42 BULLETIN C5!>, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



home consumption leads to a low standard of living on the part of 

 farm labor. 



Tabulations concerning the amount of receipts derived from the 

 sale of cotton brought out the following: Where sales of cotton 

 amount to less than 80 per cent of the total receipts the income is 

 below the average; where cotton sales amount to from 81 to 90 per 

 cent of the total receipts, the income is considerably above the aver- 

 age; where the receipts from cotton' sales are over 90 per cent of 

 the total, the income is very slightly above the average. 



Corn a ml minor crops. — Corn occupied on the average for all farms 

 14.1 per cent of the crop area. Tabulations were made to determine 

 the most profitable acreage of this crop, and to ascertain whether the 

 production of corn for sale added to the farm income. The general 

 result appears to be that those farms producing slightly more corn 

 than was needed for home consumption were most profitable. The 

 greater profit is believed to be due not to the fact that corn was pro- 

 duced for sale, but because a small surplus for sale insures an abun- 

 dance for home use. 



Practically the same was true for such crops as oats, sorghum for 

 hay. kafir, milo, etc. 



Again, attention is called to the fact that these deductions are the 

 records of farming as practiced. It is a question whether better 

 cultivation of corn and other crops would not yield better returns. 

 It is the uniform habit in the cotton region for the farmer to give 

 his best attention to his cotton, which represents his principal cash 

 income. 



Alfalfa. — This crop was found on only eight farms in this study. 

 These farms were for the most part located on low lands, and 

 had somewhat better soil than the average. The value of this crop 

 as a source of feed for the farm animals is unquestioned. While no 

 positive statements can be made as to its desirability for the farms 

 of this region generally, it is believed that every farmer in the 

 region should endeavor to grow at least a small area of it. It is a 

 legume and requires inoculation unless the alfalfa bacteria are 

 already present in the soil. 



Another reason for experimenting with this crop is that, in case 

 the present local system of farming fails, alfalfa is itself a very 

 good money crop, and in connection with other forage crops may be 

 made the basis of an excellent system of live-stock farming. 



Live stock. — Farm animals may be divided into two classes, namely, 

 work stock and productive stock, the latter being those kept for 

 their products, such as meat, milk, wool, eggs, etc. The work stock 

 on these 115 farms averaged 5.25 head per farm. The acreage of 

 crops per work animal has already been discussed in connection 

 with size of farms. 



