860 SUCCESSFUL FARMING 



One who is just starting as a fanner will often do better by renting for 

 shares from a good landlord who will give close supervision to the manage- 

 ment of the farm. A landlord's good judgment and experience in farming 

 will be of much assistance to an inexperienced tenant. 



Systems of Rental. — The method of renting land varies greatly, but 

 there are three general methods, which are subject to variation: (1) the 

 landlord may furnish only the land ; (2) he may furnish land, half the live- 

 stock, other than work animals, and pay half of the feed, fertilizer and seed 

 bills; and (3) he may furnish everything but the labor. 



Renting for shares is more common than any other system. The 

 division of the farm proceeds may be based on the gross receipts or upon 

 net returns. The former is much more common. The basis of division is 

 determined by the relative responsibility and interest of the landlord and 

 tenant. The more working capital the landlord has invested, the larger 

 will be his share of the farm products. 



In most of the eastern states, the tenant and owner each pay one-half 

 of the running expenses of the farm, such as feed, fertilizers, spraying 

 material, binder twine, etc., and divide the proceeds equally. Under this 

 system, the ow r ner pays for all permanent repairs, improvements on 

 buildings and land, taxes and sometimes half the school taxes. The tenant 

 furnishes all the labor, all tools and implements, the work stock and pays 

 the school taxes. Where dairy cows are kept, their ownership is frequently 

 shared equally. Under this arrangement the equal division of all products 

 between landlord and tenant is a fair division in most regions where 

 generaljFarming prevails. The more intensive the type of farming, the 

 larger should be the tenant's share of the products. Tenants can seldom 

 afford to spend most of their time milking cow r s and raising such crops as 

 potatoes for one-half the products. In this kind of farming, labor consti- 

 tutes a large part of the cost of production and the burden of this falls 

 entirely on the tenant. 



Cash Rental. — Good farms rented for cash often bring better. returns 

 than land ownership. This gives the tenant independence in the conduct 

 of his methods of farming and he reaps the benefit of all special efforts that 

 he puts forth. If better tillage increases crop yields, he receives the full 

 benefit of his effort. 



If a long lease can be secured, there is nearly as much inducement to 

 build up the fertility of the soil as if he were the owner. 



Advantages of Share Rental. — Renting land on shares lessens the 

 investment on the part, of the renter and makes it possible for some men to 

 farm who would not be able to buy or rent for cash. The lower the value 

 of the land rented, the larger should be the tenant's share of the farm 

 products; the greater the intensity of the type of farming and the larger 

 the cost on the part of the tenant, the larger should be his share of the 

 products. The chief disadvantage in share renting lies in the fact that the 

 tenant receives only a share of the increased yield of crops that may 



