250 The Farmstead 



Naturally, the questions arise, are these large 

 structures necessary, and what changes in agri- 

 culture have takea place to create a need for 

 such mammoth structures ? They are neces- 

 sarily expensive, and too often dwarf and be- 

 little the house when placed near it. 



Modern advanced farmers secure nearly or 

 quite double the average yield of crops of their 

 grandfathers. This is an indisputable fact, not- 

 withstanding the hue and cry about the deca- 

 dence of the rural population. The facts are 

 that some are farming much better than the 

 older generations and some much worse. Much 

 of the good land is producing more bountifully 

 than ever before, and some of the poorer lands 

 have been so badly managed, and have become 

 so depleted in their productive power as to be 

 nearly worthless, and should be thrown out of 

 cultivation and left to recuperate until unborn 

 generations require them. More live stock is 

 kept now than formerly. The number of milch 

 cows, horses, and mules in the United States in- 

 creased more than 50 ]3er cent between 1870 and 

 1890, and other cattle increased during the 

 same period 150 per cent. Notwithstanding this 

 fact, the live stock on many farms has been 

 greatly diminished. 



Then, too, progressive farmers believe it to 

 be economy to provide shelter for animals and 



