to a small extent with other social problems, 

 such as education, transportation and communication. However, 

 the chief point of interest to be emphasized here is the "labor 

 income" of the farmer. On the 615 farms operated by owners, 

 the average labor income was found to be $423; on the 134 farms 

 operated by tenants the labor income was $379. 



The various terms used in this study, such as "labor income," 

 "capital," etc., are all clearly defined. The more important defi- 

 nitions are the following: 



" Capital includes the value of all farm property, land, houses, 

 buildings, stock, feed, seed, tools and cash necessary to keep the 

 farm running. It does not include house furnishings that are not 

 used in farming. The average of the amount at the beginning and 

 at the end of the year is considered to be the capital invested in 

 the business." 



" Receipts include all money received from the sale of any 

 farm products, also receipts from outside work, rent of farm build- 

 ings, etc. If the value of the buildings, stock, produce, or equip- 

 ment is greater at the end of the year than at the beginning, the 

 difference is considered a receipt." 



" Expenses include all farm expenses. If the value of the 

 buildings, stock, produce, or equipment at the end of the year is 

 less than at the beginning, this loss is included with expenses. 

 Household or personal expenses are not included, but the value of 

 board furnished to hired help is counted. Expenses, therefore, 

 include all business expenses. Taxes are not included in expenses. 



