6 BULLETIN 1713, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
diversity. On farms of 200 to 300 acres in size there is a tendency to 
make dairying an important enterprise. Of the 342 farms studied, 
however, only about 24 were regular dairy farms. Most of these sold 
market milk directly to consumers. Thirty-four farms sold butter, 
cream to creameries, and some market milk. The farms on which 
dairying was made a special enterprise were nearly always more 
profitable than farms without the dairy. The average successful farm 
of all sizes had more dairy cows than the less successful farms, show- 
ing that dairying as a farm enterprise is to be encouraged in this 
locality. It is doubtful, however, whether the strictly dairy type of 
farming should be generally recommended, though dairy farms are 
generally profitable where a market for milk is accessible. 
Generally speaking, on large and medium-sized farms, from one- 
half to two-thirds of the total farm receipts should come from live 
stock. 
Tobacco is an important enterprise on nearly all types of farms. 
About 12 per cent cent of the crop area on the average small farm is 
planted to tobacco; on large farms, 6 to 8 per cent. 
SELECTION OF ENTERPRISES. 
The important crops that have been selected through long experi- 
ence in farming in this section (about 125 years) are winter wheat, 
dark tobacco, corn, oats, timothy, and red clover. For many years 
these have characterized the system of farming. More recently cow- 
peas, soy beans, and lespedeza have also found an important place. 
Productive live stock, which have been found profitable to handle, 
are cattle, hogs, sheep, and poultry. The average successful farm of 
about 300 acres of improved land will be found to have crops distri- 
buted approximately as follows: 
Per cent of improved land devoted to pasture and to crops, and per cent of crop 
area devoted to specific crops. 
Distribution of improved land: Acres. Per cent. 
Crop -area 2 se ee eek See ee es 225 (3. 
Pasture ct. besa ee ae aE ete ee Ae 15 25 
Distribution of crop area: 
WV Gab gs se Naa 101 45 
MODACCO 2 is. ee es ee 20 9 
COrnse it 3s eh RE ie ieee oe 55 25 
Other: cereals: 2s 2 ee ee eee 12 5 
Mendow:hay 358 2 eo Sets, ie, 2 eae 23 10 
Miscellaneous 7CropS- a eee ee ee eee 14 6 
About 8 per cent of the land on the average farm is practically waste 
or idle land. This is a source of great waste on farms in this section. 
The less the waste or idle land on farms, the greater were the profits. 
Fifty-five farms averaged 18 per cent of waste land, and the average 
