INFLUEIN'CE OF A CITY ON FAEMING. 



13 



According to Table VIII the average farmer with less than 80 acres 

 spends $73 per acre in operating expenses and gets $96 per acre in 

 gross receipts, thus making each acre earn, net, $23. On the other 

 hand, the average of 21 farms over 300 acres in size expends in oper- 

 ating expenses $14 per acre and gets $18 per acre gross receipts, mak- 

 ing each acre earn but $4. Among the farms represented in tlie table, 

 the small, intensive farm is the more profitable, both from the stand- 

 point of wages for the operator and from the standpoint of invested 

 capital. 



The average of 21 farms less than 80 acres in size gives the operator 

 a labor income of $1,000 and 7 per cent on capital invested, while 

 the average of 21 farms over 300 acres in size gives the operator 

 a labor income of only $140 and 4 per cent on capital. The main 

 reason for low profits on the larger as compared with smaller farms is 

 that many of the larger farms are not doing intensive enough agri- 

 culture to meet the new conditions brought about by a large and 

 growing city. 



DISTANCE FROM THE CITY A FACTOR IN THE VALUE OF LAND. 



As has been pointed out, the building of good roads, the extension 

 of trolley lines, and the nearness of the city have made much of the 

 land in this section desirable for other than agricultural use. Such 

 conditions will naturally make the average market value of land 

 higher than it should be for agricultural use alone. As would be 

 naturally expected, the market value of land will tend to increase as 

 the distance from the city becomes less. This is indicated in Table 

 IX. Other conditions, such as soil and topography, however, may 

 counteract the influence of the city. 



Table IX. — Influence of the nearness of the city on the value of land and rent. 



Distance to Louisville. 



Number 

 of farms. 



Rent of 



land per 



acre. a 



Value of 



land per 



acre. a 





25 

 18 

 24 

 33 



$11.85 

 5.59 

 5.37 

 4.66 



$312 



9 to 1 1 milps 



110 



12 to 14 miles 



106 





95 







All farms 



100 



6.80 



158 







a Farmers' estimates. 

 MANURE AVAILABLE IN THE CITY. 



To some extent large quantities of stable manure are used by truck 

 farmers in the vicinity of LouisviUe. This is usually bought in the 

 city for from 50 cents to $1 per load, averaging about a ton in weight. 

 Two farmers doing a large trucking business about 4 miles from 

 the market place in the city each kept a man and team busy most 



