74 THE BUSINESS OF FARMING 



Farmers on the hill slopes of New England are working 

 at a disadvantage on account of the free trade with the 

 rich, level lands of the West. While the yield per acre is 

 higher in New England than in the western states, yet the 

 cost of producing crops is also higher on account of the 

 fact that large machinery cannot be used on the slopes. 

 Many farms, therefore, have been abandoned for economic 

 reasons, and are now growing forests, for which they are 

 better adapted. 



d. Personal peculiarities. Under this heading may be 

 mentioned such weaknesses in certain farmers as a tend- 

 ency to laziness, shiftlessness, and alcoholism. Strong 

 drink and laziness have darkened the prospects of many a 

 homestead. 



PRACTICAL QUESTIONS 



1. How many different occupations are there in the country? In 

 your neighborhood ? 2. What is the difference between trade and 

 transportation? Public service and domestic service? 3. In what 

 sense is farming a primary industry? 4. Explain why the secon- 

 dary occupations are gaining over the primary occupations. 5. Is 

 the invention of machinery a benefit to the farmer? 6. What is 

 meant by success in farm life? 7. Is it possible for a farmer to be a 

 failure and yet be making more than he spends? 8. In what way is 

 the farmer affected by the high cost of living? 9. State and discuss 

 three causes that raise prices. 10. What is a tenant? 11. To what 

 is our increase of tenancy due ? 12. Do tenants take as much care of 

 farm properties as owners do? 13. Would you sooner work in a 

 mill or on a farm? 14. Why are some farmers more successful than 

 others ? 



HOME EXKRCISES 



1. Make a study and keep careful records of one farm operation as 

 conducted by your father. Determine the gain or loss per cent in the 

 operation, and, if possible, the reasons therefor. 



2. Determine the per cent of tenant farmers of your school district 

 and compare this number with that of ten years ago. 



