2 BULLETIN 41, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
bulletin, include data from about 700 farms. It is fully realized that 
further studies, embracing larger areas in each State, are necessary 
before definite statements can be made regarding certain points. 
However, the information gathered furnishes almost conclusive proof 
with respect to many phases of farm organization. 
The results pertaining to the size of the farm in its relation to 
operating costs and the profits received are particularly valuable. 
It would be highly desirable to make a survey of the same regions for 
several successive years. If such data were obtained, however, it is 
believed that the conclusions would be the same as those from the 
one year’s study. A possible exception might be the conclusions rela- 
tive to the best paying type of farming. Extreme fluctuation in 
prices may make some crops unprofitable at certain times. Potatoes 
and peaches are two excellent illustrations of this. 
Checking the results of any one year with the average prices for a 
period of years permits fairly accurate conclusions. Investigations 
made in different years and in widely separated States all point to 
the same general principles that apparently control a successful farm. 
METHOD OF WORK. 
The data presented were obtained by having trained investigators 
who were thoroughly familiar with the agriculture in each district 
personally visit the farmers. Every farmer in the area selected for 
study was interviewed and a record of the year’s business obtained. 
In this way, by including all the farms in a certain area, average 
results were secured. 
Experience has proved that one can not select farms which repre- 
sent the average of a community. Good farm buildings and neatly 
kept fences are not always sure signs of profitable farming. 
Certain questions are difficult for the farmer to answer and in a 
few instances his answer may be considerably in error. This trouble 
is eliminated by the fact that some men will underestimate, while 
others will overestimate the facts. The average is approximately 
correct. Only those results are included where there is a sufficient 
number of instances to insure reasonable accuracy. 
The farmer knows more about his business than most people give 
him credit for. Even though he keeps no records he is capable of 
giving a very close estimate on all those things with which he is 
familiar. 
Farm data gathered by the survey method of study * are unques- 
tionably as accurate as need be for all practical purposes. 
1 Warren, G. F., Livermore, K. C., and others. An agricultural survey—townships of 
Ithaca, Dryden, Danby, and Lansing, Tompkins County, New York. New York Cornell 
Agricultural Experiment Station, Bulletin 295, pp. 375-569, figs. 147-201, 1911. 
Thomson, BE. H. Agricultural survey of four townships in southern New Hampshire. 
U. S. Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Plant Industry, Circular 75, 19 pp., 3 figs., 
1911. 
