FARM MANAGEMENT 379 



than criticism. At times, criticism is necessary, but it 

 should not be constant or it will destroy interest. The 

 hired man is no exception to the rule. 



Some men are worth twice as much as others, but wages 

 are fairly uniform. By paying 20 per cent more one may 

 often secure a man who is worth nearly twice as much. 



One of the means that has accomplished most in the 

 past few years is in the use of larger machines and more 

 horses per man. (See Appendix, Table 16.) 



On the average, the value of staple products is measured 

 by the cost to produce them. The world price of wheat is 

 probably very close to the cost of production and trans- 

 portation. One community may produce it at a loss and 

 another make more than farm wages. If this law is true, a 

 farmer may make more than farm wages by working harder; 

 by locating where the cost is below the average; choosing 

 a farm that will produce out of proportion to the cost; 

 locating near a market, and thereby gaining on transpor- 

 tation; increasing the production out of proportion to the 

 cost; decreasing labor or other cost without a proportion- 

 ate decrease in crop; foreseeing future conditions and 

 preparing to meet them; locating where the standard of 

 living is higher than his own. 



Many foreigners succeed in America more by their 

 lower standard of living than by any other means. Studies 

 in New York seem to show that the most profitable farms 

 spend more than the less profitable, but that they spend 

 so efficiently as to get a greater return for each dollar 

 spent. This is the way in which many of our most success- 

 ful American farmers have succeeded not by decreasing 

 expenses, but by spending wisely. 



