28 The State and the Farmer 



now placed in barns and residences were 

 unknown. Moreover, deserted farm buildings 

 are likely to stand until they fall down. In 

 cities, land and location are valuable, and old 

 buildings are torn down to make room for 

 the new structures. Therefore, the country 

 contrasts strongly with the city in respect to 

 its buildings. The staring and windowless 

 farmhouses appeal to the imagination of the 

 town visitor, and he accepts them at once as 

 evidences of failure and decline. 



In order to determine the significance of 

 deserted farmhouses, an inquiry has been 

 made in one of the townships in a so-called 

 abandoned farm region. Every deserted farm- 

 house in the township was recorded. Con- 

 ditions there are as bad as anywhere in that 

 region ; yet by count, there are only forty-five 

 vacant farmhouses in the township, the area 

 of which is more than forty-five square miles. 

 One might draw the conclusion at once that 

 there are forty-five abandoned farms in the town- 

 ship. It is doubtful, however, whether there is 

 a single really abandoned farm in this area. It 



