PART-TIME FARMING 145 



Effects of Part-Time Farming on Community Life and Institutions 



Since most pcart-tinie farmers in tlie areas covered by the present in- 

 vestigation worked outside of tlieir communities, their interest in the 

 local life and institutions was less pronounced than that of the rejiular 

 farniinc; population which lived and worked within the same commimity. 

 Coming originally from the city and continuing often to work in its 

 industries, the part-time farmer in many instances had his interest divid- 

 ed between the community he lived in and tlie place where he worked. 

 As newcomers in tiieir places of settlement, part-time farmers frequently 

 had not yet had sufficient time to establish their roots firmly in the new 

 ]^\nce of residence and to identify themselves with local institutions. In 

 addition, the majority of them in the areas investigated were foreign- 

 born, in some sections having displaced the native agricultural popu- 

 lation. In many submarginal areas, however, the land had been aban- 

 doned by the native farmers without any pressure on the part of the 

 foreign-born operators, who came in later and began the cultivation of idle 

 acres. This has been true in the case of most foreign-born part-time 

 farmers in Lowell and Taunton areas. 



From the standpoint of the rural communities which have witnessed 

 a decline of their farming population, and a falling off in taxable prop- 

 erty, the spread of part-time farming has been a desirable development. 

 Although most of tlie part-time farmers could not participate actively 

 in local institutions, they helped to maintnin them through supplying 

 increased sources for local taxation.'" 



While there was as yet only a .slight partici]intion of part-time farmers, 

 especially foreign-born, in community affairs, this was not true of their 

 children. By attending local schools they rapidly acquired an interest 

 in local life and school activities and became an important factor in 

 directing the interest of their parents to the affairs of the community. 



The leadersliip for community life is sujijilied by the old residents of 

 luvtive stock. They take great pride in their communities and are will- 

 ing to contribute their time and efforts toward improving local social 

 conditions. 



Immediate Prospects in the Development of Part-Time Farming 



As already pointed out, the movement into part-time farming within 

 the areas investigated has been especially prominent within the last decade 

 or so. Many factors have been responsible for the decision of a large 

 number of people engaged in various occupations to settle on the land 

 and obtain from it part of their living. To the factors already mentioned 

 should be added the rising cost of food distribution. Published statis- 

 tics show that within recent years the percentage increase in cost of food 

 distribution in tlie United States has been greater than the increase in 

 cost of living. Many wage earners have found it profitable to satisfy 

 their food requirements from their own farming enterprises to a consider- 

 able extent, thus eliminating the rapidly increasing cost of distribu- 

 tion. Nearness to consuming centers gives operators in Massachusetts 



^^ For a special investigation on the effect of the settlement of industrial laborers on 

 a rural community, see "Effects of Industrial Development on Rural Life in Sullivan 

 County, Tennessee." University of Tennessee Record. May, 1928. 



