36 



The question of tenure, from many standpoints, is one of the most 

 interesting on the schedule. The three principal tenures are owner, 

 cash tenant and share tenant. In 18S0, for the country as a whole, 

 74.5 per cent of all farms were operated by their owners, 8 per cent 

 by cash tenants and 17.5 per cent by share tenants. In 1900 the 

 proportion of owners had fallen to 64.7 per cent, while cash tenants 

 increased to 13. 1 per cent and share tenants to 22.2 per cent. Massa- 

 chusetts had an unusually large proportion of owners, — 91 .8 per cent 

 in 1880 and 90.4 per cent in 1900. During the same period, cash 

 tenants increased from 6 per cent to 8.3 per cent of all, while share 

 tenants decreased from 2.2 per cent to 1.3 per cent. Formerly the 

 decrease in number of owners and the increase in number of tenants 

 was deplored by many writers as an indication that farm lands were 

 passing into the hands of capitalists, and that tenants had corre- 

 spondingly less opportunity of becoming farm owners. Careful study 

 and better census figures tend to disprove this theory, and the con- 

 stant relative increase in the number of tenants is now believed to 

 indicate that a steadily increasing number of farm laborers are rising 

 through farm tenancy to farm ownership, and that a growing number 

 of farm owners become independent in later life and retire from active 

 management. Their lands thus become available for tenant farmers 

 or farm laborers of the better class. In other words, tenancy is re- 

 garded as the stepping stone whereby young farm laborers ultimately 

 become farm owners. By using the data regarding age of farmers in 

 connection with the figures regarding tenure and occupations, much 

 light will be thrown on this interesting question by the thirteenth 

 census. For example, it will be possible to show whether or not 

 there is an increase in the relative number of owners, or a decrease 

 in the relative number of tenants and farm laborers, as the farm 

 workers increase in age. 



2. General Information regarding Farm Acreage, Values and Expenses. 



Each farm operator will be required to state the total number of 

 acres in his farm, and also the number of acres of improved land. 

 The census defines a farm as all the land under the control or personal 

 direction of a single individual or firm, upon which animals, fowls 

 and agricultural products are raised or produced. The farm of a 

 tenant, renter or cropper includ es the land leased by him from others 

 and farmed under his management or direction. 



By improved land is meant all land regularly tilled or mowed, land 

 temporarily pastured, land lying fallow, land in gardens, orchards, 

 vineyards and nurseries, and land occupied by buildings. The num- 

 ber of acres of timbered land will also be called for, and special in- 

 quiries may be made concerning pasture land. 



Farm Values. — Statements will be required of the value of all 

 land in the farm, including buildings and improvements; the value 

 of all buildings on the farm; and that of all implements and ma- 



