FARMING IN THE BLUEGRASS REGION. 



27 



crop to market. On the basis of present yields it would probably not 

 pay to market corn. 



The growing popularity of the practice of " hogging-down " wheat 

 illustrates how the farmer aims at the organization of enterprises 

 in such a way as to obtain maximum profit. If hogs can be turned 

 into the wheat field there is saved the harvesting, thrashing, and 

 hauling of wheat to market. The labor saved may be utilized in 

 other ways. Then, if the gains on hogs are adequate, it is often pos- 

 sible to get more out of the wheat crop than by harvesting and 

 thrashing it, as is usually done. Winter cover crops, such as wheat 

 and rye, may be judiciously pastured in fall, winter, or spring, and 

 may thus add to the profits of the farm. Bluegrass pastures are 

 often stripped for the seed, and in this way profits from pasture land 



Fig. 13. — Bluegrass 



_'d in process 



are increased. (See fig. 13.) It was noticeable that the most suc- 

 cessful group of farms had a relatively large percentage of such 

 forage crops as sorghums, peas, and beans, which were substituted 

 for a part of the area devoted to hay, which is shown to be an un- 

 profitable crop. 



On the whole, the average farmer of the region seems to be rais- 

 ing the various crops in about the right proportion for a profitable 

 business. 



THE PRIME FACTORS IN PROFITABLE FARMING. 



The factors that stand out as important in profitable farming in 

 the localities surveyed are (1) size of business, (2) utilization of 

 pasture area, (3) crop yields, (4) type of farm. 



