16 FIELD OPERATIONS OF THE BUREAU OF SOILS, 1916. 



As Porter County has long been a dair}^ district, the farmers have 

 more manure available than is usual in Indiana counties. This sup- 

 plies in the best and cheapest form organic matter and nitrogen, the 

 elements most needed on the light-colored soils. No extensive use 

 of commercial fertilizer has ever been made. In 1909 only 160 farms 

 reported its use, and the average expenditure per farm was $36. 

 There was a slight but growbig demand for potash on the black or 

 mucky lands before the price of this material became prohibitive. 

 Complete fertihzers are sometimes drilled in with the com or wheat 

 at the rate of 75 to 200 pounds per acre, with fair average results. 

 There is an increasing tendency to use phosphatic fertilizers, such as 

 bone meal and acid phosphate, for com, wheat, and oats, particularly 

 on lands which also need Hme. 



In recent years much of the "sour" land east of Kouts has been 

 improved by hming. Lime usually is applied in the form of finely 

 gromid Hmestone, at the rate of 1 ton to 4 tons per acre. This may 

 be obtained at a cost of about $1.25 per ton, mcluding the freight. 

 In some cases air-slaked lime has been used with good results. 



Farm labor is an important item in Porter County. In 1909 a 

 total of 1,013 farms reported a total expenditure of $234,189 for 

 labor. Good farm hands are difficult to obtain; they receive $30 to 

 $35 and board per month. Extra help is paid about $1.25 to $2 

 per day. In harvesting seasons the practice of exchanging labor is 

 general. Most of the laborers are Americans and are efficient. 



The average size of farms in Porter County has remained about the 

 same for the last 40 years. In the 1910 census it is reported as 125 

 acres. About 90 per cent of the area of the county is reported in 

 farms, and of the farm land 77.8 per cent is classed as improved. 

 The farms range m size from a few acres to over 5,000 acres. Farms 

 of a section or more are not im common. 



The 1910 census reports 69.6 per cent of the farms operated by the 

 owners, which is a larger proportion than that in many comities in 

 the corn belt. However, the number of tenant farms has gradually 

 increased durmg the last 30 years. Farms usually are rented under 

 the share system, the owner receiving two-fifths to one-half the crops. 

 In some cases he pays for a part of the seed and fertilizer, but he 

 seldom has an interest in the implements and farm stock. The 

 tenant owns the work stock and tools, produces the crops, hauls 

 them to market, and usually furnishes the labor for repairs about 

 the farm. The owner usually reserves the right to decide what crops 

 shaU be growai, and it is generally specified that no roughage shall 

 be removed from the farm. Sometimes the tenant is required to pay 

 cash rent for pasture land. 



The average assessed value of farm land in Porter County is 

 reported in the 1910 census as $58.09 an acre. Some of the rougher 



