THE RENT AND VALUE OF FARM LAND 643 



In wheat production also the farmers of this country are in a 

 position that is at least moderately strong. Canada and Argentina 

 may stand in the way of a more advantageous position for a dozen 

 years or so, but in the meantime the increasing demand of the world 

 for wheat promises to the wheat grower that he shall not again suffer 

 from the consequences of overproduction. 



The foregoing lines of evidence converge upon the conclusion, 

 which is now apparent in all parts of the United States, that in his 

 new economic independence the farmer is now more than ever before 

 free to choose his crop, and this is a matter of tremendous importance. 

 This removes obstacles to the rotation of crops and to intensifying 

 culture and methods. It gives the farmer ability to raise leguminous 

 crops, with their important benefits to the soil. It enables him to 

 multiply his domestic animals, with further consequences upon tillage 

 and land fertility. It enables him to adapt himself to his best markets 

 with the best crops. 



The agricultural situation just indicated is very appreciably 

 reflected by increased land and improvement values. 



MINOR DECREASES IN VALUE 



While the net result of changes in the average acre- values of farms 

 in the last five years has been a marked increase for the whole country, 

 decreases have been found within small areas, and these should not be 

 lost to view in the grandeur of the counter-movement. 



The migration of farmers' sons to town and city, to industry, 

 .trade, and transportation a common fact especially apparent in the 

 North Atlantic and North Central States is throwing farms upon 

 the market for sale, and this occurs sometimes in neighborhoods 

 where there is no immigration and little, if any, local demand for farm 

 lands. The unavoidable result is that in such neighborhoods farms 

 have decreased and are still decreasing in value. 



Probably no cause of depreciation of farm values is so frequently 

 mentioned in nearly all parts of the country as the scarcity and deterio- 

 ration of farm labor. The reports on which this statement is based 

 generally refer to wage labor, but the scarcity is found, though less 

 prevalently, in the supply of tenant labor also, particularly that, of a 

 trustworthy sort. 



A cause of depression in farm values in many places in the North 

 Atlantic states is the continuance of crop production which meets the 



