10 
BULLETIN 1446, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGKICULTUEE 
farms, which in 1920 sold at 18 cents per bushel more than on owned 
farms. In addition, the farm capitalization and most items of 
expense on rented farms were lower than on owned farms. 
The percentage return on farm capitalization determined by- 
deducting the value of the farmer's labor from the farm income and 
dividing by the total farm capital varied on owned farms from an 
average of 5 per cent in 1920 to an average of minus 2 per cent in 1922. 
The percentage return on rented farms ran somewhat higher than 
on owned farms. 
The family income, or the amount of money available to the 
farmer and his family to pay living expenses, interest on farm capital 
and for savings, was also somewhat higher on rented than on owned 
farms. 
The farm income, labor income, family income, and percentage 
return on farm capitalization are shown graphically in Figure 6. 
Fig. 7. — A good farm garden. On many farms in the region much more attention might profitably 
be given to the production of home supplies, not only as a means of raising the standard of living 
but to supplement the farm earnings 
FAMILY LIVING FROM THE FARM 
In areas of specialized types of farming, in many instances little 
attention has been given to the production on the farm of home 
supplies. A majority of the farms in Sherman County are no ex- 
ception to this tendency. On the other hand, there were a few 
farmers who had very good gardens (fig. 7). During the period of 
the study two of the farms contributed no home-produced supplies. 
In addition there were 6 farms on which no cows were found, 87 farms 
on which no hogs were kept, and 5 farms which kept no poultry. 
The value of the house rent and the quantities and value of the 
farm-produced food contributed toward the living of the farmer and 
his family are given in Table 5. In general, the quantities per farm 
of the items of food furnished by the farm were as large in 1922 as 
in 1920, or larger but lower prices for the year 1922 resulted in a 
total average value per farm which was $129 less for that year than 
in 1920. 
