6 BULLETIN 713, U. S, DEPARTMENT OF AGEICULTUEE. 



diversity. On farms of 200 to 300 acres in size there is a tendency to 

 make dairying an important enterprise. Of the 342 farms studied, 

 however, only about 24 were regular dairy farms. Most of these sold 

 market milk directly to consumers. Thirty-four farms sold butter, 

 cream to creameries, and some market milk. The farms on which 

 dairying was made a special enterprise were nearly always more 

 profitable than farms without the dairy. The average successful farm 

 of all sizes had more dairy cows than the less successful farms, show- 

 ing that dairjang as a farm enterprise is to be encouraged in this 

 locality. It is doubtful, however, whether the strictly dairy type of 

 farming should be generally recommended, though dairy farms are 

 generally profitable where a market for milk is accessible. 



Generall}^ speaking, on large and medium-sized farms, from one- 

 half to two-thirds of the total farm receipts should come from live 

 stock. 



Tobacco is an important enterprise on nearly all types of farms. 

 About 12 per cent cent of the crop area on the average small farm is 

 planted to tobacco ; on large farms, 6 to 8 per cent. 



SELECTION OF ENTERPRISES. 



The important crops that have been selected through long experi- 

 ence in farming in this section (about 125 years) are winter wheat, 

 dark tobacco, corn, oats, timothy, and red clover. For many years 

 these have characterized the system of farming. More recently cow- 

 peas, soy beans, and lespedeza have also found an important place. 

 Productive live stock, which have been found profitable to handle, 

 are cattle, hogs, sheep, and poultry. The average successful farm of 

 about 300 acres of improved land will be found to- have crops distri- 

 buted approximately as follows : 



Per cent of improved land devoted to pasture and to crops, and per cent of crop 

 area devoted to specific crops. 



Distribution of improved land : Acres. Per cent. 



Crop area 225 75 



Pasture 75 25 



Distribution of crop area : 



Wheat — 101 45 



Tobacco - 20 9 



Corn 55 25 



Other cereals 12 5 



Meadow hay 23 10 



Miscellaneous crops 14 6 



About 8 per cent of the land on the average farm is practically waste 

 or idle land. This is a source of great waste on farms in this section. 

 The less the waste or idle land on farms, the greater were the profits. 

 Fifty-five farms averaged 18 per cent of waste land, and the average 



