SOME SUGGESTIONS FOR CITY PERSONS 139 



an acre by using the soiling system. The experienced farmer is 

 not so much concerned with the cow population as he is with 

 saving the labor cost. Economy in the use of labor of men and 

 horses, and a reduction of the machinery cost, are more important 

 by far than is economy in the use of land. When we arrive at the 

 conditions of high-priced land and cheap labor of Europe, we will 

 give relatively more attention to the saving of areas. 



There are some profitable farms that obtain very large receipts 

 per acre ; these are usually with types of farming in which the 

 expenditure per acre is also large. 



Correct types of farming. One who has traveled much is likely 

 to be impressed by what is done in some other state and may 

 want to try it in New York. He sees hogs eating corn in Iowa, 

 and is likely to think that the New York farmer should raise as 

 many as does the Iowa farmer. He buys an expensive steak, and 

 concludes that beef would pay every New York farmer. Nearly 

 all the pasture land in New York is already in use producing milk 

 or raising dairy cattle. New York farmers have tried practically 

 everything. The types of farming that have survived are the ones 

 that have stood the test. 



Overinvestment in buildings and machinery. In Livingston 

 County, the investment in houses represents 14 per cent of the 

 total capital in the fami business, including real estate equipment, 

 live stock, and supplies. Certainly, one should hesitate to build a 

 new home that represents much over a fifth of the capital. The 

 house may be said to be a personal matter ; but if the investment 

 goes much beyond this, it is too valuable a house for the farm. 



The average cost of bams per cow or equivalent in other 

 animals was $yo in Livingston County. One who spends over 

 $100 per cow should be sure that he is right. The interest, re- 

 pairs, taxes, insurance, and other costs on such a building amount 

 to about 8 to I o per cent. The above limit would make an annual 

 cost of $10 per cow for barn rent. One set of barns were built 

 not long ago which were intended to be model barns for the 

 neighbors. They cost $65,000 and were to house 65 cows. The 

 bam rent per cow would be $100 a year. It takes a good cow to 

 give $100 worth of milk at wholesale prices. There are many 



