106 



OREGON FARMER 



This is more fully explained under the horticultural section, page 71. 

 The principal reason for the high rate of profit on the small farms in 

 this section is, doubtless, due principally to irrigation, and to the 

 variety of many crops found on most of these small farms. On 

 page 82, is described two of these farms which illustrate this point. 

 For a graphical representation of the state averages, see table page 104. 



STATISTICS ON BUSINESS METHODS 1911-12. 



Business Methods. 



The claim that the farmer is more careless regarding his business 

 methods than any other class of business men was doubtless once 

 true, but there are indications that this condition is rapidly changing. 

 No other subject has received more attention in the last few years by 

 educators and economists throughout the United States than the 

 Business Side of Farming. Farm Credit and Finance have become 

 international issues; marketing and distribution of farm products are 

 receiving increased attention. Every educational institution from the 

 Agricultural College down to the cross road school is emphasizing 

 this important subject. 



Two questions were asked in the survey for the purpose of ascertain- 

 ing the business methods of the Oregon farmer, and the reports were 

 truly surprising. The questions were : (1). Do you keep permanent 

 records of your business transactions? and (2) Do you keep a bank 

 account? Nearly 1,500 answers were secured to the first question 

 and 1,521 to the second. In the above table it appears that 93 

 out of every 100 farmers interviewed keep a bank account, and that 

 48 out of every 100 keep some kind of financial records. This is a 

 showing of which Oregon may be justly proud; since it reflects in a 

 large measure the intelligence and character of the farming popula- 

 tion. Professor Warren, in his survey of Tompkins County, New 

 York, estimates that 45 per cent of the farmers in that county keep 

 records a rather remarkable similarity of results as compared with 

 this survey. 



This table also shows remarkable uniformity throughout 

 the state, especially in regard to banking practice, two divisions 

 showing 95%, one 94% and two 89%. Southern Oregon shows a 

 decided lead in regard to record keeping. 



