A STUDY OF SHARE-RENTED DAIRY FARMS. 5 



around them. Farmers who market their milk through the cheese 

 factory usually have the cows freshen in the spring, and thus they 

 produce most of their milk in the summer, while the cows are on 

 pasture. In the winter, during December, January, and February, 

 the cows are dry and the cheese factories are closed. On the other 

 hand, the farmers who sell to the condensery usually have their 

 cows freshen in the fall and aim to have them at the point of 

 greatest production during January and February, when milk is 

 highest in price. The cattle are on pasture usually from about 

 May 10 to November 10. It is the general custom to sell such calves 

 as are not raised at the age of from 2 to 4 weeks. More than enough 

 cows to replenish the herd loss are raised, the surplus being sold to 

 other dairy districts. 



The data upon which is based the discussion in the following pages 

 concerning Wisconsin farms were obtained in the winter of 1915-16 

 for the crop year 1915, in cooperation with the Wisconsin Agricul- 

 tural College. Records were taken on 84 purely half-share-rented 

 dairy farms. 



KANE COUNTY, ILL. 



This county ranks second in the State in production of dairy prod- 

 ucts, both as to total and as to average per farm, being outranked 

 only by McHenry County, which lies just to the north of it. The 

 average sales of dairy products per farm for McHenry County in 

 1909 were $1,064, and for Kane County $1,051. In 1909, 46.1 per cent 

 of the farms of Kane County were rented, about one-third of them 

 on shares. 



These counties are in the famous Fox River or Elgin district, 

 where dairying had its impetus years ago in the manufacture of 

 creamery butter. Now the chief sources of revenue from milk are 

 the condensery and the Chicago market. 



In Kane County, on share-rented dairy farms, the landlord fur- 

 nishes the land, buildings, usually all the cows, half the other pro- 

 ductive stock, usually half the grass seed, and pays half the expense 

 for thrashing and twine. Here the landlord also pays the road tax 

 in cash, with his other real estate taxes. The tenant supplies the 

 labor, horses, machinery, half the productive stock except cows, 

 sometimes half the grass seed, and pays half the expense for thrash- 

 ing and twine. He usually must pay half the loss on cows, whether 

 by death or by sale of unsatisfactory cows and the purchase of others 

 in their stead. Frequently the tenant does not bear half the loss 

 on the death of a cow, but is under agreement on such occasions to 

 pay the landlord a specified amount, ranging from $5 to $15. Loss 

 or gain on the bull, generally gain, is shared equally. Often the bull 

 is loaned to the partnership by a cattle dealer for his keep. 



Some tenants have the privilege of raising one colt, but sometimes 

 when colts are raised the tenant must turn into the herd one heifer 



