2 BULLETIN" 41, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



bulletin, include data from about TOO farms. It is fully realized that 

 further studies, embracing larger areas in each State, are necessary 

 before definite statements can be made regarding certain points. 

 However, the information gathered furnishes almost conclusive proof 

 with respect to many phases of farm organization. 



The results pertaining to the size of the farm in its relation to 

 operating costs and the profits received are particularly valuable. 

 It would be highly desirable to make a survey of the same regions for 

 several successive years. If such data were obtained, however, it is 

 believed that the conclusions would be the same as those from the 

 one year's study. A possible exception might be the conclusions rela- 

 tive to the best paying type of farming. Extreme fluctuation in 

 prices may make some crops unprofitable at certain times. Potatoes 

 and peaches are two excellent illustrations of this. 



Checking the results of any one year with the average prices for a 

 period of years permits fairly accurate conclusions. Investigations 

 made in different years and in widely separated States all point to 

 the same general principles that apparently control a successful farm. 



METHOD OF WORK. 



The data presented were obtained by having trained investigators 

 who were thoroughly familiar with the agriculture in each district 

 personally visit the farmers. Every farmer in the area selected for 

 study was interviewed and a record of the year's business obtained. 

 In this way, by including all the farms in a certain area, average 

 results were secured. 



Experience has proved that one can not select farms which repre- 

 sent the average of a community. Good farm buildings and neatly 

 kept fences are not alwaj^s sure signs of profitable farming. 



Certain questions are difficult for the farmer to answer and in a 

 few instances his answer may be considerably in error. This trouble 

 is eliminated by the fact that some men will underestimate, while 

 others will overestimate the facts. The average is approximately 

 correct. Only those results are included where there is a sufficient 

 number of instances to insure reasonable accuracy. 



The farmer knows more about his business than most people give 

 him credit for. Even though he keeps no records he is capable of 

 giving a very close estimate on all those things with which he is 

 familiar. 



Farm data gathered by the survey method of study x are unques- 

 tionably as accurate as need be for all practical purposes. 



1 Warren, G. F., Llvermore, K. C, and others. An agricultural survey — townships of 

 Ithaca, Dryden, Danby. and Lansing, Tompkins County, New York. New York Cornell 

 Agricultural Experiment Station, Bulletin 205, pp. 375-569, fi^s. 147-201, 1911. 



Thomson, B. II. Agricultural survey of four townships in southern New Hampshire. 

 U. 8. Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Plant Industry, Circular 75, 19 pp., tt figs., 

 1911. 



