SELECTION OF FARM 



regions and under different circumstances. 



Perhaps the one feature that the young 

 farmer is most likely to overlook in the 

 selection of a farm is the relative proportion 

 of tillable land. One farm of 200 acres, 

 may, on account of stony land, wet land, 

 comparatively unproductive woodland, or 

 because of the arrangement of fences and 

 roadways, contain only eighty acres of tilla- 

 ble land, while another may contain 160 

 acres. This is one reason why a i6o-acre 

 farm in the central West may be more val- 

 uable than a farm of the same size in the 

 northeastern United States. 



Columella says with regard to the selec- 

 tion of land that there are two things chiefly 

 to be considered, the wholesomeness of the 

 air and the fruitfulness of the place, "of 

 which if either the one or the other should 

 be wanting, and notwithstanding anyone 

 should have a mind to dwell there, he must 

 have lost his senses and ought to be con- 

 veyed to his kinfolk to take care of him." 



In selecting a farm do not fail to inquire 

 whether there has been any recent illness, 

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