MANAGEMENT OF GENERAL FARMS IN OREGON. 19 



clover and other legumes would do as much for the clay-soil farms; 

 for farmers who have been growing clover for a number of years on 

 the clay soil claim that they are getting increased yields. 



BARNYARD MANURE AND DRAINAGE. 



There are other ways of increasing crop yields besides those 

 brought out by the survey data, among which may be mentioned the 

 use of barnyard manure and drainage. It is a well-recognized prin- 

 ciple in agriculture that crop yields on almost any type of soil may 

 be increased by a more liberal use of barnyard manure. Especially 

 is this method of increasing crop yields applicable where the soil 

 has been receiving little animal or vegetable manure. The farmer 

 who adopts this method must see to it that the live stock kept are 

 high-producing animals. He must also use good judgment in mar- 

 keting his live stock and live-stock products. If this is not done, he 

 may increase his crop yields without increasing his profits. 



Much of the agricultural land of the Willamette Valley is so low 

 and level that it is water-logged during much of the time in winter. 

 There probably is no other way by which crop yields on such land 

 can be increased as easily as by drainage. In some localities the 

 individual farm can be drained independently. In other localities the 

 land is so level that it will be necessary to organize drainage districts 

 and work cooperatively in order to get an outlet for the water. 



RELATION OF SOIL TYPE TO PERCENTAGE FARM INCOME IS OF 



CAPITAL. 



Table XIV shows the comparative percentages farm income is of 

 capital on the two major types of soil found in the valley. On the 

 68 clay farms, it wiU be seen, farm income was 4.35 per cent of the 

 capital invested, as compared with 6.64 per cent on the 144 silt loam 

 farms. That is to say, the silt loam farms were operated 1.52 times 

 as efficiently as the clay farms. The question naturally arises as to 

 the cause of this difference. 



Table XIV. — Relation of type of soil to percentage farm income is of capital, on 212 

 farms in Marion and Polk Counties, Oreg. (1912). 



Item. S^'e°i .?f|em 



"'"" silt loam. 



Number of farms 68 144 



Average area of improved land 185 128. 5 



Average capital invested S25, 330 S21, 457 



Average farm income SI, 103 SI, 425 



Percentage farm income is of capital 4. 35 6. 64 



From Table XIV it will be observed that the clay farms had 56.5 

 more acres of improved land and $3,873 more capital to use than 

 had the silt loam farms. Therefore, the difference in the efficiency 



