44 
BULLETIN" 994, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
naire. In general, however, results obtained by this method should 
be considered with its limitations in mind, for usually a relative 
figure is obtained, which is indicative rather than specific. 
The Office of Farm Management and Farm Economics has made 
a number of studies by the questionnaire method, principally with 
reference to the experiences of farmers with tractors and other me- 
chanical farm equipment. By way of experiment, the Office, during 
1919, sent a questionnaire on the cost of producing wheat into the 
same areas covered by the survey ^ method. The usable returns 
constituted approximately 20 per cent of the total number sent, 
which was considered merely a fair return for the rather simple 
questionnaire used. This method was also employed in the fall of 
1919 to institute a farm motor truck survey, in which study approx- 
imately 60,000 questionnaires were mailed to farm motor truck users, 
with a usable return of approximately 12 per cent. Considering the 
length of the questionnaire and the number sent out, this return is 
considered well worth the expense used in obtaining the information. 
Figure 8 illustrates the questionnaire used for the wheat crop. Fol- 
lowing is the questionnaire used in the motor truck study: 
OFFICE OF FARM MANAGEMENT, 
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, 
Washington, D. C, January, 1920. 
Name P. O. address 
What make is your motor truck? What is its rated size? Did you 
(Tons.) 
buy it new or second-hand? How long have you owned it? What did 
(Months.) 
it cost, including freight? $ What did you pay for extra equipment not included 
in price of truck? $ Do you own a trailer for use with it? Please gi\ e 
the important road hauling with your truck both from and to your farm, showing 
total amount hauled, average weight of load, length of haul, and time required for 
one round trip, this to include time for loading and unloading. Show how same hauling 
was done before buying truck. 
Road hauling done with my truck during past year. 
How same hauling was done with wagon 
before purchase of truck. 
Material hauled. 
Total 
amount 
per 
year. 
Weight 
of load. 
Miles 
one way. 
Hours.. 
one 
round 
trip. 
Weight 
of load. 
Miles 
one way. 
Hours, 
one 
round 
trip. 
Horses 
per 
wagon. 


What part of the time do you have return loads, i. e., loads both ways with truck' 
Please give below the principal road hauling you still do with horses. 
