60 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



acres, 68 per cent made $1,000 or more, the average for the 

 whole group being $1,575. 



In a similar study made in the extensive farm region of the 

 tipper Mississippi valley States, the 160-acre farm groups gave 

 an income over five times that of the 40-acre group. Results 

 closely paralleling these are secured wherever such studies are 

 made of comparable types of farming. It is not surprising 

 that this is true when we consider some of the handicaps under 

 which the small farm is operated. For instance, in the group 

 of large farms in the Chester County area the value of machin- 

 ery equipment per acre of crops was only about one-half that 

 of the small-farm group, and the crop acres per horse was 

 nearly double, as was also the crop acres per man. Further- 

 more, a small farm is rarely ever adequately supplied with 

 equipment. 



A recent study of machinery equipment on over 1,100 farms 

 in western New York State showed that when, for instance, a 

 sulky plow was used to cover 15 acres annually, the cost per 

 day of use for the machine alone was 83 cents. When this 

 same plow was used to cover 55 acres annually the cost was 

 reduced to 57 cents per day. A grain drill when used to cover 

 20 acres annually cost per day used $2.97. When used to 

 cover 117 acres annually the cost per day dropped to $1.04. 

 A grain binder when used to cover 15 acres per year cost per 

 day used the surprising sum of $8.15. When used to cover 

 85 acres per year the cost per day used was $2.41. 



Another striking disadvantage of a small farm is that the 

 restricted acreage does not permit of a sufficient diversifica- 

 tion in the farm enterprises to furnish a good, even, all the 

 year round employment of labor. As a result, the labor em- 

 ployed by the year is often idle for long periods. Whether 

 this labor be hired, or be the services of the farmer himself 

 and his family, the results are all the same. Rather than be 

 idle for a long period this labor might well be employed in 

 some industry which yields even but slight profit. In the 

 larger sized farms this factor can easily be provided for. The 

 minimum size of a farm for efficiency should be such as will 

 furnish opportunity for adequate employment for both labor, 

 machinery equipment and work stock. 



