December, 1931] Daiey Faeming in Grafton County 



43 



approximately the same as wages. In recent years, hired men's cash 

 wages in rural communities of the Northeastern States have been ap- 

 proximately $600 a year. That the farmers' incomes have tended to be 

 considerably out of line is not a new idea. 



Hired men are not likely to work as long hours nor as conscien- 

 tiously as operators. In a depression period of low returns, especially, 

 the operator is spurred to greater activity. The estimate of $792 as the 

 average cash value of the operator's time is probably reasonable. 



The question is sometimes asked how farmers can live on so small an 

 income. Assuming that a man's farm business conforms to the average 

 of these 395, he will have a labor income of $393. If he owns his farm 

 free from debt, he will not have to pay the $561 interest. The item of 

 unpaid labor amounting to $239 shown in Table 31 is available for liv- 

 ing expenses as it is not actually paid out. Thus, if this farmer were 

 free from debt, he would have $393 + $561 + $239, or a total of $1,193 

 available for cash family living expenses or for saving. 



If to the cash income some $500 worth of privileges be added, a total 

 of approximately $1,700 becomes available to offset the costs of sup- 

 porting a family. Comfortable houses, comparable in size to these farm 

 dwellings are not easily rented in cities or villages for $207 a year, $17 

 a month. Milk is not delivered in glass bottles on the streets at six 

 cents a quart, the price in Table 33. Possibly the increased cost of 

 some of these items if bought elsewhere might change the total to 

 $1,900 or better. "With his property free from debt and plenty of un- 

 paid labor, a farmer might continue with a minus labor income for 

 years. On the other hand, high school education, electric lights, sew- 

 age systems, and most other home conveniences cost more in the coun- 

 try than in the city. 



Table 33 — Quantity and value of produce raised on the farm and used in the 



house — 4^4 farms. 



