MISCELLANEOUS. 435 



of the farm and the buildings to the type of farming 

 intended, the condition of these buildings, the water 

 supply, etc., all have an important financial bearing. 

 Since the farm is to be a home as well as a business, 

 the character of the neighborhood, convenience to 

 church and schools, and beauty of location all demand 

 attention. 



Adaptation of the Farm. The problem of adapta- 

 tion of the farm, the market, the climate, and the gen- 

 eral conditions to the type of farming followed is one 

 of the most important things to be kept in mind. If 

 one is not free to get a farm suited to the kind of farm- 

 ing he likes best, the next best thing is to adapt the 

 farming to the farm in hand. Failure to do this is 

 the cause of much unprofitable farming. 



Types of Farming. In deciding upon the type to 

 be pursued the comparative advantages of special and 

 mixed, extensive and intensive methods should be care- 

 fully weighed. 



1. Extensive farming demands a heavier investment 

 in land, with relatively less in equipment and labor. 



2. Intensive methods are adapted to fertile and 

 high-priced land convenient to markets, but are wholly 

 unsuited to many locations where land is poor and 

 markets remote. Yet intensive methods are generally 

 relatively more profitable than extensive methods with 

 the same crop. It seldom pays to neglect a crop. 

 Certain charges are about the same in either case; an 

 additional outlay in labor and fertilizer will often dou- 

 ble the return. 



3. Mixed farming has the advantage of a more con- 

 tinuous income, less risk from crop failure and low 

 prices, with less difficulty in maintaining fertility and 

 employing a continuous labor supply than most spe- 

 cialties. 



4. Special farming, with two or three well-chosen 

 lines which fit well together, permits greater economy 

 of capital and of labor, develops greater skill in the 

 farmer, and gives better marketing facilities. 



