596 READINGS IN RURAL ECONOMICS 



Mr. Dietrich sold milk to a state institution at 6^ cents a quart 

 wholesale, the year round. At ordinary wholesale prices he would 

 have lost money. He did very well for his conditions, but his condi- 

 tions were entirely unusual. Land was worth city prices, so that 

 he could not afford much of it Milk was at an exceptional price. 



In cities there are successful dairies with less than an acre of 

 land. They buy their cows and buy all the feed and bedding. 

 But such dairymen get more for their milk because of their 

 location. It would be impossible for them to produce milk at a 

 profit if it were sold at wholesale farm prices. Such special 

 cases do not in any way affect the general principles as to the 

 importance of size of farm. 



Profits on very large farms. At the same time that small 

 farms in the general-farming states are being combined, the very 

 large farms have been decreasing in number. All the discus- 

 sions given above apply to "family farms" on which the farmer 

 and his family do most of the work. On the farms of over 200 

 acres in Livingston County, there was an average of less than 

 two hired men per farm. In Jefferson County, the farms of over 

 200 acres had an average of one hired man per farm. In each 

 county the farms of less than 150 acres furnished work for less 

 than one person besides the farmer. 



There are many reasons why very large farms are at a disad- 

 vantage. Even with the buildings in the center of the farm, it is 

 not often profitable to run more than 600 acres from one center, 

 because of the loss of time in going to and from the fields. 

 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 conducted makes it impos- 

 sible to use factory methods. The frequent changes of work on 

 a moment's notice, because of weather or other conditions, makes 

 it difficult to prevent loss of time in shifting from one job to 

 another. The prices of farm products are based on production 

 by the farm family with a little hired help. This sort of labor 

 is interested and accomplishes much more than can be done by a 

 large farm where the men have no direct interest. It is very dif- 

 ficult for the " bonanza " farm to compete with these conditions. 



