130 FARM MANAGEMENT 



largest was $881. This farmer received $242 from the 

 sale of eggs and crops. 



It is, of course, possible to make a living and some 

 profit when selling little but market milk. The last 

 farmer mentioned above ought to save money, but a few 

 of his neighbors with no better cows are making labor 

 incomes of nearly $3000 by combining cash crops with 

 milk. It is often possible to make a fair profit with ex- 

 treme specialization, but larger profits can nearly always 

 be secured by combining other things with the specialty. 



The farms selling the most crops are about the same size 

 as the more exclusively dairy farms. The cows are doing 

 a little better on these dairy farms than on the general 

 farms. The number of animals kept, and the total re- 

 ' ceipts from animals, are about the same in each group of 

 farms. The labor cost is a little more on the farms selling 

 the most crops. 



The only striking difference is in receipts for crops sold 

 and consequent difference in labor income. Those farmers 

 who sell crops are increasing their receipts from 25 to 100 

 per cent by raising crops to sell, with practically the same 

 man and horse labor that is required to take care of the cows. 

 This same point is shown by studying the most successful 

 farms on pages 133 to 139. 



If there is land enough, a little extra help in summer will 

 make it possible to have $500 to $1500 worth of crops to sell. 



The men who sell nothing but milk are not fully em= 

 ployed. They have work twice every day, but have time 

 to raise crops for sale between milkings. Such men may 

 keep busy by fussing with the cows, but the prices that 

 the farmers receive for wholesale milk do not enable them 

 to make much more than a hired-man's wages unless they 

 have something besides milk to sell. 



