1920.] 



Agriculture Abroad. 



783 



their whole time to the land. The data presented apply to 

 the crop year of 1916. The general conditions of yield and 

 prices were fairly normal, as the effects of the European War 

 had not yet materially changed farming profits or farm 

 management in the region under consideration. 



All the farms in question were devoted to market gardening. 

 Over 50 per cent, of their total crop area consisted of vege- 

 tables and fruits, and 90 per cent, of the receipts were from 

 this source. It was found that, judged by the farm standard, 

 land values w^ere high. The farm produce was disposed of by 

 conveying it to the city and selling it either in the public 

 market or through commission agents. As the farms increased 

 in area the proportion of land used for general crops (corn, hay 

 and grain) increased, but on many of the small holdings no 

 corn or grain was raised, so that feed had to be bought. The 

 live stock was limited to the horses required for farm work 

 and to the cows, pigs and chickens kept for the production of 

 food for the family. With the exception of poultry, sales of Hve 

 stock were negligible. 



The average flock was 33 chickens. In the area examined 

 there were no green-houses for raising market vegetables. Of 

 the farms inspected, the 45 showing the lowest investment 

 had also the lowest income. The average crop area on these 

 was 6 acres. In this group only five of the farmers made a 

 labour income of over £80. Labour income is the amount of 

 money left over after paying all business expenses and deduct- 

 ing interest on money invested. Farms under 10 acres in the 

 region under consideration did not afford any great chances of 

 large income, and it was noted that only the exceptional farmer 

 can make more than a living on such small farms without any 

 outside source of revenue. Incomes, however, rise very rapidly 

 with the increase in the tillage area. A second group of hold- 

 ings of 11-20 acres each make an average labour income of 

 about £45, while two out of every five make over £80. Farms 

 between 21-30 acres yielded incomes averaging over £80, and 

 the same applied proportionately to the farms of over 30 acres. 



The report points out that a farmer of 10 acres and under need 

 not assume that he could not do better than the average, but 

 must bear in mind that if he is to obtain more than the average 

 income the most careful management and a considerable know- 

 ledge of farm practice and markets are necessary, while most 

 of the farm work will have to be done by himself and his 

 family. The small farmer has to buy nearly all his stock feed, 



