62 BULLETIN 1388, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
yields and prices. The alfalfa yield on this farm was below the 
average for the area, but the operator obtained a very good price 
for his alfalfa hay, which resulted in a comparatively high value per 
acre. Alfalfa hay alone contributed 49 per cent of the total cash 
receipts and livestock 21 per cent. The results from the present 
organization were considerably reduced on account of the large 
acreage and low yield and price of potatoes, the high cost of seed 
potatoes, and extra labor in harvesting. 
PRINCIPLES APPLICABLE TO THIS FARM 
Good foundation stock is important in building profitable livestock 
enterprises. This farmer had 3 cows and 3 heifers on March 1, 1921, 
and by raising practically all of the heifer calves, the herd was increased 
to 8 cows and 1 heifer by March 1, 1923. The operator's aim is to 
keep 12 cows. Since so much of the success of the dairy enterprise 
depends upon high milk production, only the calves from the very 
best cows should be used in building up the herd. With an average 
buttei-fat production of a little less than 200 pounds per cow on this 
farm, the operator could wisely consider the importance of going 
outside of his own herd for young stock with which to build up his 
dairy. It is poor economy to raise calves from animals which do not 
have high butterfat records. The difference between the price of 
calves from good and poor stock is often small, but the difference in 
the value of these calves as cows is always of great importance to the 
success of a dairyman. 
Egg production was also low on this farm. The extra money paid 
out for eggs or day-old chicks from high-record hens is one of the 
best investments for all farmers who keep poultry, particulary those 
who must depend upon poultry for a large part of their earnings. 
Better quarters for poultry on this farm would increase the average 
egg production. 
Before going into an enterprise extensively, it is important to con- 
sider the extra costs of labor and materials involved, and also the 
probable yields and prices for the products produced. The operator 
of this farm needs to study more carefully the possibilities for the 
economical production and marketing of the more important crop 
enterprises. Potato yields on this farm in 1921 and 1922 were about 
4 tons less than the average for the farms studied in the area. In 
spite of this fact, 25 acres were planted to potatoes in 1921 and 13 
acres the following year. Low yields, low potato prices, and high 
material and labor costs all contributed to make potato production 
decidedly unprofitable on this farm during both years. Extra mate- 
rial and labor costs amounted to about three-fourths of the potato 
receipts in 1921 and more than the receipts in 1922. 
With a little study and assistance in production and marketing 
problems, for conditions on this farm, the operator would be able to 
predict rather closely the probable results from different combina- 
tions of crop enterprises. This is made possible by carefully consid- 
ering in advance the productivity of the soil to be used for each crop, 
the soil requirements of various crops, the seasonal and total labor 
requirements for each crop, the quantity and quality of the available 
labor supply, the cost of extra labor and materials needed, and the 
probable price of the product when it is to be sold. All of these 
factors except the last one can be rather closely determined in 
