4 BULLETIN .".28, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGKICULTURE. 



rangement of fields would no doubt be a stroug factor in enhancing 

 labor efficiency. Long rectangular fields require a minimum of turn- 

 ing, and therefore entail the least waste of time in handling imple- 

 ments, and there is little doubt that the averages in the labor require- 

 ments given in the following tables could be reduced if due attention 

 were given to this detail. 



The climatic conditions in this region are comparatively uniform. 

 The average amount of rainfall for 33 years at Kennett Square is 

 49 inches, and the average monthly rainfall for the six summer 

 months during this period is 4.6 inches. Under good soil manage- 

 ment, such as has been followed on the farms visited, the soils are 

 generally retentive of moisture, intertilled grain crops suffer but lit- 

 tle, and the season is exceptional that forces the farmer to break 

 the regular routine of plowing or preparation for seeding. 



TYPES OF FARMING. 



Few agricultural regions have a more uniform type of farming than 

 that found in southern and central Chester Comity. The character 

 of the soil is especially adapted to the growing of forage crops and 

 grain, especially corn, wheat, clover, and timothy. These favorable 

 conditions and the fact that this region is convenient to good mar- 

 kets — Philadelphia, Pa., and Wilmington, Del. — is probably the rea- 

 son why general farming and dairying is the principal type of farming 

 in this region. The systems of farming followed have not materially 

 changed in the last 50 years. 



The fruit industry until recently has been confined to the home 

 orchard, which, as a rule, has received but little care and has given 

 but little return. However, on selected slopes where the drainage is 

 good, apples are now commanding increased attention. A number 

 of new orchards have been planted, and the returns from those 

 orchards which have begun to bear indicate a future for the fruit 

 industry. 



Hitherto soy beans have not been grown in Chester County to any 

 great extent, but it is believed that this is a crop which may profit- 

 ably take the place of oats in the rotation. The acreage in oats has 

 decreased in recent years. Evidently the farmers are finding this 

 crop unprofitable. Soy beans have been successfully grown by a few 

 Chester County farmers, and their great advantage from a farm man- 

 agement standpoint, in that the product has a high feeding value, 

 can be harvested for hay or grain, and that the crop has considerable 

 influence in soil improvement, makes this legume a promising crop 

 for this region. 



Three years ago less than 1 per cent of the farmers visited grew 

 alfalfa, but the acreage has been rapidly increasing since then. How- 



