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MASS. EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 266 



price and obtain the l^enefit of the enhanced value of their holdings re- 

 sulting from the improvements. Because of tliis tendency, however, the 

 percentage of improved land in part-time farming proved to l^e lower 

 than in regular farming. 



From Chart 9, where the proportion of improved land in farming as 

 given by the L^nited States Census is compared with that in part-time 

 farming, it will be seen that the latter had a smaller percentage of im- 

 proved acreage both in tlie town of Holden and in Lowell area. Only in 

 Taunton area did it even slightly exceed the percentage of improved land 

 in regular farming. This was largely due to the presence in that area of 

 Portuguese operators, who were foimd to be the most active in improving 

 their land. 



Chart 9. Percentage of Improved Land in Fanning as Given by the United States 

 Census, compared with the Percentage in Part-Time Farming in Lowell and Taunton 

 Areas and the Town of Holden. 



HOLDEN 



LOWELL 



TAUNTON 



PERCE.WTASE. 

 49 6 



100 



FARMING 



PART-TIME FARMING ^ 



Types of Part-Time Farming 



Although most of the part-time farmers raised vegetables and kept some 

 live stock to satisfy the immediate needs of their families for agricultural 

 products, when it came to producing a surplus for sale they specialized in 

 the type of farming best adapted to the local physical and marketng 

 conditions as regular farmers ordinarily do. Prom Table 2.5 it will be seen 

 that during the year under consideration the value of output in live 

 stock and live-stock products in Lowell area was two-thirds of the value 

 of total output, while in Taunton area the return from the same source 

 was only half the value of the total output. 



The condition of soil and general character of farming in Taunton area 



