FACTORS OF SUCCESS IN FARMING 595 



general farm crops when the crops consist of a good combina- 

 tion of grain and hay combined with potatoes, apples, or cabbage. 

 If the crops are of the above kinds, there should be at least 

 20 acres per horse, but if they are largely hay and grain, there 

 should be at least 30 acres per horse. In the Eastern states, 

 the cost of horse labor per acre is more than the interest on the 

 land. While five horses can raise 125 acres of crops, it is diffi- 

 cult to raise 50 acres of crops with two horses. Farm machinery 

 is built on the two-, three-, and four-horse basis. Evidently, if 

 one has less than 80 acres of crops, he must go without good 

 machinery or must keep too many horses. There is no solution 

 of the problem for him. Machinery, horses, and labor cannot be 

 used to the best advantage with less than 100 to 125 acres of 

 crops, 150 to 200 acres is still better. 



Truck farms. The preceding discussions should not be con- 

 fused with truck farms. In Livingston County, records were ob- 

 tained for 1 7 truck farms on muck soil. The chief crops on this 

 soil were lettuce, celery, spinach, and onions. This type of farm- 

 ing is highly speculative. Crops are by no means sure, and prices 

 are extremely variable. One of these farmers made a labor in- 

 come of 1^2931 from 8 acres. This is the highest labor income 

 thus found for so small a farm. Another of these muck farms 

 lacked $1934 of having any labor income. 



In Jefferson County, records were obtained for 10 truck farms. 

 Most of these used lowland soils that were not true muck. Seven 

 had 20 to 50 acres. Their average labor income was $662. Three 

 had over 50 acres and made an average labor income of 1^789. 



Unusual conditions may affect results. Exceptional prices or 

 exceptional land values may decidedly affect results. The results 

 for a 1 5 -acre dairy farm that was formerly operated by Mr. Diet- 

 rich 1 have been widely quoted and have been the cause of much 

 misunderstanding. The farm was fairly profitable. Apparently 

 a labor income of about $1000 was made. The farms studied 

 in New York of over 200 acres probably had an average capital 

 of no more than this man had invested, but 44 per cent of them 

 made labor incomes of over j^iooo. 



* U. S. Dept. Agpr., Farmers' Bulletin 242. 



