44 



BULLETIN 994, TJ. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



naire. In general, however, results obtained by this method should 

 be considered with its limitations in mind, for usually a relative 

 figure is obtained, which is indicative rather than specific. 



The Office of Farm Management and Farm Economics has made 

 a number of studies by the questionnaire method, principally with 

 reference to the experiences of farmers with tractors and other me- 

 chanical farm equipment. By way of experiment, the Office, during 

 1919, sent a questionnaire on the cost of producing wheat into the 

 same areas covered by the survey method. The usable returns 

 constituted approximately 20 per cent of the total number sent, 

 which was considered merely a fair return for the rather simple 

 questionnaire used. This method was also employed in the fall of 

 1919 to institute a farm motor truck survey, in which study approx- 

 imately 60,000 questionnaires were mailed to farm motor truck users, 

 with a usable return of approximately 12 per cent. Considering the 

 length of the questionnaire and the number sent out, this return is 

 considered well worth the expense used in obtaining the information. 

 Figure 8 illustrates the questionnaire used for the wheat crop. Fol- 

 lowing is the questionnaire used in the motor truck study : 



OFFICE OF FARM MANAGEMENT, 



UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, 



Washington, D. C, January, 1920. 



Name P. O. address 



What make is your motor truck? What is its rated size? Did you 



(Tons.) 



buy it new or second-hand? How long have you owned it? What did 



(Months.) 



it cost, including freight? $ What did you pay for extra equipment not included 



in price of truck? $ Do you own a trailer for use with it? Please gi\ e 



the important road hauling with your truck both from and to your farm, showing 



total amount hauled, average weight of load, length of haul, and time required for 



one round trip, this to include time for loading and unloading. Show how same hauling 



was done before buying truck. 



Road hauling done with my truck during past year. 



How same hauling was done with wagon 

 before purchase of truck. 



Material hauled. 



Total 



amount 



per 



year. 



Weight 

 of load. 



Miles 

 one way. 



Hours, 

 one 



round 

 trip. 



Weight 

 of load. 



Miles 

 one way. 



Hours, 

 one 



round 

 trip. 



Horses 



per 

 wagon. 





































































, 







What part of the time do you have return loads, i. e., loads both ways with truck? 

 Please give below the principal road hauling you still do with horses. 



