12 



BULLETIN 425, U. S. DEPAETMEFT OF AGEICULTUEE. 



After deducting from 5 to 10 per cent of the farm area for land 

 taken up by woodland, building lots, roads, and streams, practically 

 20 per cent of the farm area in the first group of farms is unim- 

 proved. The percentage of unimproved land gradually increases 

 throughout the different groups to practically 60 per cent in the last 

 two groups. The chief expense of carrying this unimproved land 



?I600 

 1400 



leoo 



1000 



z 

 o 

 



z 



- 600 



400 



200 







ZOO 





































y 

 y 















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A 



y''' 











y 



/ 

















/ 

 / 



/ 















/ 

 / 





^■■^ 



_ 



— - 











/ 



/ 



i 



/ 

















.^^> 





• 



* 

 • 



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M 40 60 80 100 120 I'fO 160 

 ACRES 



Fig. 6.— Relation of tillable area to income. (Average of 801 farms in noi'thern Michigan, Wisconsin, and 



Minnesota.) 



consists of taxes and interest. In figuring profits from a business 

 standpoint, interest on the investment in land must be considered. 



The wisdom of owning a large acreage of unimproved land depends 

 largely on the prospect of future advance in price of land and the 

 rapidity with which such land can be developed. Wherever possible 

 unimproved land should be made to yield some returns. On many 

 of these farms some income can be derived from the sale of lumber, 

 wood, and fence posts. In this way these lands furnish profitable 

 employment durmg the winter season. As fast as possible unim- 



