FARM MANAGEMENT PRACTICE OF CHESTER COUNTY, PA. 3 



Certain enterprises may be distinctly prof table when occupying 

 a minor position in the farm business and distinctly unprofitable if 

 made major enterprises. This appears to be true of fruit growing 

 in Chester County, and, to a less extent, of poultry keeping. 



On small farms the expense of operation is much greater per unit 

 of product than on large farms of similar type. 



Diversity of the farm business is, as a. rule, an important factor 

 of success in farming. A medium degree of diversity, sufficient to 

 give good seasonal distribution of labor, complete utilization of land, 

 and a considerable variety of sale products, is better than either ex- 

 treme diversity or a low degree of diversity. 



The more important applications of the above principles to the 

 agriculture of this survey area are given below. It is believed that 

 most, if not all, of these conclusions are likewise applicable to a wide 

 region in the Middle Atlantic States where similar conditions as to 

 soils and markets prevail. 



APPLICATION TO CHESTER COUNTY AGRICULTURE. 



Most of the farmers in the region of this survey have developed 

 systems of farming that are approximately what they should be to 

 secure the best results, but a large minority have not. The results 

 outlined below and discussed in detail further on should be of value 

 to the majority in confirming their judgment and to the minority 

 by showing them how their systems of farming may profitably be 

 improved. 



Briefly stated, these are the more important conclusions bearing 

 directly upon the possible improvement of Chester County farming: 



That the standard rotation of the section, namely: 



First year. 



Second year. 



Third year. 



Fourth year. 



Fifth year. 



Corn. 



Corn. 



Potatoes 

 Oats. 



Wheat. 



Timothy and clover. 



should be changed thus 



First year. 



Second year. 



Third year. 



Fourth year. 



Fifth year. 



Sixth year. 



Corn. 



Corn. 



Annual hay crop. 

 Potatoes. 



Wheat. 



Timothy 



and clover. 



That oats as grain are unprofitable here. 



That the average Chester Count}'' farmer should grow a little 

 more corn than he needs for home use. 



That the total hay area (including annual hay crop) should occupy 

 between 40 and 50 per cent of the land in crops. 



