60 
of labor done by exchanging with their neighbors. In Figure 28 
an illustration of the way in which this peak labor is spread out over a 
longer period of time is shown. On this farm the help received 
during 5 days of wheat threshing was repaid over a period of 21 
days. This obviates the necessity of large cash expenditure for 
hired labor. It is frequently true, however, that the farmer is 
called upon to return this exchange labor at a time when it seriously 
conflicts with other work on his own farm. 
PRINCIPLES GOVERNING CHOICE OF FARM ENTERPRISES 
The basic data essential for the choosing of farm enterprises in 
this region include not only the amount and distribution of the 
labor required for the various farming operations, but also the 
capital requirements. Capital requirements are in the form of 
machines and work horses and minor expenses. The distribution of 
horse work reveals the distribution of the demands of the various 
enterprises for machines. In the case of crops the requirements 
have oeen shown on an acre basis, so that the question of the number 
of acres of land to be used by a particular enterprise has not been 
taken into consideration. The arrays showing the variations from 
farm to farm in the same year and the differences between the 
averages of the three years indicate the variations that can reason- 
ably be expected, due to differences in yearly conditions and in the 
ability of farmers to direct their farm operations. 
The section dealing with miscellaneous labor shows the amount 
and distribution of the labor employed for maintenance purposes. 
The various tasks to be peformed have been classified on the basis 
of the time when they must be performed and the conditions under 
which they can be executed. The historical trends given indicate 
the crop yields that can be expected under usual conditions. 
Principles that must be observed in applying these data in the 
choice of crop and livestock enterprises, with reference to both the 
number of enterprises to be chosen and the relative magnitude of 
the different enterprises must be formulated and the application of 
these principles in the choice of enterprises for a particular farm 
must be illustrated. In making the application, it must be remem- 
bered that one of the variable Factors, the managerial ability of the 
operator, is not measured in these requirements. In making changes, 
it is assumed that the manager is capable of handling the changed 
organization. With the data available, it is impossible to determine 
whether or not material increases in the magnitude of the various 
enterprises would result in an increased or decreased efficiency. 
However, in the illustration given, it is assumed that the efficiency 
would remain the same; and it is believed that the changes made are 
not sufficiently drastic to warrant criticism on this account. 
FACTORS AFFECTING THE CHOICE OF ENTERPRISES 
A farmer's objective in choosing enterprises is to secure that com- 
bination which will give him the largest net return for the use of his 
land, labor, equipment, and ability as a manager. This assumes that 
he is guided oy economic motives and wishes the greatest profit 
without consideration of the probable influence which changes in the 
