times needed. Also, owners sometimes mentioned that there was no assur- 

 ance they could keep their places rented and thus recover investment in 

 improvements. 



Most of the barns have both deteriorated and become obsolete. They 

 would not provide adequate shelter nor meet sanitary regulations, and they 

 would be wasteful of the operator's time. Moreover, many of these places 

 are virtually ruled out as possible farm units because the house is used as 

 the owner's residence. Let us consider, then, attitudes toward improvements 

 needed if the land only is to be used. 



Fencing is somewhat intermediate between buildings and soil improve- 

 ments in degree of permanency. Most owners of less than farm unit size places 

 were not willing to fence their pasture land. Reasons include lack of funds, 

 fear that the place could not be kept rented long enough for the investment 

 to pay off, and unwillingness to be bothered. Probably some of the unwilling- 

 ness was also due to knowledge that the renter often puts up and maintains 

 fences. 



Most owners of less than farm unit size places were also unwilling to 

 make soil improvements. Their reasons were similar to those for not fenc- 

 ing their pasture land. In addition they did not usually have the equipment 

 and sometimes not the labor force or the know-how to put into effect the im- 

 provements. However, most of those who were willing to rent at all were 

 willing to give a long term (about five years) lease with low rent to permit 

 the renter to lime, fertilize, and reseed. Some would allow the land to be 

 used a few years rent free in order to have its future productivity improved. 

 A few owners expressed concern that renters might not carry through on a 

 long term lease, that the old grass might be plowed up and not reseeded. This 

 particularly bothered owners whose fields were around their houses. 



The interviewer gained the impression that important to interesting the 

 owners in renting and to working out rental terms were considerations of 

 confidence and understanding. If the owner had confidence in the would-be 

 renter's integrity and ability, the land probably could be rented, and if the 



Figure 6. Non-farmer rural residents and summer home owners often have some acreage which 

 they would like to keep open as a fire protection and to enlarge the view. If the hay stand 

 is not improved, the owners would have to pay to have the hay removed. If the land is worth- 

 while, a neighboring farmer might rent the land at terms beneficial to both. 



35 



