SIZE OF FARMS 247 



parently, 300 acres is near the point at which additional 

 area would not result in a much greater labor income. If 

 there should be a change in the size or character of 

 machinery used, a still larger area might be called for. 



Under present conditions, it appears that farms in 

 Livingston County for general farming should not be less 

 than 150 acres, and it does not seem that much is gained 

 by having over 300 acres. About 200 to 400 acres seems 

 to be a very desirable size. 



Similar work in New Hampshire has shown that the farms 

 making the larger labor incomes are larger than the aver- 

 age. This applies to the dairy and poultry farms, as well 

 as to general farms. 1 



Wherever studies of this kind have been made, the same 

 conclusions have been strikingly shown. The exact 

 area that makes a large farm varies with the region and 

 type of farming, but everywhere the farm that fails to 

 provide employment for at least one man, besides the oper- 

 ator, is at a great disadvantage. 



The larger farms also furnish the greater opportunity 

 for losses. It is not possible to make a very large loss, or 

 a very large profit, on a small business. 



The Census figures for the United States do not give 

 all the farm expenses, but there is data enough to show 

 that the small farms are rarely profitable. The Census 

 gives the value of products not fed to live-stock. This 

 is more than the receipts per farm, because seed and other 

 products used on the farm are included. Only two of the 

 items of expense are given, labor and fertilizers. 



If, from the value of products, we subtract the expenses 

 given, and interest on the capital, we obtain a figure that is 

 larger than the labor income of the farm-family. From 



1 U. S. Dept. Agr., Bureau of Plant Industry, Circular 75, pp. 11-16. 



