2 BULLETIN" 716, 17. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
country of Ohio where the price of land is comparatively low and 
railroad points are reached with considerable difficulty. 
(2) To determine the importance of such factors as the size and 
the quality of the farm business as they affect the economic organi- 
zation of farms in such an area. 
(3) To bring out the farm practices that enable some farmers to 
excel others in single enterprises or in the entire farm organization. 
(4) To determine how nearly the farm profits of a single year in 
such an area are indicative of those realized over a period of years. 
(5) To note agricultural changes that may take place during a 
five-year period in such an area. 
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Fig. 1. — Map of Washington County, Ohio ; Palmer Township shaded. 
(6) To determine the yearly variations in crop yields, in prices 
received for products, in the quantities of the several products avail- 
able for sale, and in the expenses of operating the farm business, and, 
so far as practicable, their effect upon the farm profits of the area. 
SUMMARY OF RESULTS. 
For five years the average annual sales of 25 farms were $925 per 
farm, and of this amount 45 per cent was required for operating ex- 
penses. With a fair rate of interest allowed on the investment the 
labor income averaged $187. Or, with a fair wage allowed for the 
farmer's labor, the return on the investment was 3.4 per cent. This 
was in addition to the value of food products, fuel, and use of house, 
