CHAPTER 19 

 CHOOSING AND BUYING A FARM 



THE choice of a region and the choice of a farm are 

 much the same problem, but there are many points that 

 have more to do with the individual farm and community 

 than with the section of the country. 



317. Importance of securing a good farm. The 

 most important decision that the farmer is called upon 

 to make is the choice of a farm. In regions where the 

 soil is most nearly uniform, the problem is not so serious, 

 but even then there are great differences in farms. In 

 regions of variable soils, it very often happens that a 

 farm on which it is difficult to make a living joins a good 

 farm. When strangers are buying land, these differences 

 are very frequently used to deceive purchasers. North- 

 ern farmers going South and western farmers moving 

 East are often misled into buying poor farms that sound 

 cheap rather than buying good land. Sometimes land 

 that has very little agricultural value has a trading value, 

 just as an old horse that is worthless for work has a trad- 

 ing value. 



318. Size of farm. Chapters 7 and 8 have discussed 

 the question of size of farm. If a farm is too large or too 

 small, the chances of buying or selling to secure the 

 proper area should be considered. If one wishes to com- 

 bine two or more farms, and the fact is known, it is not 

 always easy to buy at reasonable prices. 



319. Area in crops. Much more important than the 



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