254 MISCELLANEOUS FARM SUBJECTS 



sive. If he wishes to buy a farm, it usually takes all the money and 

 credit at his command to buy the land alone. 



The acquisition of the land is only the beginning of the struggle. 

 Investigations have shown that in farming only about half the capi- 

 tal required is invested in the land. The remainder is invested in 

 buildings, fences, farm machinery, tools, and live stock, sufficient 

 cash being kept on hand for running expenses. Many a man buy- 

 ing a farm will put all his money into the land and then struggle the 

 remainder of his life with insufficient working capital, trying to meet 

 expenses and make the farm earn its equipment. Should the same 

 man let some one else furnish the farm and put his own money into 

 the working and proper handling of it he would require much less 

 capital. He would be relieved of a large burden of debt, and with 

 adequate equipment and cash on hand the farm would be run far 

 more efficiently and, generally, to his greater profit. 



A man who has acquired some money, as a laborer or otherwise, 

 who desires to be independent but who has not sufficient money or 

 credit to buy and efficiently equip a complete farm, may let some 

 one else furnish the farm while he furnishes the labor and part or 

 all of the equipment and other working capital. Whether the re- 

 sults of such an arrangement are mutually satisfactory depends upon 

 several factors, which may be profitably considered more in detail. 



Fundamental Principles of Tenant Farming. 1. A cropping 

 and fertilizing system which will return satisfactory yields of each 

 crop yearly and still maintain permanently the productiveness of the 

 farm throughout future years must be provided. The owner should 

 make the plan. 



2. Terms of agreement as to rental must be fair to both owner 

 and tenant. If advantage is taken by either owner or tenant of a 

 lack of knowledge in the other of what is a fair adjustment of the 

 returns from the farm, the results are bound to be unsatisfactory 

 and the relationship brief. 



3. The terms of the lease should be such as to lead to perman- 

 ent tenancy. A tenant can not and will not do his best by the farm 

 if he is to remain on it for only a short period. 



On a large estate in Maryland which is leased to tenants the 

 following system has proved satisfactory to both tenant and owner: 



The agreement is drawn up for one year. If the contract proves 

 mutually satisfactory it is continued in force during succeeding 

 years without further attention. The owner furnishes the farm and 

 mrildings; furnishes paint for painting and lime for whitewashing 

 buildings and fences ; pays for all permanent improvements, such as 

 the clearing of new lands or the tile draining of old lands ; furnishes 

 material for fencing; furnishes half of the fertilizer and half the 

 seed wheat, seed oats, and seed corn, and pays the taxes on the real 

 estate. 



The tenant furnishes all tools and labor for working the place 

 and all stock kept on the place. He also furnishes half of the fer- 

 tilizer and half of the seed wheat, seed corn, and seed oats ; furnishes 

 all the clover and grass seed used, which by the terms of agreement 



