24 N. H. Agri. Experiment Station [Bulletin 298 



ment and skill in producing even for their own use. A few had become 

 organized to provide a considerable part of their food supplies from 

 the farm, but many of the locations selected by new families had de- 

 clined to such an extent that a garden required considerable expense in 

 fertilizer and the total production of hay was insufficient to maintain 

 one cow. Only 17 of the 118 who had moved to the farm in the last 

 decade had over $500 gross sales of agricultural products, and only four 

 had sales over $1,000. 



Fifty-four operators had lived on their farms from 11 to 20 years, 

 and 12 of these had gross sales in excess of $500. Thirty-three had 

 lived on the farm over 40 years, and nine of these had gross sales of 

 agricultural products in excess of $500. 



Fifteen of the 19 operators with gross sales over $1,000 had been on 

 the same farm over ten years. The newer settlers apparently have 

 depended very little on farming for their living, and on the whole have 

 not checked the trend toward decline in resources on the farms they 

 have occupied. 



Training 



The operators represent a varied background of training and experi- 

 ence. Over half of those under 60 indicated experience other than 

 common labor, lumbering, or farming. Many of the men had put in 

 active service in trade or business for a period of years and had mi- 

 grated to the farm on account of health, inheritance of property, or de- 

 sire to leave the city or factory. 



Twenty-eight had done mechanical work such as carpentering, steam- 

 fitting, garage work, and painting; eight had done office work; three 

 had been sailors or shipyard workers ; 13 worked in factories. Such 

 special trades as chef, acrobat, sausage-maker, riding-master, motor- 

 man, and station agent were represented. 



There is no information as to how successful these men were in these 

 fields, but it is significant that this great variety of experience is avail- 

 able in the area and might be diverted into productive channels. This 

 wide variety of experience should be adaptable to a wide range of pos- 

 sibilities. 



Of the male operators under 60, about 70 per cent were in good, 23 

 per cent in fair, and seven per cent in poor health. In addition to the 

 operators, there were 74 older male children at home. It was estimated 

 that 180 able-bodied men under 60 were available for productive work 

 and that 120 of these would be able to give at least 100 days to pro- 

 ductive work such as forestry. 



Income 



The income and living of the people bring still more light to the 

 problem. (Table 10) First the gross cash receipts for sale of prod- 

 ucts and for labor off the farm averaged $650 for the 252 farms. The 

 farm operating expenses' averaged $417 leaving a net of $233 as in- 

 come not including deductions for either actual interest payments or 

 interest on money invested. This income was supplemented by an aver- 



' Operating expenses included cash expense for labor, grain, feed, fertilizer, 

 repairs, taxes, and farm auto expense. Interest on investment or on debt 

 was not included. 



