8 BULLETIN 705, U. S. DEPARTMENT OJF AGRICULTURE. 



all of their crop receipts from the sale of oats and wheat. While 

 oats and wheat lead on the silt loam farms also, 10.1 per cent of the 

 total receipts were from clover seed, 7.6 per cent from hay, and 7.4 

 per cent from potatoes. It wiU thus be seen that the silt loam farms 

 had receipts from a much greater variety of crops. 



The total percentage of receipts derived from all kinds of live 

 stock was 36.2 on the clay farms, and 33.6 on silt loam farms. 

 Obviously these farms were not dealing extensively in live stock. 

 As a source of direct income the dairy cow was the most important 

 animal kept on both kinds of soil. On the clay farms horses stood 

 second, poultry third, sheep fourth, and hogs fifth. On the silt loam 

 farms hogs were second, poultr}- third, horses fourth, and sheep fifth. 



CLAY AND SILT LOAM TYPES OF FARMING CONTRASTED. 



It will be seen, therefore, that the type of farming practiced on the 

 68 clay farms during the year 1912 was that of grain farming under 

 a system of simimer fallowing approximately one-fourth of the 

 rotation area each year. Oats occupied more than twice as much 

 land as wheat, and oats, wheat, and summer fallow occupied 87.3 

 per cent of the rotation area. General live stock were kept as a 

 side line, dairy cows being the most important productive animals. 



The type of farming practiced on the 144 silt loam farms was more 

 general and diversified than that practiced on the clay farms. While 

 oats and wheat were still the leading crops, hay and potatoes were 

 given much more prominence. Clover-seed production was also a 

 very important minor farm enterprise, and only 2.7 per cent of the 

 rotation area lay idle as summer fallow, as compared with 24.5 per 

 cent on the clay farms. General live-stock production was also 

 carried as a side line, and dairy cows were sUghtly more prominent 

 than on the clay farms. 



SOME FACTORS WHICH INFLUENCE EFFICIENCY. 



Many factors influence efficiency on general farms in the Wil- 

 lamette Valley. Some of these are of minor importance and make 

 little difference in the financial results. Others are very important 

 and largely determine success or failure on most farms. In discuss- 

 ing this topic only those factors are considered which are largely 

 within the control of the farmer and which stand out prominently 

 as contributing to the profit or loss of these farms. 



SUMMER FALLOW. 



From 40 to 50 years ago the practice of summer fallowing the land 

 once every three or four years was universally followed in the Wil- 

 lamette Valley. While the practice stiU prevails on the clay farms, 

 it has practically disappeared on the silt loam farms. 



