20 BULLETIN 69i, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGKICULTUEE. 



labor income of $445. The 72 farms, 101 to 160 acres, averaging 129 

 acres, made an average farm income of $1,172 and an average labor 

 income of $434; and tbe 38 farms over 160 acres, averaging 223 acres 

 in size, made an average farm income of $2,272 and an average labor 

 income of $1,047. The table also shows that the average farm and 

 labor incomes of the cash and share tenants increase with the size of 

 farms in about the same proportions. 



The figures in Table XI show beyond c{uestion that under the 

 conditions which exist in the area covered in Lenawee County and 

 with the types of farming established, there is a decided increase in 

 net returns and a general advantage in operation as the size of farm 

 increases, at least up to the lirait reached in this table. This fact 

 presents for the consideration of each farmer in the region the problem 

 of whether his farm business, as measured by the size of his farm, is 

 of sufficient magnitude to permit him to earn a reasonable and 

 adequate income. If not, it is well for him to consider ways and 

 means of increasing the size of the farm or of getting the equivalent 

 of an enlarged farm area. Naturally one of the first ways to suggest 

 itself is to buy more land, if possible. If this is out of the question, 

 similar results may be secured by renting additional land. If it is 

 impossible to purchase or rent more land, then the nearest equivalent 

 to an enlarged area is to increase materially the yields on the land 

 already owned and operated, and in addition, improve the quality, 

 and possibly increase the quantity, of the live stock kept. In enlarging 

 a farm business in this manner care must always be exercised to see 

 that the expense of increasing the yields and improving the live stock 

 is not too great. 



The large farms in this section on the average are yielding the 

 greatest labor incomes for their owners and operators, but large farms 

 in general require good management also. Ordinarily the man with. 

 small capital should first buy a farm of moderate size, but occasionally 

 men who are good managers find it easier to pay for a big farm than 

 a smaller one. 



CAPITAL INVESTED. 



As a rule there is a tendency to buy land before sufficient capital 

 has been accumulated. To be limited in capital not only limits the 

 acreage of the farm, but often hinders greatly the proper operation of 

 the farm in general. Too often the purchaser fails to take this into 

 account. While it is not advisable to carry too heavy an obligation, 

 generally it is better to secure sufficient capital on a reasonable f ai'm- 

 loan basis than to operate too small a farm or be hampered by lack 

 of operating capital. On the average, in Lenawee County, there is a 

 direct relation between the capital invested and the labor income 

 received. 



