FARM OWNERSHIP AND TENANCY IN TEXAS. 15 



necessitated a gradual increase in rents each decade since 1880 — pro- 

 vided none of the increase in land values was speculative in nature. 

 But the value of the labor, management, and risk contributed by the 

 tenant to the farm business are relatively much greater than the 

 value of his contribution in equipment. Consequently, equipment 

 and land values alone do not constitute a basis for an equitable ad- 

 justment of rent. 



Striking variations in the relative values of the factors of produc- 

 tion on the average black-land farm have occurred since 1860. These 

 variations are shown in Figure 3. Changes in the size and system of 

 agriculture before 1890, as stated above, influenced the variations 

 in both the actual and relative values of the factors of production, 

 and for this reason 1890 was taken as the base for the index figures 

 from which the graph was made. 34 During these changes rent has 

 not changed, except as price levels alter the value of rent in dollars, 

 for the one-third and one-fourth share rent has been the customary 

 rent since the early days of renting. 15 



Equitable rent adjustment must be based on a fairly accurate valua- 

 tion of the contributions furnished respectively by landlord and ten- 

 ant, and since these values vary greatly, it is not reasonable to sup- 

 pose that a set share rent, such as is legalized in the antibonus law, 

 can possibly adjust itself to these variations in the value of the factors 

 of production. This adjustment can only be accomplished by a care- 

 ful and scientific appraisal of the value of these factors as a basis 

 for apportionment of the rewards of the farm business. 16 



ECONOMIC ASPECTS OF THE FORMS OF TENURE. 



FARM ORGANIZATION. ' 



For the discussion which follows, of the forms of tenure, operators 

 are classified as (1) share croppers, (2) share tenants, (3) owners 



11 The index numbers on which graphs are based are calculated as follows : The Index 

 numbers of land and equipment values per farm were calculated from data Riven by 

 decades In Table 8, p. 14. The index figures on the amount of labor used on the average 

 farm were calculated by finding the total country population in the 19 black-land counties 

 by subtracting from the total population the population living within Incorporated cities 

 and towns. The ratio of the number of people engaged in agricultural pursuits to the 

 country population in the State as a whole was then applied to the total country popula- 

 tion of the black land, which gave the estimated number engaged in agricultural pursuits 

 In the black land. This figure for each decade divided by the number of farms for the 

 decade gave the following average Dumber of people engaged In agricultural pursuits per 

 (arm: i L >;'), 1.16; L870, 8.67; 1880, 8.82; 1800, 2.25; 1000, 2.18; 1010, 2.11 ; 1920, 2.04. 

 The average number of persons per farm engaged In agricultural pursuits was weighted by 



the average wage paid farm labor, other than harvest Labor (see ". S. Bureau of Statistic! 



Bulletin 79), which gave the final figures on which the index figures for labor were based. 



"Texas the Home of the Immigrant from Everywhere," Texas Bureau of Immi- 

 gration Bulletin of 1878. 



'■ K Prof, William EJ, Leonard, formerly of the University of Texas, lias suggested n 



county rent board with official standing and with power to adjust rents. This seems to 

 be an excellent plan for a more scientific adjustment of rente. Bee rjnlv, <>f Texas Bulle- 

 tin No. 21, 1915, p. 128. 



