INFLUENCE OF A CITY OX FARMING. 
13 
According to Table VIII the average farmer with less than 80 acres 
spends $73 per acre in operating expenses and gets $96 per acre in 
gross receipts, thus making each acre earn, net, $23. On the other 
hand, the average of 21 farms over 300 acres in size expends in oper- 
ating expenses $14 per acre and gets $18 per acre gross receipts, mak- 
ing each acre earn but $4. Among the farms represented in the table, 
the small, intensive farm is the more profitable, both from the stand- 
point of wages for the operator and from the standpoint of invested 
capital. 
The average of 21 farms less than 80 acres in size gives the operator 
a labor income of $1,000 and 7 per cent on capital invested, while 
the average of 21 farms over 300 acres in size gives the operator 
a labor income of only $140 and 4 per cent on capital. The main 
reason for low profits on the larger as compared with smaller farms is 
that many of the larger farms are not doing intensive enough agri- 
culture to meet the new conditions brought about by a large and 
growing city. 
DISTANCE FROM THE CITY A FACTOR IN THE VALUE OF LAND. 
As has been pointed out, the building of good roads, the extension 
of trolley lines, and the nearness of the city have made much of the 
land in this section desirable for other than agricultural use. Such 
conditions will naturally make the average market value of land 
higher than it should be for agricultural use alone. As would be 
naturally expected, the market value of land will tend to increase as 
the distance from the city becomes less. This is indicated in Table 
IX. Other conditions, such as soil and topography, however, may 
counteract the influence of the city. 
Table IX. — Influence of the nearness of the city on the value of land and rent. 
Distance to Louisville. 
Number 
of farms. 
Rent of 
land per 
acre. a 
Value of 
land per 
acre. a 
25 
S11.85 
5.59 
5.37 
4.66 
$312 
18 
24 
33 
110 
106 
95 
All farms 
100 
6.80 
158 
a Farmers' estimates. 
MANURE AVAILABLE IN THE CITY- 
To some extent large quantities of stable manure are used by truck 
farmers in the vicinity of Louisville. This is usually bought in the 
city for from 50 cents to $1 per load, averaging about a ton in weight. 
Two farmers doing a large trucking business about 4 miles from 
the market place in the city each kept a man and team busy most 
