266 FARM MANAGEMENT 



efficient for various types of farming will be discussed in 

 the next chapter. In order to use machinery and horses 

 effectively a farm ought to be large enough to use five 

 horses. It must be large enough to use at least one man, 

 or grown boy, besides the operator, if it is to be run econom- 

 ically. 



170. Profits on very large farms. We have seen that 

 the moderately large farm of 200 to 400 acres has a very 

 great advantage over the small farm. These farms are 

 essentially alike in character. But the " bonanza " farm 

 is an entirely different proposition. All of the usual dis- 

 cussions of large farms apply to this class. 



There are several reasons why it is very difficult to 

 handle farms of several thousand acres profitably. The 

 great variety of work that must be done makes it difficult 

 to handle men in gangs and use them like machines. The 

 large area over which operations must be carried on makes 

 it impossible to use factory methods. The frequent change 

 of work on a moment's notice, because of weather or other 

 conditions, makes it difficult to prevent lost time in shift- 

 ing from one job to another. It is difficult to keep a large 

 gang employed on stormy days. Part of the difficulty 

 of keeping men busy is obviated by giving each man some 

 land to work for himself, with the agreement that he is 

 to work by the day whenever he is needed. When not 

 needed, he can work for himself. 



The man who works with his men and who treats his 

 men as equals has a great advantage over one who merely 

 superintends work. The great majority of farm operations 

 require judgment and interest on the part of the worker. 



It is not often possible to run more than 600 acres, or in 

 some cases 1000 acres, economically from one center, on ac- 

 count of the lost time in going to and from fields, and in 



