264 FARM MANAGEMENT 



the operator directs many men. It certainly takes ability 

 to handle a large number of men on a large farm, but the 

 problem between a 100- and a 200-acre farm is not in num- 

 ber of men employed, but in having only half work for 

 them on the smaller place. 



The large farms operated by tenants show the same 

 degree of efficiency as those operated by owners. 1 Fre- 

 quently, after the tenant saves enough money, he becomes 

 an owner of a small place. The efficiency in the use of his 

 horses and machinery is then limited. 



A study of the shifts of individuals is exceedingly inter- 

 esting and instructive. A farmer frequently rents or buys 

 more land and farms it without any more help, horses, or 

 machinery. 



The logic of the question ought to be sufficient without 

 any of the preceding discussion. If small farms are more 

 efficient than larger farms, then all the more able men 

 would choose small farms, and if they had money left 

 over, invest it in other ways. 



169. Best size of farm. Figure 62 shows that 300 

 acres is approaching the limit of the most profitable size 

 of farm, for the type of farming. All the tables show 

 that with a small farm, a little increased area results 

 in enormously increased efficiency, but additional area for 

 a larger farm does not result in the same saving. Ulti- 

 mately, a size is reached that provides full employment for 

 men, horses, and machinery. When this point is reached 

 additional land requires more equipment. The point at 

 which this change occurs varies with climate, soil, and 

 other conditions, and for different kinds of equipment. 

 Wagons soon have to be duplicated; grain binders are 

 adapted to larger acreages. 



1 New York, Cornell Bulletin 295, p. 542. 



