34 BULLETIN 341, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
probably occupy a larger acreage than the same crop on another 
farm where it yields poorly in comparison with other crops. It is 
also probable that in two localities similar in all respects, except that 
in one the crops produce low yields while in the other the same crops 
produce good yields, the optimum status of the individual crops 
would be different in the two regions. Conclusions based on studies 
in one region should certainly not be applied too broadly in other 
regions in which conditions are different. 
Corn.—We have already seen that on the average the corn crop 
occupies 22.3 per cent of the entire crop area in the area here under 
consideration. Percentages as low as about 13 and as high as about 
33 are fairly common, the extremes being 8 and 55. The more fre- 
quent percentages of this crop are from 18 to 25. While the corn 
crop is nearly universal on these farms, and in a large number of 
cases occupies from one-fifth to one-fourth of the crop area, there is. 
seen to be considerable variation in the percentage of corn acreage 
on the different farms. The question arises, What percentage of corn — 
acreage is most profitable under the conditions which prevail in this — 
locality? The answer to this question will depend to some extent on 
the intensity of the stocking of the farm. In general, those farms 
which are most heavily stocked have the largest percentage of their 
land in corn. But we may first consider the matter from the stand- 
point of the average conditions prevailing in the region. 
Table X classifies the 378 farms into groups based on the percentage 
of their crop area devoted to corn. 
TABLE X.—Percentage of crop area in corn as related to labor income. 
: | 
IRencent OfCropraneastincOnmiess seam =e sae eee pe ee | 0to 19. | 20 to 29. | 30 to 39. 40+. 
INtambemoriiarins oS eee ae riaa ee ae et eee eee | 138 188 42 10 
Madjistedidab Orie ee | 94 102 121 52 
Average percentage ofcorn area on the 378 farms, 22.3. 
It will be noticed that the average labor income of the 138 farms | 
having from 0 to 19 per cent of corn acreage is 6 per cent below the 
general average of the region. One hundred and eighty-eight farms _ 
had 20 to 29 per cent of corn acreage, and their labor incomes are 2 per 
cent above the average. In the next higher group 42 farms have an — 
average labor income 21 per cent above the general average. Unfor- 
tunately, the number of farms in the next group is small, but it will 
be noticed that the average labor income on them is very low. : 
It will be remembered that the original form of the common ro- 
tation of this region had corn the first year only. In recent years 
the price of corn has risen very materially as compared with two — 
decades ago, and corn has begun to invade the second year of the _ 
