SIZE OF FARMS 



261 



ten head of stock costs much more than half as much as a 

 barn to house twenty head of stock. The smallest farms 

 have an investment in barns of $164 per animal unit. 1 

 The largest farms have only $50 per animal unit. Yet 

 observations lead to the conclusion that the stock on the 

 larger places is better housed. If interest, repairs, de- 

 preciation, and insurance on a building amount to 10 per 

 cent of the value, then the housing cost per animal unit 

 would vary from $16 per year on the smallest farms to 

 $5 per year on the largest. 



TABLE 50. AREA RELATED TO INVESTMENT IN BUILDINGS, 

 578 FARMS, LIVINGSTON COUNTY, NEW YORK 



Again the figures for the United States show the same 

 conclusion. The larger farms -have better buildings, but 

 at a less proportionate cost. The farms of less than 20 

 acres have over one-third of their capital invested in 

 buildings and machinery. Those of over 175 acres have 

 less than one-fifth of the money thus employed. Money 

 thus invested is not only unproductive, but is a source of 

 constant cost for repairs. If a farmer had all his money 

 invested in buildings and machinery and mules, his income 



1 All animals reduced to their equivalent in cows or horses, see page 

 209 for definition. 



