RENT CONTRACTS IN THE WHEAT BELT. 

 PROBABLE INCREASE IN TENANCY IN AREAS VISITED. 



13 



Table VIII shows the increase of tenancy in these areas from 1890 



to 1910: . . 



Table VIII.— Increase of tenancy in the areas investigated. 



Kansas: Barton County 



Nebraska: Clay County 



South Dakota: Spink County. . 

 North Dakota: Barnes County. 

 Minnesota: Renville County... 



Proportion of tenants 

 among farmers. 



Per cent. 



21.0 



33.4 



20.0 



8.2 



9.4 



1900 



Per cent. 

 25.3 

 40.7 

 26.8 

 7.5 

 21.6 



1910 



Per cent. 

 38.0 

 49.8 

 43.4 

 31.4 

 29.0 



It seems probable that the increase in tenancy in these regions will 

 continue at least for some years yet. The average size of the farms 

 operated by tenants as found in the investigation varied from 202 

 acres in the Minnesota area to 489 acres in the North Dakota area. 

 The income from such a farm is sufficient to maintain its owner with- 

 out much personal labor on his part. He is therefore likely to retire 

 and rent his land. Because of the increased cost of a farm, tenants 

 find it more difficult to attain the status of owner, and in the future 

 will probably remain tenants for a longer period than has been the 

 case in the past. This tendency seems to be general in the regions 

 in which the economic farm unit is equivalent to a modest fortune. 



