36 BULLETIN 694, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



Perhaps more important considerations that influence farmers to 

 become owners as soon as it is possible to do so on a satisfactory basis 

 are those relating to the very numerous advantages arising from 

 ownership. The sense of security and independence which- owner- 

 ship gives is a valuable consideration. The feeling of satisfaction in 

 owning a home is undoubtedly one of the factors that influence many 

 farmers to buy land. Finally, the greater independence of the owner 

 as compared with the tenant who is in the nature of things more or 

 less subject to dictation from the farm owner, and the fact that the 

 owner is never under the necessity of moving from one farm to another 

 because of disagreements with his landlord, seem to justify whatever 

 financial sacrifice may be necessary in changing from the status of 

 tenant to that of owner. 



From the standpoint of the public welfare, it is fortunate that the 

 tendencies just mentioned prevail so generally. As a rule, tenant 

 farmers are not a permanent part of the local citizenship, and are not 

 so much interested as owners in the maintenance of schools, churches, 

 and roads. 



The figures of the table, however, indicate quite clearly that in this 

 section it is a mistake for the young man with small capital to attempt 

 to becorne an owner before his accumulated capital renders it possible 

 for him to make a satisfactory first payment on a farm of considerable 

 size. Even where the first payment required is only a small proportion 

 of the total value of the farm, interest on deferred payments consumes 

 so large a proportion of the farm income that unless the business is 

 one of considerable magnitude there is not enough left to permit a 

 satisfactory standard of living. It is, however, desirable that the 

 tenant, when he has accumulated sufficient capital to become ah 

 owner on a proper basis, should purchase a farm. 



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