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 arm Profits and Factors Influencing Farm 
 Profits on 370 Potato Farms in 
 Monmouth County, New Jersey 
 
 A THESIS 
 
 PRESENTED TO THE FACULTY OF THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF 
 CORNELL UNIVERSITY FOR THE DEGREE OF 
 
 DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY 
 
 BY 
 
 FRANK APP 
 
 Reprinted from 
 
 New Jersey Agricultural Elxperiment Station Bulletin 294 
 
 New Brunswick, N. J.. September 20. 1916 
 
Farm Profits and Factors Influencing 
 
 Farm Profits on 370 Potato Farms in 
 
 Monmouth County, New Jersey 
 
 A THESIS 
 
 PRESENTED TO THE FACULTY OF THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF 
 CORNELL UNIVERSITY FOR THE DEGREE OF 
 
 DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY 
 
 BY 
 
 FRANK AFP 
 
 Reprinted fi'om 
 
 New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin 294 
 
 New Brunswick, N. J., September 20, 1916 
 

 \ , 
 
 I ' /9 
 
Farm Profits and Factors Influencing Profits 
 
 on 370 Potato Farms in Monmouth 
 
 County, New Jersey. 
 
 BY 
 
 Frank App, Agronomist. 
 
 INTRODUCTION 
 
 The problem of measuring farm; efficiency is commanding 
 increased attention as the value of land increases. It is essential 
 that some method be found to modify farming operations in 
 order that they may be adapted to our modern conditions. The 
 increased value of farm lands and other equipment requires a 
 much greater amount of capital, which, too, is an important 
 factor in demanding more efficient use of land and equipment. 
 A generation ago, when land was cheap and could be obtained 
 by settling upon a tract and improving it for farming purposes, 
 there was no incentive to economize in the use of land. Today 
 land values have increased to such an extent that in restricted 
 areas some types of farming are prohibited because of the heavy 
 land rental. In short, nothing but intensive cropping is profit- 
 able, because large receipts per acre are necessary to return a 
 profit for the cost of labor, fertilzer and rental. To a large 
 extent this change of conditions is followed by a corresponding 
 change of crops, but the proper adjustment, to be obtained 
 accurately, must be found by careful and painstaking investiga- 
 
 Prepared April 20, 1916. 
 
 (3) 
 
tioii. This is a repetition of history in old civiHzed countries. 
 As population increases, greater production is needed, and land 
 values rise with the increased value of products obtained from 
 the land. A continuous change of land values always affects 
 the adjustment and proper organization of the farm. 
 
 Still another factor, labor, has influenced farm operations. 
 Throughout most farming regions the supply of labor is an im- 
 portant factor. That it is becoming more so each year is evi- 
 denced by the increased investment in labor-saving machinery. 
 
 With these twd factors changing, namely, land values and 
 labor, both of which influence the profits of the farm to a great 
 degree, the problems of farm organization, farm efficiency, the 
 proper type of farming, the proper relation of live stock to the 
 farm, and the proper relation of land, labor and capital, entail 
 many difficulties in clearly isolating measurable factors which 
 bear directly on farm profits. Through this great lack of so- 
 called efficiency on farms, and through lack of means of meas- 
 uring efficiency factors by agricultural educators, the business of 
 farming and the people interested in farming have been severely 
 criticised by men in other professions. However, conditions are 
 not as bad as Avould appear to the man in another profession. 
 His business is largely controlled through his own initiative, 
 while the farmer is to a large extent dependent upon nature. 
 Losses may result through causes wholly beyond the control of 
 the farmer. In short, there are many more factors entering 
 into the proper manipulation of the agricultural industry than 
 in manufacturing enterprises. Until recently we have not ap- 
 preciated the need of methods by which to- measure farm effi- 
 ciency or to ascertain carefully what these factors are. How- 
 ever, with the readjustment of farming conditions, and the in- 
 creased attention attracted by farming, this need is severely felt. 
 
 Efficiency engineers have reorganized many manufacturing 
 establishments with very productive results. So, too, has the 
 farmer reorganized his farm business by introducing new ma- 
 chinery and other labor-saving devices, and in some instances by 
 increasing or decreasing the farm area or changing the type of 
 farming to meet the current conditions. Moreover, many of 
 
these changes have come about by force of circumstances rather 
 than through measurement of results to be obtained from such 
 changes, or through the careful estimation of the need of them. 
 This may have been no fault of the farm operator, for there was 
 no definite information to guide him in making changes in his 
 farming operations. 
 
 The object of this bulletin is not to present a general treatise 
 on farm management or farming conditions, but it is to deter- 
 mine important factors which affect success and failure in- potato 
 farming of Monmouth County, New Jersey. To a certain de- 
 gree, the writer has attempted to determine the efficiency and 
 measures of efficiency of a specialized type of farming, where 
 potatoes are the principal crop. The conclusions reached should 
 to a large extent be applicable to similar regions where potatoes 
 are a specialized staple crop. 
 
 METHOD OF OBTAINING DATA AND INFORMATION 
 
 In gathering the data for this survey, each farmer was visited 
 by a man who obtained the necessary information from him di- 
 rectly by personal interview. Far a type of farming consisting 
 largely of potato growing, this is not as difficult as for a more 
 diversified type. The major portion O'f receipts and expenses is 
 in lump sums, a condition which simplifies tO' a large degree the 
 work of taking the record. Each man was detailed to a defimite 
 territory, and required to visit every farm, whether good or 
 bad, prosperous or otherwise. The traveling was done by 
 bicycles, which appear to furnish the most -efficient means where 
 good roads pirevail. While a horse and buggy is commonly used 
 in this work, it is not as efficient in covering distance and saving 
 time as the bicycle. 
 
 All records were recopied on an office blank and checked sev- 
 eral times to discover any possible errors and make the proper 
 corrections. 
 
 It is essential that men who take records be quick to think, 
 knoAv how to approach a farmer, and be familiar with farming 
 conditions in the neighborhood. Occasionally it is necessary for 
 a man to go back tp a farm and check over his record or correct 
 some oversight.. Thus the accuracy of survey work and survey 
 records depends in no small degree on the men who do the work. 
 
DEVELOPMENT OF THE POTATO INDUSTRY IN MONMOUTH 
 
 COUNTY AND ITS RELATION TO THE DEVELOPMENT 
 
 OF OTHER AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIONS 
 
 Monmouth County is considered among the most prosperous 
 counties in the United States. Since the early history of its 
 agriculture it was always regarded as a prosperous and flourish- 
 ing farming region. According to the United State Census Re- 
 ports, we find the development of the potato industry from 
 1840 up to the present time as given in Table I. 
 
 Table I. — Production of Potatoes, Rye and Corn in Monmouth County, New 
 
 Jersey, 1840-1910. 
 
 Potatoes. Rye, Com. 
 
 Year. bu. bu. bu. 
 
 1840, 273,280 39,368 493,554 
 
 18.50 773,272 82,833 841,072 
 
 1860 1.051,525 97,224 859,877 
 
 1870 1,263,403 46,567 760,479 
 
 1880 796,388 133,560 1,048,940 
 
 1890 914,286 158,443 875,847 
 
 190O 926,035 126,700 1,029,560 
 
 . 1910 1,893,523 162,323 1,099,656 
 
 For the entire period potatoes have been crowding the other 
 crops. Hence the only two staple cash crops that have increased 
 in quantity to any appreciable extent through this whole period 
 are rye and corn. The production of wheat has increased from 
 the 1840 period, but appreciably decreased from the 1850 period. 
 Between 1840 and 1850 potatoes made a remarkable increase. 
 The same is again shown between 1900 and 1910. The yield 
 for 19 10, as given by the census, is 128 bushels per acre, which, 
 if compared to- our survey results, is quite low. The average 
 yield by the survey was 83 barrels, or 228 bushels, per acre, 
 almost double that shown by the 1910 census report. This is 
 in all probability due tO' the climatic conditions of the year of 
 1909 for potato production. The season was hot and dry, cir- 
 cumstances which depressed the potato^ yield for the State very 
 markedly. Therefore, the census does not show the representa- 
 tive potato production for the county, since the year 1909 fur- 
 nished abnormal climatic conditions with respect to potato 
 growing. 
 
 The total production of potatoes from these 370 potato farms 
 alone, 'in 1914, was 2,207,375 bushels, or 802.682 barrels. 
 Therefore, it would be a conservative estimate to place the pres- 
 ent production of the county at 4,000,000 bushels. Around the 
 Freehold district, potatoes are by far the dominating crop for 
 most of the farmers, and other crops and stock are sacrificed to 
 devote most of the energies and time to potatoes. In the eastern 
 
7 
 
 part of the county trucking and dairying are quite prominent, 
 but the potato still remains important as a cash crop, though no 
 longer the major source of income. In the western part of the 
 county potatoes are combined with more farm stock, including 
 hogs and dairy cows. This necessitates larger areas of corn, 
 rye and hay. Here the soils become too heavy for the most 
 profitable production. The heavy soil conditions increase the 
 cost of tillage, as well as decrease the acre yields. In the early 
 history of the county cows, hogs and sheep were prominent in 
 the farmers' business, but now this live stock has been sacrificed 
 in many cases for the potato. The census of 1840 reports 
 19,592 head of cattle and 23,241 hogs. In 1910, 9,256 
 dairy cows and 14,132 hogs "are reported; sheep have decreased 
 in number from 13,696 in 1850 to 1,333 in 1910, while during 
 the survey of 1914 less than 100 sheep were found. In short, 
 we find that in this county's earlier history potatoes were grown 
 rather freely, but the greatest and most rapid development has 
 come about within the last fifteen years. From 1900 to 1910 
 we find an increase from 926,035 bushels to 1,893,523 bushels, 
 and 1914 and 191 5 to approximately 4,000,000 bushels. The 
 area devoted to potato growing increased in 1900 to 19 10 from 
 8,910 to 14,784 acres, VN^hile in 1914 there were 9,671 acres of 
 potatoes on 370 potato farms alone. Evidently, the industry 
 has not yet reached its highest limit, for this is approximately 
 one-third of the total crop acres on the farms, and later data 
 will throw further light on the efiect of increasing this acreage 
 to 50 or 75 per cent, of the farm crop area. Whether potatoes 
 will in the near future give way to another crop is doubtful, 
 since when raised on the intensive scale, they can successfull^^ 
 compete with other staple truck crops. If land is selected which 
 is best adapted to potato culture, nothing short of disease or ex- 
 treme market fluctuation is likely to decrease the importance of 
 this crop in the county. 
 
 LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION OF MONMOUTH COUNTY 
 POTATO AREA 
 
 The Freehold area, which is the center of the potato region 
 in the county, is 42 miles from New York City, 30 miles from 
 Trenton and 70 miles from Philadelphia. From Freehold as 
 a center, the area in which potatoes predominate reaches north 
 about six miles tO' Robertsville, thence the boundary extends- 
 northeast, passing within one mile south of Morganville, and' 
 continuing northeast to about one mile north of Crawford's 
 
Corners. Tlie eastern boimdary extends east almost to Lincroft, 
 Tinton Falls, Scobe3rville and Colts Neck. The southern bound- 
 ary lies about three miles south of Freehold and extends from 
 the headwaters of the M'anasquan River, west through Smith- 
 burg, and thence northwest to Bergen's Mills. The line from 
 this point runs approximately northeast to Robertsville, including 
 Englishtown and Tennent in the area. 
 
 MONMOUTH 
 
 COUJJTY 
 
 Oil 
 
 J/ Jr^ I- ^^^^^ 
 
 - rmmtmp urn 
 
 ' .^■ 
 
 / 
 
 Fig. 1. — IViap of Monmouth County, New Jersey, Showing Potato Area 
 Included by this Survey. 
 
 This whole area is largely overlaid with Collington, Sassafras 
 and Colts Neck soils. The topography is level to gently rolling, 
 with good drainage. The section is well equipped with railroad 
 shipping stations, facilities which help to make this industry 
 possible. The Freehold branch of the Central Railroad of New 
 Jersey leads from Freehold north through Morganville. Farm- 
 ers in the eastern section of this area can reach the Red Bank 
 branch of the New Jersey Central, while the northeastern por- 
 tion is within reach of the New York and Long Branch Railroad. 
 The Pennsylvania Railroad enters Freehold from the southeast 
 
and continues in a northwesterly direction through Tennent. 
 With the exception of a small section around Colts Neck, most 
 of this area is within four miles or less of a railroad. This is 
 important for an industry requiring- such a large amount of 
 hauling in a comparatively short time. The roads of this area, 
 some of which are macadam, are usually good. This enables 
 the potato growers to haul heavy loads, and thus economize 
 in marketing their product. The area is thus with a com- 
 bination of soils, railroad facilities, and improved dirt and ma- 
 cadam roads, which fits it admirably to intensive and extensive 
 potato culture. Other parts of the county have one or two of 
 these requirements, such a^-railroads and dirt roads, or soils 
 and good dirt roads, but the third factor is missing. The other 
 types of soil are not so well adapted to the production of the 
 crop, and where they prevail, either trucking, dairying or more 
 general farming is substituted for this industry. 
 
 SOILS 
 
 The soils of this potato area, as mapped by the Geological 
 Survey oi New Jersey and the U. S. Department of Agriculture,^ 
 consist of unconsolidated and nearly horizontal beds of green- 
 sand marl, clay, sandy clay, and gravel. This material has been 
 modified by the elements, forming soils that are easily tilled 
 and light in texture, with the light loams, sandy loams, and loamy 
 sands predominating. The Sassafras series has a light brown 
 to yellowish color, with sub-soil of bright yellow to reddish 
 yellow color. The upper sub-soil may be heavier than the surface 
 soils, but the lower surface soils are usually lighter, grading 
 into sand or gTavel. This usually helps to insure good drainage. 
 
 The Colli.ngton soils have a brown to a reddish brown surface, 
 and a yellowish brown-yellow or greenish yellow upper sub- 
 soil, changing to a dark green or olive green sub-soil of the 
 heavier members. These soils are derived from' greensand 
 deposits made along the Coastal Plain Province. 
 
 The Colts Neck series shows a brownish red to dark red colored 
 surface soil and a deep or bright red colored sub-soil. The sub- 
 soil is light in texture. O'f the three series, Colts Neck is not 
 so well adapted to potato production as are the Sassafras and 
 Collington. Its soils are inclined to be more droughty, and are 
 better adapted to the early truck crops, while the high con- 
 tent of iron makes a rough potato skin. All these soils are 
 easily tilled, and lend themselves well to successive growing of 
 
 *U. S. Dept. Agr. Bur. Soils, Advance Sheets, Field Operations, 1913. 
 
10 
 
 a cultivated crop, such as potatoes, as long as the organic matter 
 is maintained through the use of cover crops. In fact, some 
 of these soils are so light that it is necessary to have a growing 
 crop upon them in the form of a cover crop to prevent their 
 blowing during the winter. Again, their physical character 
 allows them to be worked early in the spring and very shortly 
 after a rain. They thus afford a more regular and better dis- 
 tribution of labor than would be possible on a heavier soil. 
 The farmer need not wait such a long period of time after a 
 rain until he can resume his tillage, and again he can get upon 
 his soil early in the spring, as well as do part of the plowing 
 during the winter months in some seasons. This is an important 
 item for a crop which requires or is given intensive culture such 
 as the potato in this region. Most farms have more than one 
 soil type upon the place, and usually the soils or soil types best 
 adapted to the potato crop are given over to this industry. The 
 remaining portion of the farm is devoted to other crops, which 
 usually comprise hay, corn and rye. In spite of the fact that 
 land values are high in this area, there remains a relatively large 
 proportion of uncropped acreage per farm! For the owner 
 farms this amounts tO' 25.8 per cent, of the total farm area, 
 and for the tenant farms 30 per cent. Some of this land is 
 used for roads, lanes and buildings, and the remainder is a 
 waste land temporarily uncropped, with a very small area of 
 woods and pasture. However, the amount of uncropped area 
 is surprisingly large, when we consider the high value of this 
 land. But, due to the fact that these soils are easily tilled, dry 
 off quickly after a rain, are naturally fertile, are suitable for 
 successive cropping of a cultivated crop so long as the organic 
 matter is maintained in the soil, they lend themselves admirably 
 to specialization, and intensive as well as extensive culture of the 
 potato. 
 
 (See Figs. 2 and 3, following page 16.) 
 
 CROPS 
 
 No definite system of rotation is followed on these potato 
 farms. Wherever some system is practiced, the rotation may 
 consist of potatoes one or more years, hay one or two years, 
 and com one year. Another system which is quite largely used 
 consists of potatoes .one or more years, rye or wheat one year, 
 hay one or two years, and com one year. Again, others attempt 
 no rotation at all, and crop potatoes on the same area for an 
 (indefinite period. In such a case, corn, rye or wheat, and hay, 
 may be rotated on other fields. However, the custom of raising 
 
II 
 
 potatoes continuously on the same area appears to be growing, 
 and this practice restricts the potato area from the rotated por- 
 tion of the farm. This is comparable to the use of alfalfa on 
 most O'f the farms in other regions. The area, for the time it 
 is occupied by the crop, is thrown out of the rotation as long 
 a,s the crop is successful. It is not uncommon to find a portion 
 of the farm growing potatoes continuously, while in another part 
 potatoes are used in a tentative rotation with corn, rye or wheat 
 and hay. That the farmers of this section are able to grow 
 potatoes continuously on the same area is due to their systematic 
 use of cover crops and heavy fertilization. While this system 
 appears to militate' against all rotation principles, both from the 
 standpoint of agronomy and' farm juanagement, yet these farms 
 are very successful in maintaining their potato yields and in 
 handling their labor economically. Thus it is a system peculiar 
 in itself, but apparently adapted to the conditions as described 
 in this area. 
 
 On these 370 potato farms there were 29,156 crop acres. The 
 areas devoted to each crop are shown in Table II : 
 
 Table II. — Acreage of Crops on 370 Potato Farms in Monmouth County, 
 
 New Jersey. 
 
 Potatoes. 
 
 Owners 5,151 
 
 Tenants, 4;650 
 
 Part Owners, 624 
 
 Total, 10,425 
 
 Wheat. 
 
 Owners, . . . . 534^^ 
 
 Tenants 651 
 
 Part Owners, . . . 69% 
 
 Total, 1,255 
 
 2,451 
 '2,306 
 2741/2 
 
 5,031.1/2 
 
 Apples. 
 616 
 6S6y2 
 70 
 
 Hay. 
 
 2,913 
 
 2,914 
 
 389 
 
 6,216 
 
 Peaches 
 and Pears. 
 
 146i/o 
 100 
 23 
 
 1,3721/3, 
 
 26914 
 
 Rye. 
 
 1.543% 
 
 1,516% 
 
 140 
 
 3,200 
 
 675 
 334 
 
 38 Ya, 
 
 1,047% 
 
 Alfalfa. 
 
 128% 
 
 187% 
 
 19% 
 
 335% 
 
 Total. 
 14.1.59 
 13,349 
 
 1,648 
 
 29.156 
 
 Of the total crop acreage, over one-third is in potatoes. Hay 
 follows v/ith about one-fifth, while corn is third with one-sixth 
 of the area. Rye ranks fourth with a little over one-tenth, folr 
 lowed by apples and wheat, each with about one twenty-fifth of 
 the area. Alfalfa and peaches each occupy about one per cent, 
 of the total crop acres. One twenty-fifth is devoted to truck, 
 comprising asparagus and various other crops. 
 
 The proportion of these different crops does not vary materially 
 among the farms of the owners, part owners, and tenants. How- 
 ever, the tenants have a smaller proportion in potatoes and a 
 larger proportion in hay and small grains. This is not surprising 
 v/hen it is recognized that the potato corp requires a large cash 
 
Tenants. 
 
 Owners. 
 
 Average, 
 
 29.9 
 
 31.3 
 
 28.2 
 
 18.7 
 
 19.5 
 
 16.8 
 
 14.8 
 
 13.7 
 
 13.6 
 
 9.S 
 
 7.0 
 
 8.7 
 
 4.2 
 
 3.5 
 
 3.7 
 
 4.2 
 
 3.5 
 
 3.4 
 
 1.1 
 
 1.0 
 
 0.9 
 
 0.7 
 
 1.0 
 
 0.7 
 
 2.1 
 
 1.9 
 
 2.8 
 
 12 
 
 surplus upon which to do business and is a more risky crop. 
 Hence, unless the landlord finances the tenant, he is frec^uently 
 unable to make the necessary heavy investment for seed and 
 fertilizer. 
 
 Table III. — Area of Various Crops per Farm on 370 Potato Farms in Mon- 
 moutli County, New Jersey. 
 
 Crop, Owners. 
 
 Potatoes, 26.5 
 
 nay 15.0 
 
 Corn 12.6 
 
 Rye 8.0 
 
 Apples 3.2 
 
 Wheat, . .' 2.6 
 
 Alfalfa, 0.8 
 
 PcacUes, 0.8 
 
 Truck, 3.5 
 
 Total 73.0 85.5 82.4 78.8 
 
 Though we find most of the staple crops grown on these potato 
 farms, the majority produce sufficient only to supply feed for 
 their work stock, a few ccws, hogs and chickens. The corn and 
 hay are fed almost entirely to the stock, while the wheat and rye 
 are used for feed and cover crop seed. 
 
 A larger proportion of rye is sold than of any other staple 
 crop with the exception of potatoes. Some faimers practice 
 selling rye in the bundle at a fixed price per ton, including straw 
 and grain. Other thresh the crop, sell the straw separate or use 
 it for bedding, keep sufficient grain for their cover crop and dis- 
 pose of the remainder. 
 
 Although the average farm acreage devoted to orchards is 
 comparatively large, the majority of the orchards are only for 
 fa:mily use. A limited number maintain commercial orchards, 
 but not as a main source of their income. This has increased the 
 average so that it appears rather high. For the year in which 
 the survey was taken most of the orchards showed little or no 
 profit. Many of those who were making an effort to diversify- 
 with fruit were becoming discouraged with the markets and the 
 returns received from fruit. Evidently, potatoes were proving 
 more profitable than fruit, and less risk appears to be entailed in 
 potato farming. 
 
 A number of farms produce some truck on the lighter soils. 
 This chiefly comprises asparagus, sweet corn, tomatoes and a 
 few peppers, carrots and turnips. For some farms this furnishes 
 considerable revenue, but it appears to be limited to the soils too 
 light for profitable potato production in the majority of cases. 
 
13 
 
 Thus the truck growing is regulated to a large extent by the soils 
 and soil types. 
 
 The area of alfalfa is quite small on these farms, averaging 
 less than one acre per farm. Of this the owners have a slightly 
 smaller area per farm than the tenants and part owners. How- 
 ever, the merits of alfalfa are just becoming known among these 
 farmers, and they are only recently learning to handle the crop 
 successfully. As soon as the proper handling" of alfalfa is 
 better understood by all the farmers, it may come into far 
 greater prominence in this area. By the more common use of 
 alfalfa the acreage needed to grow sufficient hay to feed the work 
 stock can be decreased, leaving^a larger. area for potatoes and corn 
 or rye. Again on these liglit soils, timothy and other grasses 
 are not highly productive, so that a good substitute for fc^rage 
 obtained from the grasses would be alfalfa. Furthermore, alfalfa 
 is well adapted to succeed potatoes, since the destruction of weeds 
 by the thorough cultivation such as potatoes ordinarily receive, 
 prepares the seed-bed well for the alfalfa seeding. After the 
 potatoes are dug, without further plowing, the area can be limed, 
 harrowed and seeded with a minumum amount of labor and 
 expense.-^ Thus this crop should become far more important in 
 the future on these farms. 
 
 FARM PRACTICE 
 
 The farm practice oi these farms is unique, as we would expect 
 in such a type of farming. In many respects individual practices 
 differ, but the method of handling the potato crop is rather 
 uniform. 
 
 The basis and means of maintaining such an intensive industry 
 depend to^ a large extent on the universal use of cover crops. 
 There is no area in the State where cover crops are given such 
 careful attention as on these potato farms. It is only through 
 this practice that the farmers are able to maintain soil fertility. 
 In many instances the fertility and acre production appear tO' be 
 increasing rather than decreasing where the cover crops are skill- 
 
 ^ Furthermore, the season's tillage given the potatoes tends to form an ideal 
 seed-bed for the succeeding alfalfa. This thorough cultivation given the 
 potato crop makes a fine loose surface soil to a depth of two or three inches 
 and leaves the lower soil compact and firm a^ is desirable for a good 
 alfalfa seed-bed. Thus we have a fine loose mulch on the surface, free of 
 weed seeds, overlving a firm compact soil underneath. This compactness 
 establishes the capillarity, making the upper surface inches of soil more moist 
 and affords surer germination and more vigorous autumn growth, than is 
 ordinarily obtained when the seed-bed is prepared from rye or wheat stubble. 
 
fully handled. Wheat, rye and crimson clover are the most com-' 
 mon cover crops. But some crimson clover is seeded alone, at 
 the rate of a peck or a half of a bushel to the acre. Others use 
 i>4 to 2' bushels of rye, while many use wheat. A large number 
 combine crimson clover with rye or wheat, using 4 to 8 quarts 
 of crimson clover with i to i>^ bushels of either rye or wheat. 
 This makes a better cover crop because of greater growth of the 
 wheat or rye, combined with the value of the clover in adding 
 nitrogen. Furthermore, the rye or wheat protects the clover so 
 that it will live through the winter more successfully than if 
 seeded alone. Some of the larger growers who do^ not finish 
 digging until quite late, omit the clover and use only rye or 
 wheat, since the late season allows for little development of the 
 former. Therefore, to some extent the time of digging influ- 
 ences the nature of the cover crop used. For the latest seedings 
 rye is more commonly used since it is more hardy than wheat 
 and will give a more satis factor}^ cover when seeded late. Wheat 
 appears to be more popular for the earlier seedings. It makes 
 a more leafy growth, and if the spring plowing is delayed it 
 does not make such a rapid gTOwth in the spring. Some of the 
 fields will not grow crimson clover successfully, probably because 
 of need of lime. Though this clover will stand a certain amount 
 of acidity, it will eventually be driven out of acid soils. 
 
 Thus at a cost of $1 to $3 per acre for cover crop seed, to- 
 gether with the use of chemical fertilizer, it appears possible to 
 maintain the organic content of these soils and keep them pro- 
 ductive for continuous cultivation of potatoes. 
 
 This system is independent of the use of live stock which is 
 almost universally looked upon as necessary in maintaining fer- 
 tility. Neither do these potato growers, as a rule, buy or apply 
 manure as is frequently the custom among truckers. 
 
 When potato ground is seeded to rye or wheat it is not neces- 
 sary to replow but merely to prepare by harrowing and to seed 
 the crop. This makes it economical in the use of labor as well 
 as in the use of fertilizer. Unless the potato ground is quite 
 light, sufficient residual fertilizer will be left after the potatoes 
 are dug to grow the rye or wheat without additional application 
 of fertilizers. Sometimes grass for the next year's hay is seeded 
 after potatoes, without plowing, but by preparing with the har- 
 row only, in the same manner as for the seeding of alfalfa. 
 
 On some of the lighter sandy land, cowpeas are seeded, plowed 
 under and the area seeded to rye. Yields on such areas are low, 
 yet considerable straw is produced. Hay is ordinarily left, in 
 
15 
 
 the rotation one year only. On these Hght soils it is not profitable 
 to allow a field to remain in grass after the clovers have died 
 out. 
 
 (See Figs. 4 to i8, following page i6.) 
 
 FERTILIZERS 
 
 The potatoes are given the major portion of all the commercial 
 fertilizers purchased. This is an important charge against the 
 crop for the application is heavy. The usual amount is 1,200 
 to 1,800 pounds per acre. This is applied in the row at the 
 time of planting the potatoes. In this way labor is saved over 
 the separate application as followed in some potato-growing 
 regions. The rye is lightly fertilized when it does not follow 
 potatoes. On the lighter soils fertilizer is used at the rate of 
 200 to 400 pounds per acre for rye. Corn is frequently fertilized 
 at the rate of 300 to 400 pounds of commercial fertilizer per 
 acre. On the corn much of the manure obtained from the stock 
 is applied. The igrade of fertilizers most commonly used is one 
 showing an analysis of 4-8r-io, i. e., 4 per cent, of nitrogen, 8 
 per cent, of phosphoric acid and 10 per cent of potash. As a 
 potato fertilizer it is of a higher grade than that used in the 
 Maine potato region where a 5-8^7 grade is used. The Maine 
 growers have increased their nitrogen i per cent, over the New 
 Jersey growers, but cut the potash down 3 per cent. It would be 
 expected that the Maine growers need more nitrogen in their 
 fertilizer since they do not grow cover crops to plow under, but 
 use a rotation of potatoes, oats and clover, each one year. The 
 clover is harvested for hay, leaving a clover sod to plow under for 
 potatoes. Evidently, this sod will not furnish as much nitrogen 
 under conditions in Maine as the cover crop of the Monmouth 
 County farmer does under conditions in New Jersey. Whether 
 the high -application of potash is needed for New Jersey condi- 
 tions is a debatable question. Since this survey was made, the 
 influence of war on the cost and supply of potash has necessitated 
 a much smaller application of' potash with apparently good re- 
 sults. Recent work done by the Monmouth County Farm Bureau 
 indicates an excessive use of potash when applied in the propor- 
 tion of 4-8-10. Further work is needed to determine this matter 
 definitely. 
 
 The fertilizer used for the corn is usually a 2-8-10 or some 
 potato fertilizer, and the same is used for rye. A very limited 
 amount of top-dressing for hay is practiced, nitrate of soda 
 being used frequently for the purpose. 
 
i6 
 
 MONMOUTH COUNTY FARMERS' EXCHANGE 
 
 The development of this great potato industry has given rise 
 to a very successful and well-known org'anization, the Monmouth 
 County Farmers' Exchange, composed of potato producing 
 farmers. So phenomenal has been its success that it is known all 
 over the eastern states and cited as an example of a successful 
 farmers' organization for buying and selling the farm products 
 of its meniibers. These potato farmers have solved their own 
 market problem in a very efficient and expedient manner. This 
 publication would not be complete without a brief description of 
 this well-known farmers' exchange. 
 
 Unlike many potato growers, the Monmouth County potato 
 farmers sell practically all of their crop direct from the held. 
 This throws on the market a large amount of potatoes from a 
 small area in a short space of time. Consequently, unless the 
 marketing of such a product is handled systematically, there is 
 sure to be great fluctuation in price. Such were the existing con- 
 ditions in the countv several years ago. The price of potatoes 
 is said to have varied as much as 40 cents a bushel in a single day. 
 Quite frequently the prices changed three or four times a day and 
 dropped to 25 cents a bushel during the day. At that time each 
 loading station had a buyer representing chiefly New York and 
 Philadelphia firms, who bought on commission for about 10 
 cents a barrel. 
 
 With the increased production of potatoes, conditions con- 
 tinued to gTow- worse and the marketing of the potato crop was 
 very unsatisfactory. At a meeting of the Pomona Grange held 
 at Keansburg in 1907, a committee was appointed tO' investigate 
 the markets. In the fall of 1907 a committee was sent to visit 
 the Produce Exchange of the Eastern Shore of Virginia. The 
 committee brought back a very promising account of the Eastern 
 Shore of Virginia Produce Exchange. They persuaded the man- 
 ager to come to Freehold, and address the Monmouth County 
 farmers in the Court House that winter. Through these efforts 
 an organization was formed in March, 1908, under the corpora- 
 tion laws of New Jersey, with an authorized capital stock of 
 $100,000. Shares were issued at $5.00 a share with a 20-share 
 lim.it. A paid-in capital of $7,000 was obtained the first year. 
 Officers including a president, secretary, treasurer, manager and 
 eleven directors were elected. Each director represented one of 
 the principal loading stations in the county. 
 
 The first year the total business amounted to $454,414.11. 
 
mjE ^t— ^ 
 
 &»■■ 
 
 Fig. 2. — A Typical Group of Farm Buildings in Monmouth County, 
 
 New Jersey. 
 
 ^-.. .^% m ft* 
 
 Fig. 3. — View of a Monmouth County Farm, Showing the Good Dirt Road, 
 Typical of the Region. 
 
- ^^'^Tf J 
 
 Fig. 4. — A Monmouth County Farmhouse. 
 
 ■^ 
 
 Fig. 5. — View of Outbuildings on a IVIonmouth County Farm. 
 
 *«*«»' 
 
 Fig. 6. — Rye Stacks on a IVIonmouth County Farm. When there is Not Room to 
 Store All the Grain in Buildings, it is Commonly Stacked in the Fields. 
 
Fig. 7. — Putting on the Finishing Touch in the Preparation of the Soil for 
 Potato Planting, Using a Meeker Smoothing Harrow. 
 
 Fig. 8. — Potato Planting Time on a Monmouth County Farm. Thorough 
 
 Preparation of the Soil, Generous Use of Chemical Fertilizers, and 
 
 Constant Cultivation Resulted in a Yield from this Field of 
 
 370 Bushels per Acre, with 5 Per Cent, of Potash 
 
 in the Fertilizer. 
 

 
 
 '. ' 
 
 ,ii 
 
 . ■ i 
 
 ,, ■•'■ ^ ••J 
 
 Fig. 9. — A Well-prepared Field, Showing the Ridge Thrown Over the Rows 
 to Protect from Frost and Freezing, as Well as to Indicate the Row. 
 
 Fig. 10. 
 
 -The First Cultivation, Showing the Cultivator Teeth Reaching 
 to the Bottom of the Plowed Layer. 
 
^ 
 
 Fig. 11. — Levelling the Ridges, After the First Cultivation, with the 
 Meeker Smoothing Harrow. The Potatoes Are Not Yet Up. 
 
 Fig. 12. — Eight Weeks After Planting; Plants About 6 Inches High. 
 
 This Field Yielded over 400 Bushels to the Acre with only 2 Per Cent, 
 of Potash in the Fertilizer. 
 
^f^^' 
 
 
 L. -« • -*«*#ifc V • . 
 
 
 - - • *ftx 
 
 
 
 Fig. 13. — Cultivation with the One-horse Cultivator When the Plants 
 
 Are 6 Inches High. 
 
 
 
 Fig. 14. — Dusting with Paris Green and Cultivating with a Two-horse 
 
 Riding Cultivator. Careful Cultivation Keeps Down Weeds 
 
 and Should IVlal<e Hoeing Unnecessary. 
 
Bg 
 
 
 
 THE BEETLE 
 
 BW!^- 
 
 
 
 POTATO DUSTER ' 
 
 
 fl^ 
 
 ^E^ 
 
 i^Mrt 
 
 j-^^S-.-'-aa-i. -■t'^i!^,^"^;*^ 
 
 ^^^ KB9 
 
 f -c ^w^^MftJMJfeMH 
 
 ^^M 
 
 ^^^^ 
 
 „.^^p9l^^^}I^^^M^^^^S^^SH^^^H 
 
 ^mP 
 
 ji|^ 
 
 
 ^^^^^^« 
 
 Wm 
 
 gH 
 
 ^1^ 
 
 ■■■■■ 
 
 Fig. 15. — ^The Potato Beetle Duster in Operation.^ 
 ^ Used by courtesy of Leggett and Bro., New York. 
 
 ^ Owiil*'pp 
 
 m^Ltcsmi^ 
 
 Fig. 16. — Looking Down the Rows of a Potato Field on the Farm of H. V. 
 
 M. Dennis, President of the Monmouth County Farmers' 
 
 Exchange, Freehold, N. J. A Solid Mass of 
 
 Luxuriant Vegetation. 
 
Fig. 17. — Digging Giant Potatoes on a IVIonmoutii County Farm. 
 
 Fig. 18. — Potato Harvesting Scene on a Monmouth County Farm, Show- 
 ing IVIethods of Digging, Pici<ing, Carting and Loading 
 on Freight Cars. 
 
17 
 
 representing 2,01 1 cars, containing- 203,000' packages of potatoes, 
 vegetables and fruit. It was soon found that $7,000 was not 
 sufficient with which to do business, so the Board of Directors 
 gave themselves as security for money borrowed to carry on 
 their business. This made possible cash transactions, which they 
 deemed the only satisfactory method of doing business. 
 
 Since the potato dealers could no longer manipulate the price 
 of potatoes in the area where the Exchange was operating, they 
 went to the adj,acent territory of Prospect Plains, Cranbury, 
 Hightstown, Plainsboro, Princeton Junction, Lawrence Station, 
 Robbinsville and all the adjacent territory and bought potatoes 
 cheaper than was possible from the Exchange. As this was 
 derfogatory to the Exchange sales, this territory was equipped 
 with scales and offices at the different stations until the whole 
 potato area was covered by the Exchange. This gave the organ- 
 ization control of the whole area and it was no longer at the 
 mercy of the buyers. 
 
 The Exchange is in touch with all the markets through tele- 
 phone and telegraph. During the potato^ harvesting season the 
 services of a telegraph operator, stationed in the central offices, 
 m secured and direct communication is kept up with the markets. 
 By this means the managers are able tO' locate the best markets. 
 When we consider that the Monmouth County Farmers' Ex- 
 change sells potatoes to almost every state in, the United States 
 and ships to Europe, as well, it would appear as though it is 
 handling the marketing problem in a very able manner. 
 
 The method employed is to sell the potatoes throughout the 
 day, and at night tO' average the price for the American Giants 
 and for the round stock such as Cobblers, Norcross and Gold 
 Coin. The round stock is handled as a separate class from the 
 long stock. The farmer gets the average price of the day's sales 
 less the cost of selling. In this way the farmer gets the market 
 value of his product. Yet the fact that the farmer does not 
 know what he will get for his potatoes when he hauls; themi to 
 the railroad, has a tendency to keep himi from being loyal to the 
 organization, for he usually wants to know exactly what he will 
 get for his crop. As a rule, the farmers do not grade the potatoes 
 SO' that they can be sold as different brands, but it is the hope of 
 the Exchange that it can eventually have the farmers adopt some 
 system whereby uniform grading can be accomplished, and spe- 
 cific brands put on the market. 
 
 Most sales are made by draft, bill of lading attached. The 
 Exchange regulates the rate of digging by informing the farmers 
 whenever the market is becoming overloaded. This prevents a 
 2 EX 
 
i8 
 
 glut on the market and keeps the prices at a more uniform level. 
 The manager of the Exchange can tell 24 to 48 hours in ad- 
 vance by the tone of buying when there will be a break in the 
 market. Thus he can warn the fanners not to dig for a few 
 days, when it may be expected the market will again be strength- 
 ened. Again, at times when the weather is too hot to dig in 
 order to get the potatoes on the market in good condition, it is 
 necessary to delay harvesting until it becomes cooler. 
 
 The Monmouth County Farmers' Exchange not only sells 
 potatoes, some fruit and vegetables, but it keeps its capital, equip- 
 ment and officers working the year round by acting as a purchas- 
 ing agent for the farmers. About the most important article pur- 
 chased is fertilizer. In 191 5 the Exchange sold over 7,ock) jjpns 
 to its members. Three warehouses have been erected in the 
 territor}^ for mixing and storing the goods until it is distributed. 
 The customers not only know the analysis but also what is used 
 to make up the analysis of the brand. For the year of 19 16 two 
 formulas were used, one with and one without potash, as follows : 
 
 No. I. 
 
 4-10-2. 
 
 
 150 lbs. 
 
 nitrate of soda. 
 
 120 " 
 
 sulphate of ammonia 
 
 30 " 
 
 blood. 
 
 280 " 
 
 tankage. 
 
 100 " 
 
 bone. 
 
 80 " 
 
 potash. 
 
 [240 " 
 
 acid phosphate. 
 
 
 No. 2. 
 
 4-10-0. 
 
 
 150 lbs 
 
 nitrate of soda. 
 
 100 " 
 
 sulphate of ammonia 
 
 30 " 
 
 blood. 
 
 350 " 
 
 tankage. 
 
 100 " 
 
 bone. 
 
 [270 " 
 
 acid phosphate. 
 
 For 191 5 sufficient potash was obtained for a 5 per cent, 
 mixture, but this year only sufficient to make one brand 2 per 
 cent, potash could be secured. When potash is sold at a normal 
 price the usual potato brand used is a 4-8-10 mixture, instead 
 of a 4-iot-2 brand. To these potato growers who usually ap- 
 ply about 1,500 pounds of fertilizer on each acre of potatoes, 
 this is a great litem of expense, as well as of much importance 
 to the successful culture of the crop. In addition to the pur- 
 chasing of fertilizer, the Exchange buys the major portion of, 
 the seed potatoes for its members. These are obtained from 
 New York State and Aroostook County, Maine. In order that 
 
19 
 
 the best seed free from disease be secured, the inspector of the 
 Exchange visits the field from which the potatoes come, to see 
 if they grow true tO' type, are vigorous and free from disease. 
 Two inspections are ordinarily made, one during the growing 
 season and one at the time of digging. This enables the mem- 
 bers to obtain a higher quality of seed and one more free from 
 disease than if they were dependent upon the seed dealers, who 
 would 'not have the same means oi inspection. All sales are 
 made on cash basis or a well-secured note. 
 
 The paid-in capital stock of the Exchange is $75,400 com- 
 posed of shares the par value of which is $5.00 each. The 
 stockholders are allowed one vote for each share held. No 
 more stock will be sold, but'participating membership can be 
 obtained by paying a $5.00 membership fee. The total mem- 
 bership at present is about 1,400. 
 
 The business has grown from 203,000 packages, valued at 
 $454,414.11, in 1908, to 986,594 packages, valued at $1,254,- 
 613.49, in 19 1 5. This is a wonderful development, and a record 
 of service of which any organization might be proud. At the 
 present time it is estimated that the Exchange handles half of 
 the total output of potatoes in the county. Any organization 
 which can handle so efficiently a bulky product such as potatoes 
 and fertilizer at so small a cost as 2 J^ per cent, deserves much 
 commendation. Should the farmers all use this Exchange to 
 market and buy their products, this percentage cost could be 
 still more decreased. However, the amount of business and 
 influence of the organization is. steadily increasing, and it is only 
 a matter of time until all the farmers will recognize its merits 
 more fully. The success of the Monmouth County Farmers' 
 Exchange is due largely to the men who' are its officials. The 
 character and caliber of the men at the head of the organization 
 is displayed by the fact that during the first year the Board of 
 Directors and officials met over forty times without any pay, 
 and even at their own expense. The men at the head of the 
 organization are composed of the most stable and influential 
 men of the county. The president of the Exchange, Mr. H. 
 V. M. Dennis, who has served gince it was organized, has given 
 much time and thought to the work in order that it should be 
 made a full success. Thus through the loyality and ability of 
 the officers and members it has been made an example of the 
 great possibilities to be obtained through co-operative buying 
 and selling when farmers will unite for a common purpose and 
 remain loyal to that purpose. 
 
20 
 
 EXPLANATION OF TERMS AND METHODS USED 
 
 The reader should thoroughly familiarize himself with the 
 following terms before reading the remainder of this publicatiom : 
 
 Owner. — The temi "owner" is applied to the person who 
 operates the farm he owns. 
 
 Part Ozvner. — The term "part owner" is applied to the person 
 who owns the farm, rents additional land, aiid operates both 
 that which he owns and rents. 
 
 Landlord. — The landlord is a person who owns a farm and 
 leases it to another. 
 
 Tenant. — The tenant is the person who leases the land from 
 the landlord. 
 
 Share Tenant. — The term "share tenant" is applied to the 
 person who leases a farm for a share of the crops and stock 
 receipts, usually one-half, and furnishes the working tools, 
 equipment, work stock, and ordinarily half of the productive 
 stock. 
 
 Cash Tenant. — This is the term applied to the tenant who 
 leases the land for a stipulated cash sum, furnishes all his stock 
 and working equipment, and obtains all the receipts. 
 
 Labor-Share Tenant. — This term is applied to the tenant who 
 furnishes no equipment or capital, all of which is furnished by 
 the landlord, the tenant usually receiving one-third of the crop 
 and stock receipts. 
 
 Farm Capital. — Farm capital includes all money invested to 
 carry on the farm business. It is the amount of money invested 
 in land, building, machinery, stock, supplies and cash necessary 
 to conduct the farm operations. It does not include house fur- 
 nishings. The capital invested is the average of the values for 
 the beginning and the end of the year. 
 
 Farm Receipts. — Farm receipts include all money received 
 from the sale of crops, stock, stock products, miscellaneous 
 sources, such as outside labor, and increase of inventory, if any 
 increase occurs. 
 
 Farm F^-penses. — Farm expenses include all money paid out 
 to conduct the farming business. This embraces such expenses as 
 board furnished, seed, fertilizers, taxes, insurance, buildings, im- 
 provement, equipment, and decrease of inventory, if any. It 
 does not include expenses for the household. 
 
 Farin Income. — Farm income is the term applied to the total 
 farmi receipts less the total farm expenses. It is what the 
 farmer has earned with his own labor and capital invested in 
 his farm business. 
 
 Labor Income. — By "labor income" is meant the farm in- 
 
21 
 
 come less 5 per cent, interest allowed for the use of the capital 
 invested in the farm business. Thus it is equal to the total re- 
 ceipts, less the total expenses and 5 per cent, of the average 
 capital invested. In addition to this the farmer has a house to 
 live in and products for household use, such as garden vegetables, 
 fruit, butter, milk, eggs, meat and various other articles obtained 
 from the farm. It then represents what the farmer has for his 
 time and labor for the year on the farm exclusive of the value 
 O'f his house (as his dwelling) and farm prodiActs for household 
 use. 
 
 Work Unit. — A work unit for horse or man represents a day's 
 work. Ordinarily, farm operations require a certain number of 
 days' work, or work units. 'Should it take one farmer longer 
 to do the same amount oi work than another, he is not as efifi- 
 cient in the use of his labor. Work units may be used to measure 
 the efficiency of both men and horses. 
 
 Animal \Unit — An animal unit represents a cow, a horse, or its 
 equivalent in the amount of feed required and manure produced. 
 
 Farm. — A farnii in the sense used here represents all the land 
 operated by one operator and from one center. 
 
 METHODS OF CALCULATING RESULTS 
 
 All conclusions are drawn f roin the results shown by a number 
 of farms, selected for a certain factor or character common to 
 all of the number. The work is mOre representative if a large 
 number of farms are used in obtaining the figures with which to 
 draw the conclusions. Usually other factors influencing results 
 are sufficiently distributed to make the. particular factor isolated, 
 the only one to influence the profits or loss of the farms. Never- 
 theless, it is essential that the calculator be careful that other 
 factors may not be soi correlated as to influence the work. This 
 can readily be ascertained by careful observation of the records, 
 and averaging factors such as size, capital, production, distance 
 from the railroad station and others of importance. When these 
 other influencing factors are the same for all the divisions made 
 of the records, then conclusions arrived at can be relied upon for 
 their accuracy.^ 
 
 ^ For example, if we wish to study the effect of size on labor income we 
 might take 40, farms alike in yield per acre, distance from the railroad, and 
 with the same amount of capital when they are averaged. But 20 of these 
 farms are between 50 and 7s acres, averaging 62'^ acres, and 20 farms are 
 from 75.1 to 100 acres in size, with an average of 87 acres. Then size is the 
 only factor influencing the returns for each 20 farms, for all the other factors 
 are alike, or nearly so. By getting the average labor income for each class 
 of these twenty farms we would have the effect that size has upon profitable 
 potato production. All other factors are eliminated since they average alike. 
 
22 
 
 DEPRECIATION 
 
 All industries must allow a certain amount for depreciation. 
 This can be charged up as an expense against the year's business. 
 For some industries this has been definitely worked out so that a 
 standard rate may be charged. Unfortunately, arbitrary rates 
 of depreciation cannot be charged against individual farms, differ- 
 ent types of farms, or farms in different localities. Depreciation 
 in live stock is obtained by taking their value at the beginning and 
 at the end of the year. Depreciation of machinery was obtained 
 for these farms by taking the total cash expense for the ma- 
 chinery repair. This was added to the cost of new machinery 
 purchased, and the sum divided by the machinery value. 
 This gave a rate of ii per cent, to be charged against each 
 potato farm for cost and depreciation in the use of machinery, 
 Wliile this method may not be applicable to a small number of 
 farms or for extension work, it is quite accurate for investiga- 
 tional work, where a large number of farms are used. For all 
 these potato farms a charge of ii per cent, of the machinery 
 value was made as a farm expense for the year. This same 
 method could be used to determine the building depreciation, 
 but farmers do more repairing of their buildings with their own 
 farm labor. Therefore, the figure obtained by this method for 
 depreciation on buildings may be low, as the direct cash expense 
 does not always represent the total repairs made on the buildings. 
 Probably as just an estimation as possible of depreciation of 
 buildings can be obtained by the same method as that used to 
 determine machinery depreciation, but the figure obtained cannot 
 be considered the true rate of building depreciation. However, 
 this method can be used toi determine a uniform rate to be 
 charged for depreciation of buildings. These methods eliminate 
 all estimation as to what depreciation is or would be. They are 
 figures obtained from expense actually incurred and not estimated. 
 For the owner farms the rate of building depreciation as deter- 
 mined was 3.6 per cent., and for the tenant farms 2.9 per cent., 
 or an average O'f 3.3 per cent, for all the farms. 
 
 FAMILY LABOR 
 
 All family labor other than that of the operatorl is charged 
 as part of the current expense. A farmer, who has two or 
 three sons at home, each of whom takes the place of a man, will 
 often have a cash surplus to put in the bank, but if he were com- 
 pelled to hire and pay for the labor done by his sons, he would 
 not have a surplus of cash at the end of the year. 
 
23 
 
 WHAT CONSTITUTES A POTATO FARM 
 
 All farms with fifty per cent, or more of the total receipts from 
 potatoes were designated as potato farms. While this is an 
 arbitrary method of separation there were not very many farms 
 on the border line. Since fifty per cent, or more of the receipts 
 of these farms are from potatoes, this crop is unquestionably the 
 dominating influence. In this report only potato farms so classi- 
 fied are included. From the whole county 370 potato farms 
 were included out of the total number of 1,189. Oi these 370 
 potato farms, 194 were operated by owners of the farms, 156 
 by tenants and 20 by part owners, or men owning a farm and 
 renting additional land. 
 
 SURVEY RESULTS OF SPECIALIZED FARMING COMPARED WITH 
 THOSE OF GENERAL FARMING 
 
 There is always danger of drawing too definite conclusions 
 from: results of one farm year. This is true in regions where 
 staple crops are grown and general farming is followed. It is 
 not uncommon for one year to be more prosperous than usual 
 and give greater returns to the farmer because of better climiatic 
 conditions, or high prices obtained for a certain article. The 
 reverse may occur and the farmers could have an off year which 
 would not be representative of their normal returns in other 
 years. This flu|,ctuation of seasonal and market conditions is 
 far more severe for a specialized type of farming than for the 
 more staple types. The total crop yield is more severely affected 
 by climatic or seasonal conditions and the markets are more easily 
 affected by over or under production. Therefore, much care 
 should be used in selecting what appears to have been a normal 
 year. • Still better results would be reached if successive surveys 
 were made for three or more years of the same farms. A 
 farmer is in the business for a lifetime and conclusions drawn 
 from: an abnormal year's return may not be at all representative 
 of his usual income. Therefore, survey results may be quite 
 misleading if they are not made at the proper time. Misleading 
 results are much more liable to be obtained from a specialized 
 type of farming than from general types including dairying,, 
 raising live stock and the staple crops such as hay and grain.. 
 The year of 1914 was considered a normal year by the potato- 
 growers of Monmouth County, New Jersey. By comparing the 
 
24 
 
 prices of potatoes in the county for the last seven years, we find 
 the year of 1914 is normal for that period. 
 
 The following; is the average price paid for potatoes by the 
 Monmouth County Farmers' Exchange for 191 4, the year in 
 which this survey was made, and the two previous years, with the 
 average for the last seven consecutive years, up to and including 
 1914. 
 
 Table IV. — Price of Potatoes per Barrel Paid by the Monmouth County 
 Farmers' Exchange. 
 
 Price 
 Year. per Barrel. 
 
 1912 $1.32y3 
 
 1913, 1.58 
 
 1914 1.42 
 
 Average ^Htf- 
 
 AVERAGE FOR SEVEN YEARS UP TO AND INCLUDING 1914, $1.42 
 
 The average price paid by the Exchange in 1914 was^se cen^ 
 below the average for the three years, and the exact average 
 paid by the Exchange for the last seven consecutive years. 
 Since the yield was considered a normal one for the region, and 
 the price was the average of the last seven years, the results in 
 this publication should be quite representative of normal returns 
 to be expected in potato growing for this region. Duplication 
 of the work for the six preceding years would not have altered 
 results to any material extent. The year 191 5 would show quite 
 different results, for the yield was above the average, and prices 
 were much below those of normal conditions. Again, the cost of 
 fertihzer for 191 5 was abnormal, due to the shortage of potash. 
 
 LAND TENURE 
 
 RELATION OF TENURE TO LABOR INCOME 
 
 Table V. — Profits Derived by Different Forms of Tenure from 370 Potato 
 Farms in Monmouth County, New Jersey. 
 
 No. of 
 
 Land Tenure. Farms. 
 
 Owners, 194 
 
 Part Owners 20 
 
 Share Tenants 132 
 
 Cash Tenants, 15 
 
 Labor-Share Tenants, 7 
 
 Gash and Share Tenants, 2 
 
 Average $842 
 
 The average labor income for these 370' potato farms is $842 
 per farm. This is one of the highest labor incomes found in any 
 
 Farm 
 
 Labor 
 
 Income. 
 
 Income, 
 
 $1,801 
 
 $917 
 
 1,635 
 
 801 
 
 903 
 
 739 
 
 1,102 
 
 938 
 
 766 
 
 726 
 
 488 
 
 411 
 
25 
 
 survey made up to the present time. When the large number of 
 the farms is taken into consideration, it is the highest of any 
 locahty yet reported. Though surveys made in Indiana, Illinois 
 and Iowa show a slightly higher labor income for the 370 tenant 
 farms, the owners of this region are far below. ^ With the 
 exception of the cash tenants, the owners are making the highest 
 labor income of all classes of land tenure. The part owners 
 rank second, the share tenants third, the labor-share tenants 
 fourth, and the cash and share tenants fifth. This is a logical 
 sequence and probably the correct relation of labor income to 
 land tenure. The cash tenants are making a somewhat higher 
 income than any other class, due largely to the fact that their 
 cash rents are low compared with the amount they would be 
 compelled to pay should they share receipts. 
 
 Though the owners make only $178 more labor income, they 
 have far more money to spend for improvements, education and 
 luxuries than the tenants. The amount actually left over expenses 
 upon which to live is shown under farm income. ^ The owners 
 have the extra returns from their capital, additional to their labor 
 income. Thus the farm income of the owners is $898 greater 
 than that of the share renters. Therefore, for every dollar the 
 share renter can spend the owner can spend about two. The 
 farm income of the owners exceeds that of the part owners by 
 $166, of the cash tenants by $699, of the labor share tenants by 
 $1,035, 3-^^d of the cash and share tenants, $1,313. In addition 
 to this farm income all these farmers receive from $400 to $600 
 contributed to their living from the farm. This amount repre- 
 sents their house rent, garden vegetables, meat, milk, butter, 
 eggs, fruit and miscellaneous articles furnished by the farm. 
 
 When comparing the labor incomes of these farms according to 
 the form' of land tenure, they appear to bear the proper relation 
 with all excepting the cash renters. These are returning the 
 landlord less than 5 per cent, interest on his investment. This 
 low rate allows the cash renters a higher labor income than 
 would otherwise be possible. However, under normal conditions 
 it is proper that owners should receive a larger labor income than 
 tenants or part owners. Otherwise, it might be more profitable 
 for them to sell their farms, invest their money in 5 per cent, 
 bonds and become tenant farmers. Nevertheless, conditions in 
 some parts of the United States are such that the tenants are 
 
 'U. S. Dept. Agr. Bui. 41. 
 
 ^ Farm income is the amount the farmer has to live upon from his farm 
 when his farm property is free of mortgage or debt. 
 
26 
 
 making- far higher labor incomes than the owners.^ When land 
 values rise to such a degree, they are excessive, and are not 
 based on production but rather on speculation. It thus appears 
 that land values in Monmouth County are normal and have 
 not gone above their production values. This is a very desirable 
 condition for a farming community and one that should be 
 maintained. It is well that owners should receive a somewhat 
 higher labor income than tenants, in order to afford a greater 
 stimulus for tenants to become owners. 
 
 RELATION OF TENURE ON THE POTATO FARMS TO TENURE IN 
 THE COUNTY AND STATE 
 
 Table VI. — Number of Owners Operating Farms Compared with Number 
 
 Form of 
 Tenure. 
 
 State of 
 New Jersey. 
 24,133 
 
 of Tenants, 
 
 Per Monmouth 
 Cent. County. 
 72.1 2,179 
 24.8 630 
 
 Per 
 Cent. 
 74.1 
 21.4 
 
 Mon. Co. 
 Potato 
 Farms. 
 
 194 
 
 156 
 
 Per 
 Cent. 
 
 55 
 
 Tenants, 
 
 8,299 
 
 45 
 
 This comparison is quite striking for it shows that on these 
 potato farms there is a very high percentage of tenancy com- 
 pared with that of the county or State. This condition is pro'b- 
 ably due to a number of factors and not to any one alone. In 
 the first place, land values have increased more rapidly throughout 
 this potato area than in surrounding portions of the State. This" 
 helps to make it more difficult for a young man to purchase a 
 farm since far more capital is required than for many other types 
 of farming. In many farming regions where the proportion of 
 tenancy is high, the condition is due to speculation. In this potato 
 area such is not the case. These farms are to a large degree 
 owned by old families of the community, many of whom have re- 
 tired to- town and rented their farms to a tenant. This large 
 proportion of tenancy can be attributed largely to 'the productive- 
 ness of the farmis. When a region is occupied with farms that 
 return a farm income of approximately $2,000 for the average 
 farm it is quite possible for a large number of the owners to 
 retire with a moderate amount of accumiulated capital, which 
 thereafter, with the income from their farm occupied by a tenant, 
 will provide for a comfortable living. Also, there are but few 
 farms in this area for sale. Hence, in view of all the prevailing 
 conditions, the large proportion of tenant farmis must be attri- 
 buted to the large farm income and the difficulty of purchasing" 
 from these old residents, many of whom are now living in town 
 as retired farmers. 
 
 ^U. S. Dept. Agr. Bui. No. 41. 
 
27 
 
 The tenants receive over twice as much as their hired men 
 and have in addition more independent living conditions. Thus, 
 this status of land tenure is an outgrowth of local conditions and 
 not a criterion of speculation as it exists in some parts of the 
 United States. 
 
 RELATION OF TENURE TO PER CENT. RETURNED TO THE OWNER 
 
 Table VII. — Returns to the Landlord on Farms Occupied by Tenants or 
 Percent. Received by Landlord on His Investment. 
 
 Per Cent. 
 
 Labor Income On Investment 
 
 Tenure. Operator. by Owner of Land. 
 
 Owner i .". ' $917 10.2 
 
 Part Owner SOI 7.7 
 
 Share Tenants, 739 8..S 
 
 Cash Tenants 938 3.0 
 
 Labor-Share Tenants, 726 9.5 
 
 • The return to the landlord is highest when he furnishes all 
 the capital to conduct his farm and allows the tenant a share, 
 which is usually one-third, for his labor furnished. The second 
 highest return to the landlord is obtained by share renting, the 
 third highest return is obtained by the landlords who are renting 
 to owners of farms, while the smallest return is obtained by the 
 landlords who rent for cash. From the standpoint of the tenant, 
 if he is an able farmer, he had better rent for cash, when pos- 
 sible. However, should he be a beginner or a man not well skilled 
 in farming he had better share rent in order to have the advice, 
 counsel and supervision of landlord to help him in his farming 
 operations. The tenant should expect to pay a higher rental 
 when he can depend upon the landlord for advice and capital. 
 The labor-share tenants get still a smaller proportion, though the 
 number of labor-share and cash tenants from which tO' draw con- 
 clusions is small. This is a logical return for both the tenant and 
 landlord. The less capital and risk the tenant has, the less is his 
 labor income and the greater the percentage returned to the land- 
 lord. The major portion of all these farms are share rented, 
 a condition which indicates that the landlord recognizes the 
 advantages of share renting. In addition, the landlord can 
 maintain a more active interest in the farm, keep the buildings and 
 fences in proper shape, direct to a limited extent the cropping 
 and fertilization, and prevent deterioration of his tenant farm 
 which so frequently occurs under tenant conditions. But due to 
 the fact that most of these tenant farms are owned by the former 
 occupants, they maintain a more active interest in the welfare of 
 both the tenant and the farm. These facts are substantiated by 
 
28 
 
 the appearance of the region, for it is difficult to find a more 
 prosperous looking area than this potato locality. Both tenant 
 and owner farms are well equipped, provided with good buildings 
 with the fields carefully tilled (see figs. 4 to 6). 
 
 Tenancy with these potato farms is an outcome of prosperity 
 and does not indicate a backward step in the community, since 
 both the landlord and the tenant are interested in their local con- 
 ditions. Good roads, schools, churches and other community im^ 
 provements are abundant, showing that this system of tenancy 
 is an apparent success. If these farms were held for speculation, 
 such improvements would not be so easily obtained. 
 
 Table VIII. — Number and Per Cent, of Landlords Receiving a Given Per 
 Cent, on Their Investment on 154 Potato Farms. 
 
 Per Cent, 
 
 Received hy 
 Landlord. 
 
 2% or less, 
 
 2.1 to 4, 
 
 4.1 to 6 
 
 6.1 to 8, 
 
 8.1 to 10, 
 
 10.1 to 12 
 
 12.1 to 14, 
 
 14.1 to 16 
 
 16.1+ 
 
 Share Tenants. 
 
 Labor-Share Tenants. 
 
 Cash Tenants. 
 
 No, Farms. 
 
 Per Cent. 
 
 No. 
 
 Farms. Per Cent. 
 
 No. Farms. 
 
 Per Cent. 
 
 3 
 
 2 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 4 
 
 27 . 
 
 7 
 
 5 
 
 
 
 
 7 
 
 45 
 
 31 
 
 24 
 
 
 1 '. 
 
 
 2 
 
 14 
 
 30 
 
 23 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 1 
 
 7 
 
 23 
 
 18 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 1 
 
 7 
 
 12 
 
 9 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 12 
 
 9 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 7 
 
 5 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 7 
 
 5 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 One-third of all the landlords who share-rent their farms re- 
 ceive less than 6 per cent, on their money invested, two-fifths 
 receive from 6 to 10 per cent., while the remainder, which is 
 almost one-third, receive 10 per cent, or more for their capital 
 invested. A few receive as much as 25 per cent., a very high 
 return. There are not enough labor-share farms from which to 
 draw conclusions; while the cash-rented farms, though few in 
 number, show very consistently that there is no' such wide dif- 
 ference in returns to the landlord. 
 
 It is quite evident from these results that the system of share 
 renting is far too arbitrary. A potato farm situated four miles 
 from the railroad should rent for less than one close to the rail- 
 road, because of the increased cost of hauling fertilizer and 
 potatoes from the former. Again, a small farm cannot be as 
 economically cultivated as a large one. This should be con- 
 sidered by a tenant when renting. Fields may be misshapen, 
 hard to till or less fertile, all of which factors should be given 
 more careful consideration in renting a farm. These things 
 should be adjusted so that both the land and the tenant 
 should receive their proper share from the farm. This would 
 then give more just returns to both the tenant and the 
 landlord. There are cases where the tenant receives more than 
 
29 
 
 he should. The cash tenant appears tO' have the better oppor- 
 tunity to obtain his just portion of the receipts. The range of 
 returns to the landlord on the cash-rented farms is far more 
 uniform than on the share-rented farms. It appears that greater 
 care is exercised in renting a fann by cash than through share 
 rent. The cash-rented farms are leased at their production 
 values more frequently, so that factors such as fertility, soil, 
 buildings and distance from the railroad are given more careful 
 consideration. The most usual custom for share-rented farms 
 is for the landlord to furnish the farm with one-half of the seed 
 and one-half of the fertilizers, pay the farm taxes, and pay for 
 building and fence repairs. In return the landlord gets one- 
 half of all the receipts. Thb share is ordinarily the same re- 
 gardless of the distance from the railroad, fertility of the farm, 
 condition of buildings, and like conditions that affect the returns 
 and cost of farm' operations. The landlords as a class do not 
 receive excesive returns, but some individuals do obtain more 
 than their share. The cash landlords appear to be receiving less 
 than they should, since money can be made tO' return over 3 per 
 cent, if placed in a savings bank. When the landlord's retui-ns 
 are less than what could be obtained on a farm mortgage, they 
 may be considered as being too low. These cash renters have 
 unusually good bargains. However, the number is too few from 
 which to draw far-reaching conclusions. 
 
 RELATION OF TENURE TO SUCCESS 
 
 Table IX. — Variation of Labor Income on 363 Potato Farms in iVlonmouth 
 County, New Jersey. 
 
 , Owners. , , — Tenants , Part Owners. , Total. , 
 
 No. of Per No. of Per No. of Per No, of Per 
 
 Labor Income. Farms. Cent. Farms. Cent. Farms. Cent. Farms. Cent. 
 
 Less than ifi; 39 21.0 12 8 5 25 m 15 
 
 1 to 400, 33 16.0 39 27 3 15 75 21 
 
 401 to 700, 26 13.0 33 22 2 10 61 16 
 
 701 to 1000 21 11.0 21 14 2 10 44 13 
 
 1001 to 1500, 32 16.0 21 14 3 15 56 15 
 
 1501 to 2000, 13 7.0 11 7 1 5 25 7 
 
 2001 to 2500, 9 5.0 10 7 2 10 21 6 
 
 2501 and over, 21 11.0 2 1 2 10 25 7 
 
 Out of 363 potato farms, which include all but 7 labor-share 
 farms, 56 farms, or 15 per cent., have a minus labor income. 
 The operators of some of these 56 farms are living on the in- 
 terest of their capital, while a few have actually lost money, 
 so that receipts are not above expenses. Oue-fifth receive be- 
 tween $1 and $400, while 131, or approximately one-third of 
 the entire number, receive the same or less than the hired men 
 of the community. Not quite one-third, or 105 farms, make 
 
30 
 
 between $400 and $1,000, while the remainder, or a little over 
 one-third of the total number, make over $1,000. By comparing 
 these returns with the wages a hired man receives, we find that 
 one-third of the total number get no more than the hired men of 
 the community, one-third get about twice what the hired men re- 
 ceive, while the remaining third get between 4 and 5 times what 
 the hired men receive. When comparing the distribution of 
 the tenants and owners in these classes, it is quite striking that 
 a far larger proportion of the owners are losing money than 
 the tenants. Of the total 194 owner farms, 39, or one-fifth, 
 have a minus labor income, while of the tenant farms but 12, 
 or 8 per cent., of the 149 have a minus labor income. Further- 
 more, the average of these losses for the owners is much greater 
 than that of the tenants. One owner had a minus labor income 
 of $2,057, while the tenants' greatest minus labor income was 
 $606. The average of the minus labor incomes of the owners 
 who lost money was' $577, while that of the 12 tenants with 
 minus labor incomes was but $216. This is to be expected 
 since the owners have more capital invested, and therefore 
 assume more risk. Poor management or improper organiza- 
 tion can lose most where most capital is involved. The tenants 
 lose less because they have less capital from which to lose. The 
 owners, on the other hand, make the highest labor incomes as 
 well as the greatest minus incomes. Of the 194 owners, 43, or 
 more than one-fifth, make over $1,500, while of the tenants, 
 23, or a trifle above one-seventh, have a labor income of $1,500 
 or above. Two tenants make labor incomes above $2,500, while 
 21 owners have labor incomes above $2,500. Of these two 
 tenants, one made $3,255 and the other $3,257. Both of these 
 were on cash-rented farms. The highest labor income made by 
 an owner was $10,343. Of the part owners one had a labor 
 income of $5,731. It is quite evident that the owners' have the 
 best opportunity to make large labor incomes, as well as run 
 the risk of losing the most money. The tenant's risk is not so 
 great, nor is his opportunity of making a large return for his 
 efforts so promising. The part owner stands midway between 
 the two in respect to making a large labor income as well as 
 risk of losing. The form of tenure does limit the possibilities of 
 making, as well as losing, money. A good farmer, with sufficient 
 capital, had far better be a farm owner. 
 
31 
 
 CAPITAL 
 
 Frequently capital is a limiting- factor in farming- operations. 
 The averag'e capital of the potato owner farms was $17,673, 
 that for the part owners $16,675 ^^^ the share tenants $3,409. 
 This includes land, stock, machinery and cash, everything used 
 to carry on the farm business. 
 
 RELATION OF CAPITAL TO TENURE AND LABOR INCOME 
 
 Table X. — Variation of Operators' Capita! on 363 Potato Farms in IVIon- 
 mouth County, New Jersey. 
 
 Operator's Capital. 
 
 No. of Per 
 
 Tenants.- 
 
 Part Owners. 
 
 $1,000 or less, . 
 
 1,001 to 2,000, 
 
 2,001 to 
 
 3,001 to 
 
 4,001 to 
 
 5,001 to 
 
 7.001 to 10,000, 
 10,001 to 15,000, 
 15,001 to 20,000, 
 
 3,000, 
 4,000, 
 5,000, 
 7,000, 
 
 5 
 5 
 11 
 21 
 46 
 43 
 
 20,001 to 30,000 43 
 
 30,001 and over 20 
 
 No. of Per No. of Per 
 
 Farms. Cent. Farms. Cent. Farms. Cent. 
 
 2.6 
 2.6 
 5.7 
 10.8 
 23.6 
 22.2 
 22.2 
 10.3 
 
 4 
 18 
 38 
 43 
 34 
 12 
 
 2.6 
 12.1 
 25.3 
 28.6 
 22.7 
 
 8.7 
 
 3 15 
 
 8 40 
 
 4 20 
 4 20 
 
 The amount of capital required to do a successful business on 
 these farms is hig-h. The fact that so few of the owners have 
 less than $10,000 would indicate its importance on these potato 
 farms. These farms would be classed among the most highly 
 capitalized of those in the State of New Jersey as well as in the 
 Middle Atlantic States. So, too, is the tenants' capital hig-h. 
 When we consider that very little live stock is kept by the tenant 
 except for labor and family use it would appear almost exc^sive, 
 but such does not prove to be the case as will be shown later in 
 Table XII. 
 
 Table XI. — Relation of Operators' Capital to Labor Income on 363 Potato 
 Farms in Monmouth County, New Jersey. 
 
 
 , Owners. > 
 
 , Tenants > 
 
 , Pad 
 
 Owners. — 
 
 Capital Invested 
 
 No. of 
 
 I.aljor 
 
 No. of 
 
 Labor 
 
 No. of 
 
 Labor 
 
 Per Farm. 
 
 Farms. 
 
 Income, 
 
 Farms. 
 
 Income. 
 
 Farms. 
 
 Income 
 
 $1,000 or less 
 
 
 
 4 
 
 $470 
 
 
 
 1,001 to 2.000, ... 
 
 
 
 18 
 
 447 
 
 i 
 
 $2,162 
 
 2,001 to 3.000. ... 
 
 
 
 38 
 
 567 
 
 
 
 3,001 to 4.000, ... 
 
 5 
 
 $65 
 
 43 
 
 886 
 
 
 
 4.001 to 5,000, ... 
 
 5 
 
 118 
 
 34 
 
 853 
 
 
 
 5.001 to 7,000, ... 
 
 11 
 
 320 
 
 12 
 
 1,079 
 
 
 
 7,001 to 10,000, ... 
 
 21 
 
 374 
 
 
 
 3 
 
 lis 
 
 10,001 to 15,000, ... 
 
 46 
 
 607 
 
 
 
 8 
 
 916 
 
 15,001 to 20,000, . . . 
 
 43 
 
 856 
 
 
 
 4 
 
 1,736 
 
 20,001 to 30.000, ... 
 
 43 
 
 1,774 
 
 
 
 4 
 
 919 
 
 30,001 and over, . . . 
 
 20 
 
 1,250 
 
 
 
 
 
32 
 
 On most of these potato fanns the opportunity of making- a 
 satisfactory labor income with less than $10,000 would appear 
 small. None of the tenants have an investment over $7,000, yet 
 these tenants who have between $5,000 and $7,oookmake an aver- 
 age of $1,079 labor income, while the owners with the same in- 
 vestment make a labor income of only $320, a difference of $759 
 in favor of the tenants. Over one-hfth of all the owners have 
 too little capital upon which to do efficient business. Apparently, 
 there is a tendency for some men to change from tenants to 
 owners too quickly. They might better remain tenants until they 
 are able to command a larger capital with which to do business. 
 The tenants' capital is likewise important, and it would appear 
 that a tenant should have about $2,500 before he starts as a share 
 or cash tenant and still better $5,000 to $7,000. A young man 
 starting out tO' earn a farm in this region had best start as a 
 labor-share tenant, then change to cash or share tenant, and last 
 to owner. Usually tenants can obtain some borrowed capital 
 upon which to start, so that these conditions are not as severe 
 on a young man just starting out to farm, as the figures would 
 indicate. Again, many of these tenants are sons or relatives of 
 the landlord, who is ready to furnish capital to such a tenant. 
 A young man reputed for integrity and thrift, can usually obtain 
 credit when the money is wanted for a worthy investment. If 
 we compare the tenants' capital on these potato farms with that 
 of the tenants in Chester County, Pennsylvania,^ a reg-ion O'f 
 dairy and general farming, or with that of the tenants in Iowa, 
 Illinois and Indiana,^ a region of live stock and general farming, 
 we find the Monmouth County potato tenants' capital consider- 
 ably higher. When we consider that these farms have a large 
 investment of working capital, and that most of this working 
 capital is in the form of v\^ork horses, machinery and cash to 
 carry on the farm, business, it would appear that they are quite 
 efficiently equipped. That the landlords are the source of 
 much of the capital needed by tenants is shown by the average 
 capital of share and cash tenants. The share tenants have an aver- 
 age investment of $3,409, while the cash tenants have only $3,0'5O. 
 This is contrary to what is found in most areas, for usually the 
 cash tenants require and have a greater amount of capital than 
 the share tenants. In the potato region this may be influenced 
 by several factors. First, the landlords of the cash tenants 
 would not be as much inclined to finance their tenants. Second, 
 the amounts of equipment, stock and machinery for cash and 
 
 'U. S. Dept. Agr. Bui. 341. 
 'U. S. Dept. Agr. Bui. 41. 
 
33 
 
 for share tenants are not very different. In many localities the 
 share tenant owns only half of the cows and pigs, but here the 
 tenants usually own all the stock and ecjuipment, as in the case of 
 the cash tenants. These are influencing" factors which would 
 have a tendency to equalize more nearly the tenants' investment 
 on the cash and share-rented farms. 
 
 Table XII. — Relation of Tenants' and Landlords' Capital on 149 Potato 
 
 Farms Operated by Tenants in Monmoutin County, New Jersey, 
 
 and the Tenants' Labor Income. 
 
 
 
 
 Landlords' 
 
 
 Tenants' 
 
 Per Cent. 
 
 
 Tenants' 
 
 Landlords' 
 
 and Ten- 
 
 
 Average 
 
 Capital 
 
 Tenants' 
 
 Average 
 
 Average 
 
 ants' Total 
 
 No. of 
 
 Labor 
 
 Furnished 
 
 Capital. 
 
 per Farm, 
 
 per Farm. 
 
 jier Farm. 
 
 Farms. 
 
 Income. 
 
 iby Landlord, 
 
 $1,000 or less, . . 
 
 $785 
 
 $5,S25 
 
 $6,710 
 
 4 
 
 $470 
 
 86.8 
 
 1,001 to 2,000,.. 
 
 1,624 
 
 9,498 
 
 11,122 
 
 IS 
 
 447 
 
 So. 3 
 
 2,001 to 3,000,.. 
 
 2,583 
 
 14,353 
 
 16,936 
 
 38 
 
 567 
 
 84.7 
 
 3,001 to 4,000,.. 
 
 3,416 
 
 20,901 
 
 24,317 
 
 43 
 
 886 
 
 85.9 
 
 4,001 to 5,000,.. 
 
 4,442 
 
 21,250 
 
 25,692 
 
 34 
 
 853 
 
 82.7 
 
 ^,001 to 7,000, . . 
 Average, 
 
 5,764 
 
 23,828 
 
 29,593 
 
 12 
 
 1,121 
 
 80.5 
 
 3,340 
 
 17,767 
 
 21,107 
 
 149 
 
 753 
 
 84.2 
 
 The landlords' capital does not increase as uniformly with that 
 of the tenants, as might be expected. It would appear that the 
 capital of the tenants and that of the landlords do not always 
 have the proper relation, as the relative amount of capital fur- 
 nished by each varies. If the tenants' farms were grouped accord- 
 ing to the landlords' capital rather than that of the tenants , a 
 more uniform labor income increase could be obtained. A very 
 ^oticeable break in the tenants' labor income is observed in the 
 class of $4,442 compared with that of the $3,416 class. The 
 tenants of the former class, with a $i,0'26 increase in capital, 
 make $33 less labor income than those of the latter class. By 
 comparing the capital furnished by the landlord on these two 
 classes of farms, we find an increase in farm value of $349 only, 
 of the former over the latter. From this it would appear that 
 these tenants whO' have an investment of $4,442 do not farmi a 
 larger farm than those in the preceding class, or their increased 
 operating capital is not met by a corresponding increase on the 
 part of the landlords. This may account for the decrease rather 
 than an increase in their labor income, above that of the $3,416 
 class. The next class with an average investment of $5,719 
 make an increase of $584 above the $4,442 men. But their cor- 
 responding- landlords have an increase in capital of $1,514 or a 
 total farm increase of $2,791. This then brings the tenant a 
 marked return, for the landlord helps to furnish this increase in 
 capital. 
 
 3 ^x 
 
34 
 
 The averag-e per cent, of capital furnished by the landlord is 
 84.2. The landlords on the lower capitalized farms furnish 
 a somewhat greater proportion of the capital than those on the 
 hig'hly capitalized farms. However, the difference is not great. 
 Probably the difference which does exist is due tO' the higher farm 
 acre values of the lower capitalized farms. Comparing' the aver- 
 ag-e total capital used on the tenant farms with the total on the 
 owner farms, we find it to be $3,434 greater on the tenant farms. 
 In other words, the value of the real estate on the tenant farms 
 is almost as great as the real estate and working' capital of the 
 owners. Thus the tenant farms have almost one-fifth more 
 capital invested per farm than the owner farms. 
 
 Table XIII. — Relation of Capital to a Given Labor Income on 194 Potato 
 Farms Operated by Owners in Monmouth County, New Jersey. 
 
 
 f 
 
 
 
 Lato? Income, 
 
 
 
 ^%m 
 
 
 
 
 $1 
 
 $401 
 
 S701 
 
 $1,001 
 
 $1,501 
 
 $2,001 
 
 Total 
 
 No. of 
 
 Less 
 
 to 
 
 to 
 
 to 
 
 to 
 
 to 
 
 to 
 
 an^ 
 
 Capital. 
 
 Farms. 
 
 than $1. 
 
 $400. 
 
 $700. 
 
 $1,000, 
 
 $1,500. 
 
 $2,000. 
 
 $2,500. 
 
 Over, 
 
 >30,001 and over, . , 
 
 20 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 2 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 2 
 
 1 
 
 4 
 
 20,001 to 30,000, . , 
 
 43 
 
 6 
 
 4 
 
 4 
 
 2 
 
 9 
 
 1 
 
 4 
 
 13 
 
 15.001 to 20,000, . 
 
 43 
 
 7 
 
 3 
 
 S 
 
 6 
 
 11 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 2 
 
 10,001 to 15,000,.. 
 
 46 
 
 9 
 
 14 
 
 5 
 
 4 
 
 4 
 
 7 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 7,001 to 10,000,., 
 
 21 
 
 3 
 
 7 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 
 5,001 to 7,000,., 
 
 11 
 
 3 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 2 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 4,001 to 5,000,., 
 
 5 
 
 2 
 
 2 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 4,000 or less, . . , 
 
 5 
 
 3 
 
 1 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Percent, of Potato Owner Farms Making a Given Income with a Specified 
 
 Capital. 
 
 
 
 
 $1 
 
 Libor Income. 
 
 $401 $701 
 
 $1,001 
 
 $1,501 
 
 $2,001 
 
 $2,50^ 
 
 Total 
 
 No. of 
 
 Less 
 
 to 
 
 to 
 
 to 
 
 to 
 
 to 
 
 to 
 
 and 
 
 Capital. 
 
 Farms. 
 
 than $1. 
 
 $400. 
 
 $700. 
 
 $1,000, 
 
 $1,500. 
 
 $2,000. 
 
 $2,500. 
 
 Over. 
 
 $30,001 and over, . 
 
 20 
 
 15.0 
 
 15.0 
 
 10.0 
 
 10.0 
 
 15.0 
 
 10.0 
 
 5.0 
 
 20.0 
 
 20,001 to30,0CO,.. 
 
 . 43 
 
 13.9 
 
 9.S 
 
 9.3 
 
 4.6 
 
 20.0 
 
 2.3 
 
 9.8 
 
 30.3 
 
 15.001 to 20,000,.. 
 
 . 43 
 
 16.2 
 
 6.9 
 
 IS. 6 
 
 13.9 
 
 25.5 
 
 61.9 
 
 6.9 
 
 4.6 
 
 10,001 to 15,000,.. 
 
 46 
 
 19.5 
 
 31.7 
 
 10.6 
 
 s.e 
 
 S.6 
 
 15.2 
 
 2.1 
 
 4.1 
 
 7,001 to 10.000,.. 
 
 21 
 
 14.2 
 
 33.2 
 
 19.1 
 
 23.4 
 
 9.6 
 
 
 
 
 5,001 to 7,000,.. 
 
 11 
 
 27.2 
 
 IS.l 
 
 27.2 
 
 IS.l 
 
 9.1 
 
 
 
 
 4,001 to 5,000, . . 
 
 5 
 
 40.0 
 
 40.0 
 
 
 20.0 
 
 
 
 
 
 4,000 or less 
 
 5 
 
 60.0 
 
 20.0 
 
 20.0 
 
 
 
 
 
 ... 
 
 This shows a marked relation between capital and the possi- 
 bility of making a given labor income. Oi the five farmers whO' 
 had a capital of $3,000 to $4,000, one made a labor income as 
 high as $551. O'f the five who had $4,000 to $5,000, one ma,de 
 $762 by selling his crop in Asbury Park, while four made less 
 than $400 labor income on these potato farms. Of the 21 farm- 
 ers who had a capital of $7,000 to $10,000, two got a return of a 
 little over $1,000 labor income, seven got over $700 labor income, 
 while 1 1 got over $400' or more than the hired men receive. Thus 
 these data indicate that an owner who has between $7,000 and 
 
35 
 
 $io,ooo capital has about one chance out of two' in making- 
 more than $400 in this region and two chances out of twenty- 
 one to make over $1,000. The groupi of farmers who have 
 the largest number and proportion of their number making 
 hig-h labor incomes we find in the class O'f those with a capital 
 between $20,000 and $30,000. Out of a total of 43^ farms, 13 
 or almost one-third make a labor income over $2,500, while three 
 out of five make over $1,000 labor income. This appears to be 
 the most efficiently capitalized farm. A coirimunity of farms, 
 all of which are as efficiently equipped as these, would certainly 
 need no rural uplift movement. Such a locality would have 
 good roads, schools, churches, libraries, and modern homes. 
 There would be nO' farm labor problem, and the farmer's son 
 and daughter would gladly stay on the farm. Such conditions 
 are approaching the ideal, and only a few can hope to reach them. 
 However, they serve as a guide toward development of the 
 farm and the amount of capital that is moiSt profitable tO' invest. 
 Just how this capital should be invested, whether in land, build- 
 ings or stock, will be shown la.ter. A farm owner should have at 
 least $10,000 to invest, and should he be just starting, he had 
 far better borrow $10,0001 more and invest $20,000. From these 
 results a $10,000 mortgage would be far easier to pay off on a 
 $20,000 farm than a $5,000 mortgage on a $10,0001 farm. To 
 anyone who' is considering the purchase of a farm this is of much 
 importance. Above $30,0001 capital, the average labor income 
 as well as the opportunity of making a high labor income de- 
 creases. These twenty farms it is quite evident are too highly 
 capitalized. While these farms are conducted for profit, the same 
 as those in the class of $20,000 to $30,000 capital, they are 
 equipped with costly dwellings, barns and improvements which 
 bring no return. However, they are not owned by so-called 
 gentlemen farmers, but by men who raise productive crops. It 
 is merely the investment in improvements that brings no farm 
 income, such as a $7,000 house and others of like nature. 
 
36 
 
 $300 $4001 $5001 • $7001 $10001 $15001 $20001 $30001 
 
 to to to to to to to and 
 
 4000 5000 7000 10000 15000 20000 30000 over 
 
 CAPIT.'J. IirVESTED F3R FARtI 
 
 Fig. 19. — Relation of Capital to Labor Income on 194 Farms Operated by 
 Owners in Monmouth County, New Jersey. 
 
Z7 
 
 Table XIV. — Relation of Capital to a Given Labor Income on 149 Potato 
 Farms Operated by Tenants in IVIonmouth County, New Jersey. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 i.fol 
 
 
 
 
 $1 
 
 $401 
 
 $701 
 
 $1,001 
 
 $1,501 
 
 $2,001 
 
 J2;4a«- 
 
 Tenants' 
 
 No. of 
 
 Less 
 
 to 
 
 to 
 
 to 
 
 to 
 
 to 
 
 to 
 
 and 
 
 Capital. 
 
 Farms. 
 
 than $1. 
 
 $400. 
 
 $700. 
 
 $1,000. 
 
 $1,500. 
 
 $2,000. 
 
 $2,500. 
 
 Over. 
 
 $1,000 or less, . . . 
 
 4 
 
 
 2 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 1,001 to 2,0<X>, . 
 
 18 
 
 2 
 
 6 
 
 4 
 
 4 
 
 1 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 2,001 to 3,000, . 
 
 38 
 
 2 
 
 11 
 
 15 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 3,001 to 4,000, . 
 
 43 
 
 4 
 
 11 
 
 5 
 
 5 
 
 S 
 
 4 
 
 6 
 
 
 4,001 to 5,000, . 
 
 34 
 
 3 
 
 6 
 
 7 
 
 e 
 
 7 
 
 2 
 
 2 
 
 i 
 
 5,001 to 7,000, . 
 
 12 
 
 1 
 
 3 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 1 
 
 Per Cent, of Tenant Potato Farms Making a Given Income with a 
 
 fied Capital. 
 
 Speci- 
 
 
 
 
 $1 
 
 $401 
 
 $701 
 
 $1,001 
 
 $1,501 
 
 $2,001 
 
 ^m- 
 
 Tenants' 
 
 No. of 
 
 Less 
 
 to_ 
 
 to 
 
 to 
 
 to 
 
 to 
 
 to 
 
 and 
 
 Capital. 
 
 Farms. 
 
 than $1. 
 
 $400. 
 
 $700. 
 
 $1,000. 
 
 $1,500. 
 
 $2,000. 
 
 $2,500. 
 
 Over. 
 
 :$1,000 or less, . .. 
 
 4 
 
 
 50.0 
 
 25.0 
 
 25.0 
 
 
 
 
 
 1,001 to 2,000, . . . 
 
 18 
 
 il.l 
 
 33.3 
 
 22.2 
 
 22.2 
 
 5.5 
 
 '5'. 5 
 
 
 
 2,001 to 3,000, . . . 
 
 38 
 
 5.2 
 
 28.9 
 
 39.4 
 
 7.S 
 
 10.5 
 
 7.8 
 
 
 
 3,001 to 4,000, . . . 
 
 43 
 
 9.3 
 
 25.5 
 
 11.5 
 
 11.5 
 
 18.0 
 
 9.3 
 
 13.9 
 
 
 4,001 to 5,000, . . . 
 
 34 
 
 8.8 
 
 17.6 
 
 20.6 
 
 17.6 
 
 20.6 
 
 5.8 
 
 5.8 
 
 2^9 
 
 5,001 to 7,000, . . . 
 
 12 
 
 8.3 
 
 25.0 
 
 8.5 
 
 16.6 
 
 S.3 
 
 8.4 
 
 16.6 
 
 8.4 
 
 This shows the same relation for distribution of lal3or incomes 
 to a given amount of capital as in the case of the owners. As 
 long" as the tenant does not have sufficient capital to operate a 
 fair-sized business, he had better rent as a labor-share tenant 
 v/here the landlord furnishes all the capital, or work as a hired 
 man. From these data it appears that the tenant should not have 
 less than $2,000 before he can hope to do much better than the 
 hired man. Five to seven thousand dollars is far more desirable, 
 and would appear to give a tenant a good opportunity of making 
 a good labor income for his 3^ear's work. While this is a large 
 amount of capital for a tenant to invest, the returns fully war- 
 rant the investment. If the tenant is of good character and a 
 good farmer he usually can get considerable capital from the 
 landlord to finance his business. When the tenants as a class 
 make an average of $753 labor income, they have prosperous 
 conditions and an opportunity tO' save money with which to pur- 
 chase a farm later. The twelve tenants who have a capital be- 
 tween $5,000 and $7,000 made an average labor income of 
 $1,079, while five of the twelve made over $1,000. Over one- 
 third of those who had a capital between $4,000 and $5,oo0' made 
 a labor income of $1 ,000 or more. Thus a tenant farmer should 
 have not less than $2,ooO' capital, and much better $5,000 to 
 S7,ooo capital invested in his business. This class would compare 
 favorably with the owner who' has between $20,000 and $30,000 
 invested. 
 
38 
 
 Table XV. — Return for Each $1,000 Capital invested on 194 Potato Farms 
 Operated by Owners in Monmouth County, New Jersey. 
 
 Return Labor Income Per Cent. 
 No. of per $1,000 per $1,000 Returned on 
 Capital. Farms. Investment. Investment. Investment. 
 
 Loss, 
 
 $3,000 to .$4,000 5 .$33 $17 3.3 
 
 Gain. 
 
 4,001 to .5,000, 5 76 26 7.6 
 
 .=5,001 to 7,<X10 11 103 53 10.3 
 
 7,001 to 10,000 21 94 44 9.4 
 
 10,001 to 1.5,000 4G 98 48 9.8 
 
 15.001 to 20,000, : 43 99 49 9.9 
 
 20,001 to 30,000 43 121 71 12.1 
 
 30,001 and over, .^r . 7 20 85 35 8.5 
 
 The labor income for the owners who have a capital between 
 $20,000 and $30,000 is not only greater for these farms, but is 
 likewise greater per $i,ooo invested in the farm. When we can 
 find a capital that returns a greater net profit to the farmer and at 
 the same time gives a greater return per $i,ooo invested, it is 
 illustrated very clearly that this amount of capital will provide 
 for the most efficient farm unit. A farm income of $121 per 
 year for each $1,000 invested in a business is a very satisfactory 
 investment. If we deduct $50 for interest at 5 per cent, we have 
 left $71 per $1,000 which represents the labor income per $1,000 
 for the operator's efforts and management. When farms as a 
 class make an average return such as these $20,000 to $30,000 
 farms, certainly a very efficient and highly desirable business 
 is. provided for. We must conclude from this that $2o,o0o to 
 $30,000 will provide for the most efficient potatO' farm in this, 
 region, and give the greatest opportunity for the farmer to make 
 a larg-e labor income. 
 
 DISTRIBUTION OF CAPITAL ON THE FARM. 
 
 Table XVI. — Distribution of Capital on 194 Potato Farms Operated by 
 Owners in Monmouth County, New Jersey. 
 
 Per Cent, 
 of Total 
 Investment Investment Investment 
 Form of Investment, in 194 Farms, per Farm. per Farm, 
 
 Real Estate, $2,744,210 $14,145 80.0 
 
 Live Stock 270.4.55 1,.394 7.9 
 
 Machinery and Tools 164, .320 847 4.8 
 
 Feed, 75,686 390 2.2 
 
 Cash, 174,195 897 5.1 
 
 Total $3,428,866 $17,673 lOO.OO 
 
 The proportion of investment in land is not exceptionally high 
 in this region if we compare it with that of other regions in the 
 United States where similar surveys have been made. However. 
 
39 
 
 the proportioin invested in real estate is somewhat higher than 
 that found in Chester County, Pennsylvania/ and that in Tomp- 
 kins County, New York,^ but not as high as Indiana, Iowa and 
 Illinois.^ When we consider that these potato farms possess 
 very little live stock, except w^ork horses and a few cows, pigs 
 and chickens, much of which is largely for family use, we 
 must admit that the proportion of investment in stock is high. 
 This investment in live stock is largely in work horses, since 
 each farm has an average of about 5^ work horses, with an 
 average value of $1/5 per horse, or almost $1,000 invested for 
 work horses per farm. The work animals represent 5.2 per cent, 
 of the total farm^ investment, allowing only 2.7 per cent, for 
 productive live stock, as cO'W's7' chickens, etc. An average farm 
 value of $175 for farm work horses indicates a good grade of 
 work stock. Potato- farming requires a large amount of hauling, 
 while heavy "draught implements, such as the potato diggers, are 
 used in the field. This calls for horses of a high grade, that can 
 be efficiently used for hauling on the road and heavy operations 
 in the field. In their field operations these potato farmers plow 
 and cultivate deeply, another process which requires good work 
 animals. 
 
 The investment of $847 for machiner)^ per farm is highest for 
 any region yet surveyed, but the proportion of investment in 
 machinery is not as high as that in many other localities. It 
 may appear higli, especially when we are considering a special- 
 ized farm, which should not require such an extensive number 
 of different machines and implements. Much of this high in- 
 vestment is found in potato diggers, planters, sprayers and 
 wagons for hauling- the crop. Thus the equipment necessary to 
 care for the potato^ crop, when we include all the tillage imple- 
 ments with the other articles mentioned, is large. In addition to 
 this each farmer usually raises hay, corn and small grain, so 
 that he has nearly all the required machinery for general farm- 
 ing, and has, in addition, the machinery needed for the potato' 
 crop. This type of farming demands efficient equipment. The 
 large potato diggers are not onl}^ heavy of draught, but require 
 much repair if not in good condition. Poor equipment may 
 cause a fatal delay in harvesting the potato crop. Thus the large 
 amount of equipment necessary to handle the potato crop makes 
 a large investment in machinery necessary. The amount of cash 
 
 ' U. S. Dept. Agr. Bui. No. 341. 
 
 = U. S. Dept. Agr. Bui. No. 41. 
 
 ' N. Y. Agr. Exp. Sta. Cornell Bui. No. 295. 
 
40 » 
 
 necessary to operate these farms successfully is large, as one 
 would expect. In the spring a large outlay must be made in potato 
 seed, fertilizer, and labor for the season. The return on these 
 investments is not obtained until the crop is harA^ested; so the 
 farmer has the major portion of his income for his year's work 
 in the season when potatoes are harvested. The rest of the year 
 he must finance his operation from money made on the previous 
 potato crop or on borrowed capital. 
 
 Table XVII. — Distribution of Tenants' Capital on Potato Farms Operated 
 by Tenants in Monmouth County, New Jersey. 
 
 , 132 Share Tenants — — , , 15 Cash Tenants. , 
 
 Investment Investment 
 
 Form of Investment. Per Farm, Per Cent. Per Farm. Per Cent. 
 
 Keal Estate .... 
 
 Stock- ?1,548 46.0 $1,449 50.0 
 
 Machir.ciy and Tools, 799 23.7 698 20.0 
 
 Feed and Supplies, 337 10.0 826 10.0 
 
 Cash 685 20.3 613 20.0 
 
 Total $3,369 100.0 $3,085 100.0 
 
 Both share and cash tenants have a greater investment in live 
 stock than the owners,, but they have a smaller investment in 
 machinery, tools, feed, supplies and cash. Inasmuch as the land- 
 lord must pay for one-half of the fertilizer and potato seed, we 
 would not expect the tenant to have as much cash on hand. 
 Further, he appears to invest less in implements and machinery. 
 It is quite likely that the tenant has a smaller investment in 
 machinery, since the tenants as a class have not been farming 
 as long as the owners, and consequently they have not accumu- 
 lated so larg-e an amount. It is not uncommon to' find a farm 
 equipped with more machinery than is sometimes economical. 
 
 The average investment per farm, when the landlord's capital 
 is included with that of the tenants, is $21,107. f'or the 
 owner farms the total farm capital is but $17,673. This gives 
 the tenant farms an increased capital of 19.5 per cent., or almost 
 one-fifth above the owner farms. The tenant farms are thus 
 more heavily capitalized, but the average is within the most 
 efficiently capitalized class of owner farms, where between 
 $20,000 and $30,000 capital is invested. It is also significant 
 that the tenant farms, though having a greater average capital 
 than the owners, have not reached the point of over-capitaliza- 
 tion. The twelve highest capitalized tenant farms having an 
 average capital of $29,593 are the most profitable. The tenant 
 farms, as a class, are more efficient than those of the owners. 
 But it is essential that they be so, otherwise they would be unable 
 to support two families, or allow the landlord who previously 
 
41 
 
 operated the farm, to accumulate sufficient so that he could move 
 to town. 
 
 INCREASE IN FARM LAND AND B.UILDING VALUES 
 
 Before finishing the comparison of owner and tenant farms, 
 mention should be made of the increase in land values which 
 is not shown in the labor income of the owner farms or in the 
 per cent, received by the landlord on his investment. 
 
 Table XVIII. — Increase of Land Values as Shown by the United States 
 
 Census, for 1910. 
 
 ,— Value Per Acre— > , Increase > 
 
 Locality. 1900. 1910. Amount. Per Cent. 
 
 United States $19.81 $39.60 $19.79 100.0 
 
 New Jersey 57.2.3 84.36 27. la 47.-0 
 
 Monmouth County 73.93 122.53 49.40 65.0 
 
 This is a factor which is not to be overlooked. Farm values 
 in the State are increasing rapidly so that the landlords realize 
 a fair per cent, on their investment if they get no cash return 
 from their farms. While this is not true in every individual 
 case, for the State as a whole it is applicable. 
 
 RELATION OF CAPITAL TO RETURN ON THE INVESTMENT 
 
 Table XIX. — Return for Each $1,000 Capital Invested on 184 Potato Farms 
 
 in Monmouth County, New Jersey, Operated by Owners, When 
 
 Increases of Land Values are included. 
 
 No. of 
 
 Capital. Farms. 
 
 .$3,C0O to $4,000 5 
 
 4,001 to 5,000, 5 
 
 5,001 to 7,000, 11 
 
 7,001 to 10,000, 21 
 
 10.001 to 15,000, 46 
 
 15,001 to 20,000 43 
 
 20,001 to 30,000, 43 
 
 30,001 and over, 20 
 
 This makes a very high return to the owners, but the correct 
 amount of increase for the individual farm is very difficult to 
 obtain, and such data can be handled only collectively. This 
 would make an average return to the owners of 16.17 per cent, 
 if we estimate their increase of farm acre value to be the same 
 as that in Monmouth County between 1900-19 10. Since 19 10 
 the rate of increase has, apparently, not been lowered; so 6.5 
 per cent, a year would not be too high. 
 
 
 Increase in 
 
 
 Cash 
 
 Farm Value 
 
 Total Returns 
 
 Return 
 
 for Countv 
 
 or Per Cent, on 
 
 Per Cent. 
 
 1900 to 1910, 
 
 Investment. 
 
 3.3 
 
 6.5 
 
 9.8 
 
 7.6 
 
 6.5 
 
 14.1 
 
 10.3 
 
 6.5 
 
 16.8 
 
 9.4 
 
 6.5 
 
 15.9 
 
 9.8 
 
 6.0 
 
 16.3 
 
 9.9 
 
 6.5 
 
 16.4 
 
 12.1 
 
 6.5 
 
 18.6 
 
 8.5 
 
 6.5 
 
 15.0 
 
42 
 
 Table XX. — Return to the Landlord on Farms Occupied by Tenant When 
 Increase of Land Values is Added to bi'f Cash Return. 
 
 Per Cent. Cash Per Cent. 
 
 " Tenants' Return to Increase of Per Cent. 
 
 Labor Landlord on Land Values. Total Return 
 
 Tenure. Income. Investment. 1900 to 1910. for Landlord. 
 
 Share Tonant, $739 8.3 6.5 14.8 
 
 Cash Tenant 93S 3.0 6..5 8.5 
 
 Labor-Share Tenant 726 9.5 6.5 16.0 
 
 The landlord and owner alone share in the increase of land 
 values. This is a factor which the tenant must recognize. As 
 soon as possible it is well for a tenant to purchase in a region 
 where land values are increasing in order to get the benefit of 
 this increase. It, too, makes a far more attractive investment 
 for the landlord. Even though these landlords get no cash 
 return from their tenant farms, they get over 6 per cent, for 
 their investment on increase of land values alone. Such condi- 
 tions cannot continue indefinitely and therefore should not be 
 considered as a positive return for an indefinite period. However, 
 present indications do show a very prosperous condition in this 
 community. Evident^, the farmer is at last getting his share 
 of prosperity. Localities such as this, where tenants make an 
 average labor income of $753, and owners $917, where landlords 
 get 7.8 per cent, cash return on their money invested, and where 
 land values are increasing at the rate of 6^ per cent, a year, 
 are not frequently encountered in the United States. 
 
 SIZE OF BUSINESS 
 
 The average-sized farm in New Jersey is 76.9 acres, that of 
 Monmouth County 70.3 acres, while the average size of the 
 potato-owners' farms, included in this survey, is 98.3 acres, of 
 which 73 acres are actually in crops. The tenant farms have a 
 total of 123.6 acres per farm, of which 86.7 are crop acres. 
 The 370 potato farms, taken as a group, have an average of 109.4 
 total acreage per farm, O'f which 79.2 were in actual crops. 
 
 RELATION OF SIZE TO LABOR INCOME 
 
 Since the major portion of receipts from these farms is derived 
 directly from the crops grown, the number of acres in the farm 
 is a good measure of the size of a farmer's business. Practically 
 all farms have a certain part of the area which is either per- 
 manently or temiporarily not cropped. Therefore, a more true 
 measure is the crop acreage rather than the farm acreage. A 
 
43 
 
 man may have a farm area of 150 acres but crop only 100, while 
 his neighbor may have no acres and crop 100. Some farms 
 have a large proportion in waste, snch as roads, banks, cuts and 
 fences. Though the amount is fairly uniform in some localities, 
 it was found to vary considerably on these potato farms, due 
 probably to the great variation in soil types. Throughout this 
 publication, the size of fann is, therefore, measured in terms of 
 
 labor 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 Income 
 
 f-^, 
 
 
 
 #2600 
 
 
 
 
 . 
 
 2400 
 
 
 
 
 X 
 
 2200 
 
 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 2000 
 
 
 
 
 
 1800 
 
 
 
 
 
 1600 
 
 
 O'TOTERS ^^ 
 
 
 
 1400 
 
 
 ^^ 
 
 
 ^.--^^ 
 
 1200 
 
 
 / TEITAIITS ^^-^ 
 
 
 
 1000 
 
 
 / y^ 
 
 
 
 800 
 
 
 / y^^^ 
 
 
 
 600 
 
 
 y^,"-'''^^''^^ 
 
 
 
 400 
 
 __-,^ 
 
 ^y^^^^^ 
 
 
 
 ■■soo 
 
 ^-^ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 170 
 
 
 20 
 
 50 80 110 
 
 140 
 
 
 CROP ACHES PER FAHM 
 
 
 
 Fig. 20. — Relation of Labor Income to Number of Crop Acres per Farm 
 on 343 Potato Farms in iVlonmoutln County, New Jersey. 
 
 crop acres. For any who are considering the purchase of a farm 
 in such a locality, the number of crop acres is more important 
 than the total farm area. In a dairy or live stock region, this 
 would not necessarily be true. Again, in a region of live stock 
 and grain farming, the size or amount of the farm business 
 depends also upon the amount of live stock kept. 
 

 
 Average 
 
 
 Per Cent. 
 
 of 
 
 Number of 
 
 Labor 
 
 Total NumTjer 
 
 Crop Acres. 
 
 Income. 
 
 10 
 
 
 22.6 
 
 $163 
 
 IS 
 
 
 41.5 
 
 329 
 
 28 
 
 
 64.7 
 
 702 
 
 27 
 
 
 S6.8 
 
 1,239 
 
 14 
 
 
 118.4 
 
 1,567 
 
 3 
 
 
 176.0 
 
 2,611 
 
 44 
 
 Table XXI. — Relation of Size of Farm to Labor Income on 194 Potato 
 Farms Operated by Owners in IVIonmouth County, New Jersey. 
 
 No. of 
 Crop Acres. Farms. 
 
 50 or less 20 
 
 31 to 50 35 
 
 51 to 75, 54 
 
 76 to 100 52 
 
 101 to 150, 27 
 
 151 and over, 6 
 
 The average return per farm, or labor income, increases 
 tiniformily with the increase in number of crop acres. It is 
 quite apparent that a farm of less than 50 crop acres is too small 
 for a satisfactory business on these farms. Out of the total 
 number of 194 owners' farms, 55, or over one-fourth, have too 
 small an area to allow a profitable business. An owner's farm 
 of less than 30 acres is entirely too small. Men on these farms 
 had better work as hired men or as tenants on a larger farm.. On 
 farms having between 76 to 100 crop acres, a very satisfactory 
 return is obtained, while on farms having over 151 crop acres, 
 with an average of 176 per farm, the highest return of all the 
 groups is obtained. 
 
 The average size of these owners' farms is 73 crop acres, or 
 98.3 farm acres. This is a large area, if compared with that of 
 other regions, when we consider that potato growing is an 
 intensive type of farming which requires m.uch labor per acre. 
 These farmers are thus afforded an opportunity to make a good 
 labor income. To a large extent, this is a very important factor 
 in the success of these farms. In other words, they afford these 
 farmers a larger business than is furnished for the average 
 farmer in the Middle Atlantic States. When these farms were 
 first settled, general farming, including stock raising, was the 
 common practice. But as the potato industry developed, general 
 farming and stock raising were replaced by potato growing. The 
 potato crop requires more labor and returns greater receipts per 
 acre. The farmers increased their business by adopting a more 
 intensive type of farming. This is a very good illustration of 
 a farm community increasing the amount of farm business, 
 through a more intensive as well as a more profitable type of 
 farming, by increasing the potato acreage. Taken as a class, not 
 •only are these farms sufficiently large to make a living for the 
 operator, but he is able to save some money after he has provided 
 for his family. 
 
45 
 
 Table XXII. — Relation of Size of Farm to Labor Income on 149 Potato 
 Farms Operated by Tenants in iVlonmouth County, New Jersey. 
 
 Owners' 
 
 Per Cent. Labor Income 
 
 No. of of Total Average Labor on Same 
 
 Crop Acres. Farms. Number. Crop Acres. Income. Sized Farms. 
 
 30 or less, 4 2.7 21.8 $346 .$1G3 
 
 31 to .50 12 8.1 41.1 462 329 
 
 51 to 75 33 22.1 63.9 555 702 
 
 76 to 100 62 41.7 87.9 698 1,239 
 
 101 to 150, .■ 33 22.1 118.1 1,099 1,567 
 
 151 and over 5 3.3 176.6 1,478 2,611 
 
 The same relation is shoAvn between size of farm and labor 
 income on the tenant farms as on the owner farms. However, 
 the extremes are not as great, as on the latter. The tenants on 
 small farms make more, while on large farms they make less, 
 than owners on areas of the same size. One reason for the 
 difference between the labor income of tenants and that of 
 owners on the small farms is that a few retired owners live on 
 small areas which they farm, but are not entirely dependent on 
 them for their living. Again, tenants on small farms do' more 
 work off the place in order to be more fully occupied. More- 
 over, there are not nearly as large a proportion of the tenants 
 who rent small farms as owners who live on- small farms. A 
 larger percentage of the tenants rent large farms. This fact is 
 another argument that the tenant realizes the value of getting 
 a good-sized acreage in order to obtain a good-sized business. 
 
 Table XXIII Relation of Size of Farm to Distribution of Labor Incomes 
 
 on 194 Potato Farms Operated by Owners in IVlonmoutli County, 
 New Jersey. 
 
 I ■ Labor Income, » 
 
 $1 $401 $701 $1,001 $1,501 $8,001 $2,501 
 
 No. of Less to to to to to to and 
 
 Crop Acres. Farms, than $1. $400. $700. $1,000. $1,500. $3,000. $2,500. Over. 
 
 .30 or less 20 8 4 4 3 1 
 
 31 to 50 35 10 10 5 4 "2 2 1 1 
 
 51 to 75, 54 9 13 8 6 7 7 1 3 
 
 76 to 100 52 S 3 5 5 15 3 5 8 
 
 101 to 150, 27 4 2 3 3 5 2 2 6 
 
 151 and over, 6 1 1 .. 1 ■• ■• 3 
 
 The Opportunities for making a good labor income are quite 
 limited on a small crop area. One man who had 30 crop acres, 
 and a labor income between $1,000 and $1,500, retailed his 
 potatoes, receiving $2.25 to $3.00 per barrel for his whole crop. 
 The three men who had less than thirty acres and made between 
 $700 to $1,000 likewise retailed their crop and got a high price 
 so as to give them a high return per acre and at the same time 
 give them a larger business. However, 8. or two-fifths, of these 
 men who had 30 acres or less lost money. It is quite noticea1)le 
 
46 
 
 that the proportion of men losing money decreases rapidly with 
 the increase on the size of the farms. This itself argues well 
 for the larger farms. The most desirable size appears to be 
 
 100 or more crop acres. However, a large size does not guaran- 
 tee a large labor income. But it does provide one very im- 
 portant factor usually necessary for making a good labor income. 
 Of the six men who had an average of 176.6 crop acres, 3, or 
 one-half, made labor incomes of over $2,500. Of the 27 who 
 had an average of 118 acres per farm, 15, or over one-half, 
 made labor incomes of $1,000 or more, while 8, or almost one- 
 third, made over $2,000. In this same group 4 men lost money. 
 Thus we see that while large size does not guarantee large re- 
 turns, it makes the possibilities far greater for obtaining them. 
 
 Table XXIV. — Relation of Size of Farms to Distribution of Labor Inconnes 
 
 on 149 Potato Farms Operated by Tenants in Monmouth County, 
 
 New Jersey. 
 
 ,. Labor Income, , 
 
 $1 $401 $701 $1,001 $1,501 $2,001 $2,501 
 
 No. of Less to to to to to to and 
 
 Crop Acres. Farms, than $1. $400. $700. $1,000, $1,500. $2,000. $2,500. Over. 
 
 30 or less -t . . o 1 
 
 .•31 to 50, 12 . . 7 2 1 1 1 
 
 51 to 7.5 33 4 9 9 5 5 1 
 
 76 to lOO 62 5 IS 15 6 9 4 5 
 
 101 to 150, 33 3 4 6 6 4 4 4 2 
 
 151 and over, .... 5 .. .. .. 1 2 1 1 
 
 In distribution, the tenant incomes are more bunched than 
 are those of the owners. There .is a smaller proportion losing 
 money as well as making large incomes. M'oreover, the num- 
 ber making large labor incomes increases as the area per farm 
 increases. The tenants who farm an average of 118.1 crop 
 acres have 14, or almost one-half, making labor incomes over 
 $1,000. Those with 176.6 crop acres have 4 out of 5 making 
 labor incomes of over $1,000, while those with 30 acres or less 
 have none making over $700. Tenants with 63.9 crop acres have 
 6 out of 33, or one-fifth, while those with 87.9 crop acres have 
 18 out of 62, or about one-third, who make $1,000 or more. 
 Farming differs from manufacturing industries in that much 
 space is required in order to carry on a satisfactory business. 
 Though the size of business can be increased by adopting a more 
 intensive type of farming or by increasing production, yet there 
 is a narrow limit to which this is applicable. These farmers, as 
 a class, have increased their farm business by increasing^ the 
 potato acreage and by increasing their potato production. Still 
 there are a considerable number who have too small areas for 
 carrying on a profitable business. 
 
47 
 
 RELATION OF SIZE OF FARM TO EFFICIENCY IN FARM 
 OPERATIONS. 
 
 The fact that large farms are more profitable than smaller 
 ones, is not due entirely to the magnitude or amount of business, 
 but there are other factors which enter into the operation of the 
 large farm that make it more profitable. The larger potato 
 grower does not only grow more potatoes from which he makes 
 a profit, but he very frecjuently grows them at less cost per 
 bushel than the small grower. There are a number of reasons 
 why this is true, one or all of which have a direct bearing upon 
 more economical production on the large farm. 
 
 Table XXV. — Relation of Number of Crop Acres to Labor Efficiency of 
 
 Men, Horses, and Machinery on 194 Potato Farms Operated 
 
 by Owners in Monmouth County, New Jersey. 
 
 Crop Acres 
 
 per $100 
 
 Worth of Work Units Work TTnits Crop Acres 
 
 Machinery, per Man. per Horse, per Farm. 
 
 6.7 161.1 65.4 22.6 
 
 6.5 175.5 73.4 41.5 
 
 8.0 218.6 86.0 64.7 
 
 8.5 221.7 87.8 86.8 
 
 11.1 227.6 94.8 118.4 
 
 12.0 292.7 102.0 176.0 
 
 As the size of the farnii increases, more productive work is 
 accomplished by man, horse and machinery labor. On the larger 
 farms one man cares for 2.4 crop acres to i acre on the smaller 
 farms. This means that the larger farms raise their crops at a 
 smaller acre cost or bushel cost than do the small farms. The 
 number of crop acres per horse on the small farms is 9.1, while 
 on the largest farms it is one horse for 17.2 crop acres. On 
 the large farms a horse will cultivate and care for almost twice 
 as many crop 'acres as on the small farms. 
 
 The machinery likewise is used more economically on the large 
 farms, since $100 worth of machinery wall care for 12 crop acres 
 while on the small farms it cares for 6.7 crop acres only. By 
 measuring this efficiency in the use of man, horse and machinery 
 labor in terms of man work units, which is a better and more true 
 measure, we find that a man actually accomplishes or raises 1.81 
 timies, or about twice, as many acres of potatoes and other crops 
 than does a man on a small farm. If a man on a large farm can 
 produce 181 bushels of potatoes for every 100 bushels he could 
 produce on the small farm by working the same number of days, 
 it is quite evident that the large farms are far more economical in 
 the use of man labor. The large farms afford more steady and 
 
 
 
 Crop 
 
 Crop 
 
 
 No, of 
 
 Acres 
 
 Acres 
 
 Crop Acres. 
 
 Farms. 
 
 per Man, 
 
 per Horse 
 
 30 or less, . 
 
 20 
 
 17. S 
 
 9.1 
 
 31 to 50. ... 
 
 35 
 
 19.8 
 
 10.7 
 
 51 to 75, ... 
 
 54 
 
 25.4 
 
 12.9 
 
 76 to 100, .. 
 
 52 
 
 27.7 
 
 14.7 
 
 101 to 150, . 
 
 27 
 
 32.6 
 
 16.3 
 
 151 and over. 
 
 6 
 
 42.2 
 
 17.2 
 
48 
 
 uniform work for their men employed, and at the same time 
 men can accomphsh more for the time spent at work. 
 
 CROP ACRES 
 
 CROP ACR^vS PDR MAN 
 
 80 110 
 CROP ACRES PER FAKA 
 
 140 
 
 170 
 
 Fig 21.— Relation of Number of Crop Acres to Labor Efficiency of Men, 
 
 Horses and iVlachinery on 194 Farms Operated by Owners 
 
 in iVIonmouth County, New Jersey. 
 
 When measuring the efficiency of horses by work units per 
 horse we find the same relation as for man labor ^hough the differ- 
 ence is not quite so great. For each acre of potatoes or other 
 crops produced by a horse on the small farm, 1.56 or i>4 times 
 as many acres, are produced on the larger farms. 
 
49 
 
 Table XXVI. — Relation of Crop Acres to Labor Efficiency of Man, Horse 
 and Machinery Labor on 149 Potato Farms Operated by Ten- 
 ants in Monmouth County, New Jersey. 
 
 Crop Acres 
 
 Crop Crop per $100 
 
 No. of Acres Acres Worth of Work TJnits Work Units 
 
 Crop Acres. Farms. per Man. per Horse. Machinery, per Man. per Horse. 
 
 30 or less, 4 15.6 S.7 5.7 152.8 62.3 
 
 31 to 50, 12 23.5 12.3 8.S 190.4 78.3 
 
 51 to 75, 33 20.5 12.4 9.4 241.7 78.6 
 
 76 to 100 62 31.0 15.7 10.4 226.8 90.2 
 
 101 to 150 33 33.5 16.5 11.7 248.7 93.5 
 
 151 and over 5 47.7 20.8 19.5 302.4 113.0 
 
 The same relation is shown for the tenants as for the owners. 
 Moreover the extremes are somewhat greater for the tenant than 
 for the owner farms. If the two extreme classes are eliminated 
 the difference between the tenant a'nd the owner farms is not 
 great. Therefore, we may conclude that the tenant's labor effi- 
 ciency is affected by si^e to as great a degree as that of the owner. 
 As a class the tenants are somewhat more efficient in the employ- 
 ment of man, horse and machinery labor, due in part to the fact 
 that their farms are to a certain extent larger. However, tenant 
 farms are somewhat more efficient than the owner farms. They 
 usually have a few more crop acres per man, horse and machine 
 labor. This is again shown when man work units are used as a 
 measure of work actually done. Monmouth County tenants have 
 actually raised more acres of potatoes and other crops per man 
 than the owners. This is not surprising since the tenant must 
 exert himself more in order to get a return sufficient for his 
 living than does the owner. When we consider, therefore, that 
 on the larger farms there is accomplished from i^ to 2 times 
 as much work per man, horse and $100 worth of machinery 
 employed, it is quite evident large farms should be making more 
 profitable returns to their owners than small farms. 
 
 RELATION OF SIZE OF FARM TO BUILDINGS 
 
 Whether large or small, a farm needs a dwelling for the family 
 to live in, and barns and sheds for farm operations. The small 
 farms should have a dwelling almost as large and as well equipped 
 as the large farm. Barns and other farm buildings vary in size 
 to accommodate the need of the individual farm. However, a 
 barn equally well equipped can be built so that the cost per horse 
 will be less when it is made to- accommodate 8 horses than if built 
 for 4 horses. More acres are farmed per horse on the large 
 farms, so that the proportionate acre expense for maintaining 
 buildings for horses is less on the large farm than on the small 
 4 EX 
 
farm. Money spent for buildings brings no cash return and 
 therefore it should be carefully invested. 
 
 Table XXVII. — Relation of Size of Farm to Buildings and Building Invest- 
 ment on 194 Potato Farms Operated by Owners in Monmouth 
 County, New Jersey. 
 
 
 
 Average 
 
 Per Cent. 
 
 
 Per Gent, of 
 
 
 Per Cent. 
 
 
 
 Value 
 
 of Total 
 
 Value 
 
 Total Farm 
 
 Value 
 
 of Total 
 
 
 No. of 
 
 of All 
 
 Real Estate 
 
 of 
 
 Real Estate 
 
 of 
 
 Real Estate 
 
 Crop Acres. 
 
 Farms. 
 
 Buildings. 
 
 Capital. 
 
 Dwelling, 
 
 Capital. 
 
 Barn. 
 
 Capital. 
 
 SO or less 
 
 20 
 
 $2,. 500 
 
 49. S 
 
 $1,655 
 
 33.0 
 
 $845 
 
 16.8 
 
 31 to 50, 
 
 35 
 
 3,766 
 
 43.4 
 
 2,229 
 
 25.7 
 
 1,537 
 
 17.7 
 
 51 to 75, 
 
 54 
 
 4,974 
 
 44.S 
 
 3,063 
 
 22.6 
 
 1,911 
 
 22.2 
 
 76 to lOO 
 
 52 
 
 5,613 
 
 34.4 
 
 3,128 
 
 18.9 
 
 2,485 
 
 15.5 
 
 101 to 150, .... 
 
 27 
 
 6,811 
 
 29.1 
 
 2,833 
 
 12.1 
 
 3,978 
 
 17.0 
 
 151 and over; . . 
 
 6 
 
 6,617 
 
 30.1 
 
 4,367 
 
 20.3 
 
 2,250 
 
 9.8 
 
 Of the total capital on the farm, that which is invested in 
 buildings amounts on the average to 35.2' per cent, of the total 
 farm investment. According to the 1910 census the building 
 i'nvestment for Monmouth County is 35.2 per cent, of the total 
 real estate value. For the large potato farms this proportion 
 amounts to 30 per cent., or about one-third, while for the small 
 farms it is 49 per cent., or about one-half of the total farm real 
 estate value. By examining the average values ot the buildings 
 on the small and on the large farms, it is apparent that while the 
 large farms have a smaller proportion of their capital invested 
 in buildings, yet they are far better equipped. The average value 
 of the dwellings on the small fanns is but $1,655, while that on 
 the large farms is $4,367. This means the farmers on large 
 areas are more comfortably housed at a smaller proportionate 
 expense. The same relation is true of the barn and sheds, but 
 to a lesser degree, since, although a large farm requires more 
 barn and shed capacity, this is obtained at a smaller relative cost 
 than on the small farms. 
 
 Table XXVIII. — Relation of Size of Farm to Buildings and Building Invest- 
 ment on 149 Farms Operated by Tenants in Monmouth County, 
 New Jersey. 
 
 Per Cent. 
 Value of Total 
 of Real Estate 
 Crop Acres. Farms. Buildings. Capital. Dwelling. Capital. Barn. Capital. 
 
 30 or less, 4 $1,950 41.5 $1,375 .28.9 $575 12.6 
 
 31 to 50, 12 2,890 37.8 1,750 22.9 1,140 14.9 
 
 51 to 75 33 4,130 30.5 2,448 18.0 1,682 12.5 
 
 76 to 100 62 5,912 32.4 * 3,538 13.9 2,374 18.5 
 
 101 to 150, 33 6,091 26.1 3,106 13.3 2,985 12.8 
 
 151 and over, ... 5 9,300 30.0 4,000 14.1 4,300 15.9 
 
 The same relation exists for the tenant farms, but to a less 
 marked degree. The average building investment for the tenant 
 
 Average 
 
 Per Cent. 
 
 
 Per Cent, of 
 
 Value 
 
 of Total 
 
 Value 
 
 Total 
 
 of All 
 
 Real Estate 
 
 of 
 
 Real Estate 
 
 Buildings. 
 
 Capital. 
 
 Dwelling. 
 
 Capital. 
 
 $1,950 
 
 41.5 
 
 $1,375 
 
 ,28.9 
 
 2,890 
 
 37.8 
 
 1,750 
 
 22.9 
 
 4,130 
 
 30.5 
 
 2,448 
 
 18.0 
 
 5,912 
 
 32.4 
 
 • 3,538 
 
 13.9 
 
 6,091 
 
 26.1 
 
 3,106 
 
 13.3 
 
51 
 
 farms is 30.8 per cent., or somewhat less than the building invest- 
 ment on owner farms. The average investment on the owner 
 farms for dwellings is $2,932, and bams $2,046, while on the 
 tenant farms it is $3,0114 for dwellings and $2,340' for barns. The 
 dwelling investment is relatively higher on the owner farms 
 while the barn investment is higher on the tenant famis when 
 considered from the standpoint of total real estate value. Natur- 
 ally landlords would not care to build expensive dwellings to 
 accommodate tenants. S'till, the average value of these build- 
 ings would tend to show that they do have an investment large 
 enough to furnish comfortable living conditions. The propor- 
 tionate investment on the small tenant farms is twice the amount 
 of that on the large farms. Thus the landlord makes a greater 
 saving than the owner since he does not increase the investment 
 in the house as rapidly as does the owner with the increase of 
 size. However, he does increase the investment of his barns 
 more rapidly than does the owner as size of farm increases. It 
 is quite evident, therefore, that the owner or tenant can live 
 more comfortably and have a better dwelling on the larger-sized 
 farm than he could on the small one, while at the same time at a 
 smaller proportionate expense or at a lower proportionate* charge 
 against the farm for living. This is a factor of much importance 
 when we consider that the farmer's place of business is his home. 
 From this standpoint farming" differs from manufacturing or 
 other commercial industries where a man has his office located 
 at his place of business with his home at an entirely different 
 •place. The business man thus considers his location from the 
 standpoint of successful business operation. The farmer must 
 consider it from the standpoint of a home as well as of business. 
 It is thus important that the farm be large enough to afford a 
 comfortable home without too heavy a charge against the income. 
 
 RELATION OF SIZE OF FARM AND CROP ACRE VALUE 
 
 Small farms frequently sell for more per acre than large farms. 
 When we consider that the cost of buildings upon these small 
 farms is proportionately greater, it is right that they should 
 bring relatively more since the improvements per acre are pro- 
 portionately (greater. 
 
52 
 
 Table XXIX. — Relation of Size of Farm to Farm Value and Crop Acre 
 
 Value on 194 Potato Farms Operated by Owners in Monmoutii 
 
 County, New Jersey. 
 
 Average Crop Farm Per Cent. 
 
 No. of Farm Acre Acre Farm Area 
 
 Crop Acres. Farms. Value. Value. Value. in Crops. 
 
 30 or less 20 $5,015 $223.90 $156.40 70.1 
 
 31 to 50 35 8,671 209.00 157.60 75.3 
 
 51 to 75 54 13,531 209.20 153.60 73.4 
 
 76 to 100, 52 16,298 187.80 133.90 71.1 
 
 101 to 150 27 23,352 197.40 157.90 80.1 
 
 151 and over, 6 21,443 121.80 96.50 79.2 
 
 The total farm value increases with the size, as would be 
 expected. However, the value per crop acre decreases as the 
 number of crop acres increases. The acre value of the small 
 farms is $223.90 per crop acre while that of the larger is $121.80, 
 a difference of $102.10 per crop acre in favor of the large farm. 
 It is quite evident that farm values are not governed by their 
 production values, otherwise the acre value for small farms 
 would be less. A small farm might be likened to the first reapers 
 placed on the market for the farmer to buy. Compared with 
 modern reapers, they were expensive to operate, yet cost con- 
 siderably more when purchased. 
 
 Table XXX. — Relation of Size of Farm to Farm Value and Crop Acre 
 
 Value on 149 Potato Farms Operated by Tenants in IVlonmouth 
 
 County, New Jersey. 
 
 Average Crop Farm Per Cent. 
 
 ' No. of Farmi Acre Acre Farm Area 
 
 Crop Acres. Farms. Value. Value. Value, in Crops. 
 
 30 or less 4 $4,750 $217.90 $150.80 69.0 
 
 31 to 50, 12 7.6.50 186.10 132.40 73.0 
 
 51 to 75 33 13,545 312.00 143.60 67.7 
 
 76 to 100, 62 18,226 207.50 147.30 71.1 
 
 101 to 150, 33 23,303 197.30 137.50 69.6 
 
 151 and over, 5 27,600 156.30 111.20 70.8 
 
 The relative acre values for the tenant farms is very similar 
 to that of the owner farms. However, the crop acre values are 
 somewhat higher on the former than on the latter, for farms 
 of the same size. When computed on the total farm; acreage, 
 there is less difference between the acre values of the large and of 
 the small farms. Too frequently farms are valued at .their total 
 farm' acreage rather than at their total crop acreage. If the re- 
 mainder of the farm can be placed in crops, this method would 
 not be at fault. But there is always a certain area which 
 cannot be cropped, and this differs much with the individual 
 farm. In the case of the owner farms, there is a larger pro- 
 portion of waste on the smaller farms. This is to be expected 
 since buildings, roads and fences take proportionately more space 
 
53 
 
 on small areas. This amounts to a difference of almost lo per 
 cent, on the owner farms. For the tenant farms, the percentag-e 
 of waste area is about the same for all the farms of different 
 size. It appears as though the tenant on the large farms is more 
 wasteful of land than is the owner. The tenants have an average 
 of 70.1 per cent, of their farms in crops while the owners have 
 74.5 per cent, cropped. 
 
 RELATION OF SIZE OF FARM TO CROP YIELDS 
 
 It has for a long time been the popular belief that sm,all farms 
 are better tilled, more carefully farmed, and, therefore, more 
 profitable. In practically all farm surveys this has proved a 
 fallacy. However, the former work applied to grain, hay and 
 extensive types of farm crops. Should this idea prove true in 
 any case, one v/ould expect it to do so in potato farming where 
 intensive methods are employed in the production of the crop. 
 The following tables show just what effect the size of the farm 
 has on the potato yield. 
 
 Table XXXI. — Relation of Size of Farm to Potato Yield on 194 Potato 
 Farms Operated by Owners in Monmoutii County, New Jersey. 
 
 Yield of 
 
 Crop Per Cent. Potatoes 
 
 No, of Acres in Crop Acres Barrels 
 
 Crop Acres. Farms, Potatoes, in Potatoes, per Acre. 
 
 30 or less 20 9.4 42 76 
 
 31 to 50 35 16.9 41 81 
 
 51 to 75 54 24.7 38 82 
 
 76 to 100, 52 30.0 34 86 
 
 101 to 150 27 41.8 35 84 
 
 151 and over 6 58.5 33 72 
 
 The average yield of potatoes on the owner farms is 83 bar- 
 rels per acre. It appears, as though the size o<i the farm would 
 have very little influence on the potato yields. Evidently, the 
 growers on the large farms are able to raise as much per acre 
 as the men on the smaller areas. In fact, the highest yields were 
 obtained from the larger farms though the difference is not 
 sufficient to say that the large farms are better yielders. The six 
 farms with over 151 crop acres have the lowest yield, 72 barrels 
 per acre, while the 20 smallest farms have a yield of 76 barrels 
 per acre. This latter may, to some extent, be accounted for by 
 the fact that more varieties other than American Giants were 
 grown on these small farms. This would influence the average 
 yield of this small class unduly. 
 
 The per cent, of crop acres in potatoes decreases uniformly 
 as the size of the farm increases. The men of the small areas 
 
54 
 
 endeavor to increase the size of their business by growing a 
 larger proportion of potatoes. 
 
 Table XXXII.— Relation of Size of Farm to Potato Yield , on 149 Potato 
 Farms Operated by Tenants in Monmouth County, New Jersey. 
 
 Yield of 
 
 Crop Per Cent. Potatoes 
 
 No, of Acres in Crop Acres Barrels 
 
 Crop Acres. Farms. Potatoes, in Potatoes, per Acre. 
 
 30 or less, 4 6.2 2S.4 80.5 
 
 31 to .50 12 19.7 47.9 84.3 
 
 51 to 75 33 24.5 38.3 82.8 
 
 76 to 100, 62 29.2 33.2 86.1 
 
 100 to 150 33 37.1 31.4 85.6 
 
 151 and over, 5 61.2 34.6 85.1 
 
 The average yield of potatoes on the tenant farms is 84.9 
 barrels per acre, or almost 2 barrels more than on the owner 
 farms. That the crop acre value is somewhat greater for the 
 tenant farms is borne out by the increased production on these 
 tenant farms. The proper relation of values appears to be 
 established as to their production. The large farms, here again, 
 are showing a production a little above the average. It is safe 
 to conclude, therefore, that large size, such as prevails in this 
 region, does not diminish production. If anything, it has a 
 tendency to give increased yields per acre. Like the owners, 
 the tenants increase the per cent, of their potato areas as the 
 size of farm decreases. For the tenant farms, the average pro- 
 portion of crop acres in potatoes amounts to 34.4 per cent, of 
 the crop acres, or 29.8 acres of potatoes, while for the owner 
 farms this proportion is 36.1 per cent, of the total crop acres, 
 or 26y2. acres of potatoes per farm. One might argue that these 
 smaller potato' farms were not producing more per acre because 
 of lack of proper rotation when such a large proportion of the 
 farm is in one crop. More will be said about this later. 
 
 RELATION OF SIZE OF FARM TO RECEIPTS 
 
 In order that a profitable business be secured, it is essential 
 that it provide for sufficient receipts so that the proportion o-f 
 the income that is left after expenses are deducted will afford 
 a satisfactory return for capital and labor invested. 
 
 Table XXXIII. — Relation of Size of Farm to Total Farm Receipts and Crop 
 
 Acre Receipts on 194 Farms Operated by Owners in Monmouth 
 
 County, New Jersey. 
 
 
 
 
 
 Receipts per 
 
 
 
 
 
 Total 
 
 Potato 
 
 Acre from Crops 
 
 Stock Re- 
 
 Total Re- 
 
 
 No. of 
 
 Farm 
 
 Receipts 
 
 Other Than 
 
 ceipts per 
 
 ceipts per 
 
 Crop Acres. 
 
 Farms. 
 
 Receipts. 
 
 per Acre. 
 
 Potatoes, 
 
 Crop Acre, 
 
 Crop Acre. 
 
 30 or less, . . . 
 
 20 
 
 $1..3S3 
 
 $117.70 
 
 $10.10 
 
 $4.90 
 
 $61.20 
 
 31 to 50 
 
 35 
 
 2.519 
 
 113.70 
 
 10.70 
 
 7..50 
 
 60.70 
 
 51 to 75 
 
 54 
 
 3.863 
 
 115.10 
 
 14.30 
 
 5.70 
 
 59.70 
 
 76 to 100, . . . 
 
 52 
 
 5,121 
 
 120.80 
 
 17.40 
 
 5.40 
 
 59.00 
 
 101 to 150, . . . 
 
 27 
 
 6,920 
 
 121.60 
 
 14.80 
 
 4.50 
 
 58.50 
 
 151 and over,. 
 
 6 
 
 8,765 
 
 110.70 
 
 15.50 
 
 2.50 
 
 49.80 
 
55 
 
 The total farm receipts are over six times as large on the 
 large farms as oo the smaller, yet with the exception of the 
 last class there is very little difference in the total crop acre re- 
 ceipts. There is a tendency for the acre receipts to decrease 
 slightly up to the last class, when they decrease considerably. 
 It would appear that until farms are quite large they are made 
 to produce as much per crop acre for the markets as the small 
 farms. This is in view of the fact that the small farms had a 
 somewhat greater per cent, of their crop acres in potatoes, which 
 is the most proifitable crop. The large farms have more hay, 
 rye, wheat and corn to sell since there is more raised than is 
 required tO' feed the work stock. The stock receipts appear 
 to be about the same per acre for the large and the small farm. 
 In many regions the proportion of stock increases on the smaller 
 farms, but evidently these potato farms find it more profitable 
 to increase their receipts . through a greater percentage of pota- 
 toes rather than by keeping more stock. 
 
 Table XXXIV. — Relation of Size of Farm to Operator's Total Farm Re- 
 ceipts and Crop Acre Receipts on 149 Farms Operated by Tenants in 
 Monmouth County, New Jersey. 
 
 
 
 
 
 Operators' 
 
 
 
 
 
 Operators' 
 
 Operators' 
 
 Receipts per 
 
 Operators' 
 
 Operators 
 
 
 
 Total 
 
 Potato 
 
 Acre from Crops 
 
 Stock Ke- 
 
 Total Re- 
 
 
 No. of 
 
 Farm 
 
 Keceipts 
 
 Other Than 
 
 ceipts per 
 
 ceipts per 
 
 Crop Acres. 
 
 Farms. 
 
 Keceipts. 
 
 per Acre. 
 
 Potatoes. 
 
 Crop Acre. 
 
 Crop Acre 
 
 30 or less, . 
 
 -1 
 
 $926.50 
 
 $90.20 
 
 $12.10 
 
 .$4.10 
 
 $42.60 
 
 31 to 50, . 
 
 12 
 
 1,820.30 
 
 72.20 
 
 8.30 
 
 4.00 
 
 44.30 
 
 51 to 75, . 
 
 33 
 
 1,967.90 
 
 60.50 
 
 5.70 
 
 3.20 
 
 30.80 
 
 76 to 100, . 
 
 62 
 
 2,664.60 
 
 63.80 
 
 7.70 
 
 3.50 
 
 30.30 
 
 101 to 150, . 
 
 33 
 
 3,424.90 
 
 63.60 
 
 7.10 
 
 3.90 
 
 28.90 
 
 151 and ovei 
 
 5 
 
 4,760.80 
 
 59.30 
 
 4.90 
 
 2.90 
 
 26.90 
 
 The tenants on the smaller farms are making a relatively 
 higher acre return than on the larger farms. This difference is 
 far more marked than on the owner farms. On the four small 
 tenant farms this is accounted for by the fact that they do 
 considerable labor off the farm. Again, their potato receipts 
 per acre are high because they sold round stock tO' a special 
 market, and thereby obtained higher acre receipts than did the 
 tenants on the larger farms. The amount of live-stock receipts 
 per crop acre is not quite sO' high as on the owner farms. Evi- 
 dently, the tenants feel that there is more profit in potatoes 
 than in stock. The four small farms have rather high acre re- 
 ceipts for crops other than potatoes. These are obtained largely 
 from truck. Aside from that, they do' not vary materially. It 
 is quite evident that a large area is necessary to obtain satisfac- 
 tory receipts from the farm. Furthermore, this increased size 
 
56 
 
 as found on these farms, does not decrease the acre receipts 
 materially. Surely, then, the larger farms should be the more 
 profitable for the individual farmer both in profit per acre and 
 profit per farm, within the liinits found in this survey. 
 
 Table XXXV. — Relation of Size of Farm to Landlord's Return on 149 
 
 Potato Farms Operated by Tenants in Monmouth County, 
 
 New Jersey. 
 
 Landlord's 
 -. ' No. of Eetum, 
 
 Crop Acres. Acres. Per Cent. 
 
 30 or less, 4 3.2 
 
 31 to 50, 12 9.6 
 
 51 to 75, 33 8.3 
 
 76 to 100 62 8.1 
 
 101 to 150, 33 8.3 
 
 151 and over, 5 8.7 
 
 The size of farms has less effect on the per cent, of returns of 
 the landlord than on the returns of the tenant. Evidently, then, 
 Jthe landlord does not share in the advantages of the large farms 
 to the same extent as does the tenant, since his proportionate 
 Teturn is approximately the same regardless of the number of 
 rcrop acres. This merely emphasizes the fact that the major 
 portion of the savings due to the size oi a farm business is 
 largely on the operator's expenses of the farm, such as man, 
 Jhorse and machinery labor, which are furnished by the tenant. 
 .As long as the landlord can rent his farm satisfactorily, he need 
 •not increase the size in order to obtain a greater porportionate 
 return for the money invested. 
 
 RELATION OF SIZE TO FARM EXPENSE 
 
 Previous tables were given to show that men, horses and 
 equipment do proportionately more work on the large farms. It 
 was also illustrated that the building investment was more efficient 
 on the larger farms. If this is true, the actual cash expense of 
 the large farm operator should be less per acre of crops. The 
 following table will show the expense per crop acre as influenced 
 by the size of different farms : 
 
 Table XXXVI. — Relation of Size to Farm and Crop Acre Expense on 194 
 
 Potato Farms Operated by Owners in Monmouth County, 
 
 New Jersey. 
 
 Machinery or 
 Buildingrs, Equipment,^ 
 Interest Interest 
 Laljor per Laljor and and Operator's 
 
 Total Acre, Not per Acre, Depre- Depre- Total Cash 
 No. of Farm Including Including elation ciation Expense 
 
 Crop Acres. Farms. Expense. Operator, Operator, per Acre, per Acre, per Acre. 
 
 30 or less, 20 $901 $12.7 $28.4 $9.1 $2.4 $40.1 
 
 31 to 50, 35 1,639 13.0 21.8 7.5 2.4 39.8 
 
 51 to 75, 54 2,291 11.4 17.1 6.4 2.0 35.4 
 
 76 to 100, 52 2,817 10.9 15.3 5.4 1.8 32.4 
 
 101 to 150 27 3,808 11.2 14.1 4.8 1.4 32.1 
 
 151 and over 6 5,406 11.0 12.8 3.1 1.3 30.7 
 
 1 Machinery or equipment Includes machinery and tools used on the farm. 
 
57 
 
 On the small farms an expenditure of $901 gave a return of 
 $1,383, while on the large farms an expenditure of $5,406 gave 
 a return of $8,765. It is quite essential that a large investment 
 be made in order to get a large return. As the investment in- 
 creases the returns increase, but more rapidly than do the ex- 
 penses. One dollar spent on the small farms brings a return of 
 $1.53, while one dollar spent on the large farms brings a return 
 of $1.62. Thus the large farm is a more efficient place to invest 
 the money. The cash labor per acre is somewhat less than that 
 on the smaller farms. The popular idea that the labor cost per 
 acre on large farms is so excessive that they are not profitable, 
 is not substantiated by these^ results. The small farmers pay 
 proportionately more per acre o>i crops than do those on the larger 
 areas. This difference might be influenced by the greater pro^- 
 portion of potatoes on the small farms, but later data will show 
 that this would not influence it materially. When the value of 
 the owner's time is included in the labor expense, the acre cost 
 for the small farms is over twice that oi the larger ones. The 
 depreciation and interest charge against the small farms is almost 
 three times that of the larger, indicating the more economical use 
 of buildings on the latter. The same is true of the equipment 
 charge per acre. This is almost twice as great on the small farms, 
 and, like the buildings, decreases uniformly with the increase in 
 size. The seed and fertilizer expense is about the same. How- 
 ever, the total cash expense per acre is only three-fourths as 
 much on the large farms as on the smaller. 
 
 Table XXXVII. — Relation of Size to Farm and Crop Acre Expense on 149 
 
 Potato Farms Operated by Tenants in IVIonmouth County, 
 
 New Jersey. 
 
 Machinery or'- 
 
 Buildings, Equipment, 
 
 Interest Interest 
 
 Laljor per Labor and and Operator's 
 
 Total Acre, Not per Acre, Depre- Depre- Total Cash 
 
 No. of Farm Including Including ciation ciation Expense 
 
 Crop Acres. Farms. Expense. Operator. Operator, per Acre, per Acre, per Acre. 
 
 30 or less 4 $526 $8.7 $25.0 $7.1 $3.7 $24.2 
 
 31 to 50, 12 1,194 8.9 18.2 5.6 2.4 28.2 
 
 51 to 76 33 1,265 8.3 14.5 5.1 2.2 19.2 
 
 76 to 100 62 1,777 9.4 13.5 5.4 1.9 20.2 
 
 101 to 150, 33 2,138 8.9 12.1 4.1 1.7 18.1 
 
 151 and over, 5 3,046 7.4 9.0 3.7 1.1 19.4 
 
 The tenants are making a more economical use of their labor 
 than the owners. The average acre charge for cash labor against 
 the owner farms is $11.40, while that of the tenants is $8.90. 
 This is a charge of $2.50 for the owner farms above that 
 of the tenant farms. With the exception of the five largest 
 farms there is no material difference in cash labor expense per 
 
58 
 
 acre for the tenant farms of different size. However, when the 
 operator's time is included there is a material difference. The 
 building depreciation and interest as well as that of the equip- 
 ment is again higher for the small farms. The tenant's total cash 
 expenses per acre are greater for the small farms, but the differ- 
 ence is not so great as in the case of the owners. For each dollar 
 the tenant on the small farm invests he gets in return $1.76, 
 while on the large area he gets $1.56 (Table XXXIV). It will 
 be noted that- the small tenant is getting considerable revenue 
 aside from actual farm income and in that manner has increased 
 his receipts per dollar invested on the farm above that on the 
 larger area. This then accounts for the apparent discrepancy 
 when comparison is made with the statistics of the owner farms. 
 
 The actual cash expense is considerably less on the larger 
 areas than on the smaller. On a farm of 100 crop acres, this 
 cash expense, due to greater efficiency, would amount to almost 
 $1,000 less than if this area were divided into four or five farms. 
 For the tenants, this difference would be less since they do not 
 pay for the building repairs and depreciation. Besides, the 
 tenants are somewhat more efficient in the use of their labor. 
 There is still another expense of considerable importance which 
 does not show in the cash item, but should be recalled at this 
 point. It is the horse-labor expense. Most of the horse feed 
 is raised on the farm, and this cost against the farming opera- 
 tions does not appear with current cash expenses. On the owner 
 farms a horse cared for almost twice, and on the tenant farms 
 more than twice, as many crop acres on the large farms as on 
 the small farms. Assuming that it costs $150 a year to keep 
 a horse, this would be an additional crop acre charge of $5 to> 
 $10 per acre for the small farmer, when the horses in this area 
 work an average of 15 crop acres. 
 
 It is quite evident, therefore, that a large investment is neces- 
 sary to get large returns, and that the larger farms have a 
 decided advantage in the use of man, horse and equipment labor 
 as well as building expense on these potato farms. The most 
 efficient size appears to be 100 or more crop acres. To what 
 extent this size could be increased effectually above 100 crop 
 acres has not been determined in this area, since no class of farms 
 vere found whose income was diminishing because of too great 
 size. The largest class had an average of 176 crop acres, and 
 these made the largest average income of any class. However, 
 it is noticeable that the acre profit is diminishing with this last 
 class. Therefore, the greatest efficiency per acre has been reached 
 
59 
 
 and passed. The maximum acre efficiency appears to have been 
 reached between lOO and 150 crop acres. On farms of over 150 
 acres, or an average of 176 crop acres, the returns per acre 
 diminished rapidly, and that probably is near the maximum size 
 for efficient farms in this potato region. 
 
 PRODUCTION 
 
 It is a popular belief that high production is associated with 
 profitable production; that the higher the production the larger 
 is the profit obtained from the farm. Numerous surveys have 
 shown that high production may be made unprofitable when 
 carried beyond a certain point. It has also been shown that 
 some farmers who have the highest production are not making 
 as much money as those who are producing less per acre at a 
 smaller cost. There is a point beyond which it is no longer 
 profitable to spend more fertilizer or labor per acre. After this 
 has been once reached, increased expenditures no longer bring 
 profitable returns. Moreover, just what is the profitable amount 
 to produce can be ascertained only by careful investigation. 
 
 CROP YIELDS 
 
 Table XXXVIII. — Crop Yields of Monmouth County as Found by the Sur- 
 vey for 1914 Compared with the Census Yields for 1909. 
 
 Census Yield Survey Yields per Acre for 1914. 
 
 Crop. per Acre 1909, Owners. Tenants. 
 
 Potatoes, 48. barrels 83.0 barrels 84.7 barrels 
 
 Corn, 44.5 bushels 48.1 bushels 46.1 bushels 
 
 Wheat, 22.2 " 22.7 " 22.3 
 
 Kye, 15.0 " 18.9 " 15.6 " 
 
 Hay 1.34 tons 1.45 tons 1.4 tons 
 
 All of these yields are above the average for the State except 
 that of rye, which is a little below the average of the census 
 yield of 1909. The yields upon these potato farms are above the 
 average of the county, but the difiference is not great excepting 
 for potatoes. One might expect greater increase for the other 
 crops, but these soils are not well adapted to small grains 
 and hay. The residual efifects do help to increase the other 
 crop yields, but this residual value is not as great on these light 
 soils as it would be on heavier soil. Again, the better portions 
 of the farms are kept for the potato crop, and this eliminates 
 the more fertile areas for crops other than potatoes whenever a 
 rotation of potatoes for the whole farm is not followed. 
 
6o 
 
 Table XXXIX.— Rainfall of Monmouth County for 1909 and 1914, the 
 Census and Survey Years' Rainfall at Freehold. 
 
 May. June. July. Total. 
 
 Year. Inches. Inches. Inches. Inches. 
 
 1909, 1.75 1.82 1.07 4.64 
 
 1914 2.49 3.37 4.92 10.78 
 
 Difference .74 1.55 3.85 6.14 
 
 This may explain the low potato yield obtained by the census 
 for 1909. Since rainfall is to a large extent the limiting factor, 
 a dry season such as that of 1909 would sharply curtail the 
 potato yield. This would probably affect the potatoes more 
 severely than the other crops mentioned, since in the remainder 
 of the year 1909 there was a good rainfall, and the growing 
 season is somewhat different for the other crops; hence, they 
 would not be so much affected as the potatoes. 
 
 POTATO YIELDS AND PROFITS 
 
 While the acre production for potatoes on these potato farms 
 is high, that of other crops is not correspondingly large. Pota- 
 toes are the main crop while the others are merely accessory. 
 The fact that these soils are not so well adapted to grain and 
 grass crops, and that most attention is devoted to potatoes, does 
 not allow such high yields for other crops. 
 
 Table XL. — Relation of Potato Yields to Labor Income on 194 Potato 
 Farms Operated by Owners in Monmouth County, New Jersey. 
 
 Number Per Cent. 
 
 Average Yield Per Cent, with Minus with Minus Average 
 
 Yields per per Acre, No. of of Total Lahor Labor Labor 
 
 Acre, Barrels. Barrels. Farms. Number. Income. Income. Income. 
 
 60 or less, . . 54.2 22 11 11 50 $172 
 
 61 to 70 66.1 28 14 10 36 657 
 
 71 to 80 77.3 61 32 13 20 740 
 
 81 to 90 86.5 38 20 2 5 1,091 
 
 91 to 100 98.1 35 18 2 5 1,645 
 
 101 and over, . . 109.0 -10 5 1 10 1,907 
 
 There is a direct correlation or relation between the potato 
 yields and labor income. On the first class of farms, with a 
 yield of 60 barrels or less and an average of 54.2 barrels per 
 acre, the owners are losing money. Eleven per cent., or over 
 One-tenth of the whole number, are in this class. It is evident 
 that a yield of 54 barrels of potatoes per acre is not sufficient to 
 cover the cost of producing them. The men who got between 
 60 and 70 barrels, or an average of 66.1 barrels per acre, made 
 a little money, though it is not a very large amount when the 
 owner's time is deducted. A yield between 54 and 66 barrels 
 per acre is the dividing line for the cost of production of the 
 
6i 
 
 owner farms when potatoes sell at $1.42 per barrel. The men 
 who have a yield between 80 and 90, or an average of 86.5 
 barrels per acre, which is 3^ barrels above the average for all 
 the farms, have a labor income which is likewise a little above 
 the average, showing that the returns follow the yield very 
 closely. Only ten farms out of the 194 got 100 barrels or more 
 per acre. The average of these ten farms was 109 barrels, or 
 31 per cent, above the average. The return of these farms, on 
 the other hand, was $1,907, or over twice that of the average 
 for all the farms. This increased production then is very profit- 
 able to the farmer, and brings very high returns for the in- 
 creased care and expense. 
 
 The highest yield of any farm was from 29 acres of Giants, 
 which produced 121 barrels per acre, and 2 acres of Cobblers, 
 producing 112 barrels, or an average for the 31 acres of 120 
 barrels. This is an increase of 45.4 per cent, above the farm 
 average. In addition to potatoes, this farm had 53^ acres of 
 corn, yielding 75 bushels of shelled grain, 5 acres of hay, yield- 
 ing 2 tons per acre, and 2 acres of orchard, from which the 
 operator got no receipts. Three cows, 60 chickens, 2 pigs and 
 3 work horses comprised the total amount of live stock. The 
 operator sold $410 worth of products from the cows and chick- 
 ens, and received $5,053 for the potatoes and $100 for teaming. 
 This was all from 43 5^ crop acres and a farm area of 46 acres. 
 The labor income of this farm was $2,169, over twice the aver- 
 age. This farmer used 5 barrels of seed potatoes per acre and 
 1,800 pounds of 4-8-10 fertilizer, which is about 25 per cent, 
 more fertilizer, and ^/lo of a barrel more seed than the average. 
 With this extra investment of seed and fertilizer, he got an 
 average yield of 45 >< per cent, greater than the average potato 
 yield and 46 per cent, greater than the average for all crops. 
 It is quite likely that he tilled more thoroughly and carefully 
 than his neighbors, but it all proved a good investment. In spite 
 of the fact that the farm was small, this farmer made greater 
 profits by more careful management and more intensive methods 
 than his neighbors on larger areas. 
 
 Table XLI. — Relation of Potato Yields to Labor Income on 149 Potato 
 Farms Operated by Tenants in Monmouth County, New Jersey. 
 
 
 
 
 
 Number 
 
 Per Cent. 
 
 
 
 Average Yield 
 
 
 Per Cent. 
 
 with Minus 
 
 with Minus 
 
 Average 
 
 Yields per 
 
 per Acre, 
 
 No. of 
 
 of Total 
 
 Labor 
 
 Labor 
 
 Labor 
 
 Acre, Barrels. 
 
 Barrels. 
 
 Farms. 
 
 Kumber, 
 
 Income. 
 
 Income. 
 
 Income. 
 
 60 or less, . . 
 
 41.1 
 
 4 
 
 3 
 
 2 
 
 50 
 
 $178 
 
 61 to 70, 
 
 67.7 
 
 22 
 
 14 
 
 4 
 
 14 
 
 339 
 
 71 to SO, 
 
 76.9 
 
 41 
 
 28 
 
 1 
 
 4 
 
 587 
 
 81 to 90 
 
 86.2 
 
 44 
 
 30 
 
 5 
 
 2 
 
 815 
 
 91 to 100 
 
 96.0 
 
 30 
 
 20 
 
 
 
 
 1,066 
 
 101 and over, .. 
 
 106.9 
 
 8 
 
 5 
 
 
 
 
 1,693 
 
62 
 
 The average yield of the tenant farms is almost 2 barrels per 
 acre above that of the owner farms. They have a smaller 
 number with yields below 60 barrels per acre, but the same 
 
 liABOR 
 
 $20G0 
 
 
 1800 
 
 V 
 
 1600 
 
 / 1 
 
 1400 
 
 0W112RS / / 
 
 1200 
 
 / / 
 
 1000 
 
 / / 
 
 
 / TENAimK 
 
 800 
 
 — /// 
 
 flOO 
 
 1/ 
 
 400 
 
 1/ 
 
 200 
 
 
 
 200 
 
 ^"^^^""^""^ 1 
 
 1 1 
 
 A 
 
 bbl3.50 bbls.60 ttls. 70 tbls.SO bblsgO bbls.lOO "bblsHO bbls. 
 
 POTATO YIELD PER ACHE 
 
 Fig. 22. — Relation of Potato Yield to Labor Income on 343 Potato Farms 
 in Monmouth County, New Jersey. 
 
6.3 
 
 proportion above lOO barrels per acre. There is a direct relation 
 between the yield and the returns on the tenant farms, as was 
 found on the owner farms. The highest yield in the tenant 
 group was 114 barrels per acre (34 per cent.), or one-third 
 above the average. The tenants do not obtain quite so high a 
 yield as the owners' highest yield. It is expected that they would 
 be more conservative in their investment on production. 
 
 RELATION OF POTATO YIELDS TO EXPENSES 
 
 Table XLII. 
 
 Yield, 
 
 Barrels per 
 
 Acre. 
 
 60 or less, 
 
 61 to 70, . 
 71 to 80, . 
 81 to 90, . 
 91 to 100, 
 
 101 and over 
 
 -Relation of Yield to Expenses on 194 Potato Farms Operated 
 by Owners in Monmouth County, New Jersey. 
 
 No. of 
 Farms. 
 
 22 
 
 28 
 
 61 
 
 38 
 
 35 
 
 10 
 
 Crop Acre 
 Expense. 
 127.10 
 32.10 
 33.70 
 32.40 
 3-.. 60 
 45.50 
 
 Fertilizer 
 
 per Acre, 
 
 $6.70 
 
 8.60 
 
 9.00 
 
 n..50 
 
 3.90 
 
 12.50 
 
 Acres of 
 Potatoes 
 per Farm, 
 
 13.6 
 
 26.7 
 
 26.8 
 
 28.7 
 
 30.2 
 
 31.8 
 
 Total 
 Crop Acres 
 per Farm. 
 
 52.8 
 75,7 
 73.5 
 78.6 
 79.4 
 63.0 
 
 The crop acre expenses do not increase proportionately with 
 the increased yield. With the exception of the 'first and last 
 classes, the difference is not marked. The fertilizer expenses, 
 on the other hand, do increase regularly with increased produc- 
 tion. However, much of this increase in fertilizer expense is 
 due to the increased proportion of potato acreage. The high 
 producing farms used a somewhat greater amount of fertilizer 
 than the low producers. 
 
 Table XLII I. — Relation of Yield to Expenses on 149 Potato Farms Operated 
 
 by Tenants in Monmouth County, New Jersey. 
 
 Yield, Operators' Fertilizer Acres of Total 
 
 Barrels per No. of Crop Acre per Crop Potatoes Crop Acres 
 
 Acre, Farms, Expense. Acre. per Farm, per Farm. 
 
 60 or less 4 $13.60 $2.90 14.0 73.0 
 
 61 to 70, 22 18.20 4.50 21.6 80.7 
 
 71 to 80 41 18.50 4.40 28.7 85.8 
 
 81 to 90, 44 20.10 4..30 31.7 93.0 
 
 91 to 100 30 22 80 5.40 34.7 84.2 
 
 101 and over, 8 20.50 5.90 .37.3 90.1 
 
 The tenants' expenses are very similar to those of the owners 
 in relation to both total current expenses per acre and fertilizer 
 expense per crop acre. Since the share tenant pays for but half 
 of the fertilizer, the acre cost is low, as it represents only half of 
 the total fertilizer expense. 
 
64 
 
 RELATION OF POTATO YIELDS TO LABOR 
 
 Table XLIV. — Relation of Production to tiie Man, Horse and Equipment 
 
 Labor on 194 Potato Farms Operated by Owners in Monmouth 
 
 County, New Jersey. 
 
 Yield, ■ Crop Acres 
 
 Barrels per Crop Acres Crop Acres per $100 Work TTnits Work TTnita 
 
 Acre. per Man, per Horse. Equipment. per Man, per Horse. 
 
 60 or less 26.6 13.8 9.0 200 80 
 
 61 to 70, 27.9 14.3 10.0 204 83 
 
 71 to 80 27.8 15.1 8.8 208 89 
 
 81 to 90, 27.1 13.6 9.3 214 85 
 
 91 to 100, .. 28.8 13.8 7.8 217 82 
 
 101 and over, 22.9 11.6 5.7 208 84 
 
 The men and horses appear to be far more efficient on the more 
 productive farms since they handle just as large an acreage of 
 crops whether the yield is high or low. This is emphasized again 
 when measured by work units. The men on the more productive 
 farms get their labor at the same acre cost as those on the low 
 producing areas, while their receipts are much larger as will be 
 shown later. 
 
 Table XLV. — Relation of Production to Man, Horse and Equipment Labor 
 
 on 149 Potato Farms Operated by Tenants in Monmouth 
 
 County, New Jersey. 
 
 Yield, Crop Acres 
 
 Barrels per Crop Acres Crop Acres per $100 Work TTnits Work Units 
 
 Acre. per Man, per Horse. Equipment. per Man. per Horse. 
 
 60 or less 36.5 20.9 16.8 199.8 77.0 
 
 61 to 70, 33.1 16.4 11.9 222.8 93.0 
 
 71 to SO, 34.1 13.1 10.8 255.9 84.6 
 
 81 to 90 33.2 15.6 11.2 229.8 88.3 
 
 91 to 100, 22.8 14.2 10.1 219.5 86.6 
 
 101 and over .Sl.O 15.0 8.2 2.33.3 90.4 
 
 As previously noted the tenants are more economical in their 
 use of labor, and here again it contrasts with that of the owners. 
 Though the difference is not great, there does appear to be some 
 relation between production and number of acres of crops handled 
 per man. When measured by work units, and thus considering 
 the proportion of potatoes per farm, the men on the low pro- 
 ducing farms accomplish less than on the high producing farms. 
 The same relation is not true for the horse labor. Horses appear 
 to handle just as large a crop acreage whether* it is a high or a low 
 producing farm. High production does not materially affect the 
 acre cost on these farms as shown by the preceding data. The 
 machinery investment on the other hand does increase. The high 
 producing farms are better equipped, a condition which may in- 
 crease the efficiency of equipment labor. If a farmer with the 
 same man and horse labor cost can produce twice the yield by 
 vskillful cropping and a slightly increased investment in fertilizer 
 
65 
 
 and seed, this should be a very attractive manner of increasing 
 profits on these farms. On the whole these results are not sur- 
 prising. The main increased labor cost we would expect to- be 
 for picking the potatoes and hauling them tO' the railroad. Pick- 
 ing is a minor item among a large number of more important 
 ones. Again, on most of the farms the hauling of a large or a 
 small yield would not necessitate the farmer's buying an extra 
 team oi horses. Costs such as cutting seed, plowing, digging, 
 etc., remain about the same regardless of production. 
 
 RELATION OF POTATO YIELDS TO FARM VALUES 
 
 Table XLVI. — Relation of Production to Real Estate Values and Receipts 
 
 on 194 Potato Farms Operated by Owners in Monmouth County, 
 
 New Jersey. 
 
 Yield, Potato Other Crop Stock- 
 Barrels per ' Value per Receipts Receipts Receipts per Total Acre 
 Acre. Acre. per Acre. per Acre, Crop Acre. Receipts, 
 
 60 or less, $101.20 $81.30 $12.70 $."3.00 $33.80 
 
 61 to 70, 111.70 103.10 12.70 5.20 50.10 
 
 71 to 80 143.90 111.20 13.10 5.no 55.40 
 
 81 to 90 153.70 118.80 15.70 ."5.30 59.80 
 
 91 to 100, 160.00 138.80 18.60 4.80 69.60 
 
 101 and over 205.10 150.10 29.90 5.30 96.80 
 
 The high producing farms have a greater acre value, as one 
 would expect. However, they are comparatively not as high as 
 the low producing farms since these high producers are twice as 
 valuable per acre as are the low producers, while the receipts are 
 almost three times as great. This is very striking when, with 
 the same approximate labor cost per acre and a little increased 
 fertilization, it is possible to obtain three times the receipts. The 
 low value and low production of these farms may be due to 
 several causes. In the first place, some of these farms are natu- 
 rally more fertile and more productive than others ; again, low 
 production and low farm values are often due to the lack of care 
 and poor tillage given the farm by the operator. The latter 
 may often be the cause of low production rather than the lack 
 of fertility in this region. A poorly tilled and operated farm 
 will not be valued as high as one maintained in a more pro- 
 ductive state. 
 
 Table, XLVIl. — Relation of Production to Real Estate Values and Tenants' 
 
 Receipts on 149 Potato Farms Operated by Tenants in Monmouth 
 
 County, New Jersey. 
 
 Yield, Potato Other Crop Stock 
 
 Barrels per Value per Receipts Receipts per Receipts Total Acre 
 
 Acre, Acre. per Acre. Acre. per Acre. Receipts, 
 
 60 or less $109 .$39.10 $3.50 $1.10 $14.00 
 
 61 to 70, 104 58.20 6.40 3.90 24.70 
 
 71 to 80 125 55.20 6.10 3.90 27.90 
 
 81 to 90, 156 64.30 7.60 3.50 .30.80 
 
 91 to 100, l.'Se 72.40 8.10 2.90 37.10 
 
 101 and over 185 69.90 10.20 4.10 42.60 
 
 5 Hx 
 
66 
 
 The farm acre value of the tenant farms is somewhat less than 
 that of the owner farms. So, too, are the acre receipts for pota- 
 toes on the former less than half those on the latter. The tenants' 
 stock receipts on the other hand are more than those of the 
 owrters ; moreover, the tenant does not always share all the stock 
 receipts as he does the crops, and therefore he has a better bargain 
 on his stock than on crops. 
 
 The most important bearing this table has from^ the tenant's 
 standpoint is the fact that if he rents a naturally low productive 
 farm he gets no greater proportion of the receipts than he does 
 on the high producing one. At the same time the cost of his 
 horse and man labor spent on a high producing farm will bring 
 the tenant much larger returns than if spent upon a low producing 
 one. A tenant should consider this fact carefully in renting. 
 Hence on a naturally low producing farm he should have a larger 
 proportion Oif the receipts than on the more productive place. 
 
 RELATION OF PRODUCTION TO SUCCESS 
 
 Table XLVIII. — Opportunities for Making a Given Labor Income with a 
 
 Certain Acre Production on 194 Potato Farms Operated by 
 
 Owners in Monmouth County, New Jersey. 
 
 , Labor Income , 
 
 $1 $401 $701 $1,001 $1,601 $2,001 $2,501 
 
 ■yield, Barrels No. of Less to to to to to to and 
 
 per Acre. Farms, than $1. $400. $700. $1,000. $1,500. $2,000. $2,500. Over. 
 
 60 or less 22 11 10 . . 1 
 
 61 to 70 2S 10 6 2 1 3 3 3 
 
 71 to SO, 61 11 11 10 13 6 2 2 6 
 
 81 to 90 3S 2 5 5 4 11 7 2 2 
 
 91 to 100, 35 2 3 S 2 9 1 3 7 
 
 101 and over, 10 10 1 1 1 1 2 3 
 
 As production increases, the opportunities for making a good 
 return are greater. For the 22 farmers with a production of 
 less than 60 barrels per acre, one-half are losing money, while 
 only one has a labor income of over $400. For the men who 
 have a yield of 100 barrels or more per acre one-half get over a 
 $2,000 labor income return. There is a steady increase in the 
 number of successful farms as production increases. 
 
 Table XLIX. — Opportunities for Making a Given Labor Income with a 
 
 Certain Acre Production on 149 Potato Farms Operated by 
 
 Tenants in Monmouth County, New Jersey. 
 
 Yield, Barrels No. of 
 
 per Acre. Farms. 
 
 60 or less, 4 
 
 61 to 70, 22 
 
 71 to 80, 41 
 
 81 to 90 44 
 
 91^to 100, 30 
 
 101 and over, 8 
 
 Less 
 than $1, 
 2 
 4 
 1 
 5 
 
 $1 
 
 to 
 
 $400. 
 
 10 
 13 
 
 $401 
 
 to 
 
 $700. 
 
 4 
 14 
 9 
 6 
 1 
 
 -Labor Income- 
 
 $701 
 
 to 
 
 $1,000. 
 
 4 
 7 
 7 
 2 
 
 $1,001 
 to 
 $1,500. 
 
 $1,501 
 
 to 
 $2,000. 
 
 $2; 
 
 001 $2,501 
 to and 
 
 1,500. Over. 
 
67 
 
 The number of tenants who make high labor incomes with 
 large production, increases more uniformily with production 
 than does the number of owners. Since much of this profit is 
 due to greater efficiency in labor expended, the tenants should 
 show a more uniform increase in the proportion making large 
 returns. Oif the four tenants whose production was less than 
 60 barrels per acre, none made over $400, while of the eight 
 tenants who had a production of 100 barrels or more, all but 
 one made a labor income of over $1,000. 
 
 High production then does not guarantee success, but it is 
 one of the essential factors for success on these farms. Of the 
 owners only 10," or 5 per cent>, of the total number got a pro- 
 duction of one-fifth above the average, while for the tenants, 
 8, or 5 per cent., likewise had a yield of over 100 barrels. Thus 
 only a small proportion get much above the average, and of 
 these farms it is not in any case 50 per cent, above the average. 
 The highest producing farm was that of an owner whose potato 
 yield was 45.4 per cent, above the average. However, the 
 average potato production of these farms as a group is high. 
 When any industry has been developed to a high degree, such 
 as the production of potatoes in this region, it becomes more 
 difficult to raise the individual farm above the average standard 
 for the region. To what extent increased fertilization, seed, and 
 green manures would bring profitable returns, has not been fully 
 ascertained on these farmis. The most profitable production may 
 have been reached, but it has evidently not been passed by any 
 class of farms as the profits have all increased uniformly with 
 increased yield. Again, the highest producing farm showed the 
 highest acre profit. This argues well for high production, and 
 it certainly is paying well to raise large acre yields of potatoes 
 in this region. The farms located on favorable soils could pro- 
 duce at least one-tenth to one-fiifth above the average with profit. 
 On the other hand, it must not be understood that high produc- 
 tion guarantees success on these farms. It is one of the major 
 factors controlling success, and therefore must be included as 
 one of the essentials for success. Production depends upon many 
 factors, some of which are not within the farmers' control, such 
 as rainfall and temperature. If these are not favorable to pro- 
 duction, increased labor, fertilizer, and care for the crops, will 
 bring no proportionate returns since the latter are not the limit- 
 ing factors of production. 
 
g8 
 
 COST OF POTATO PRODUCTION 
 
 No work was done to determine the acre and bushel cost of 
 potato production of these farms. By the farmers this is fre- 
 quently estimated at $60 to $70 per acre. They seldom include 
 depreciation and interest in their estimation. Out of the 370 
 potato farms, there were 25 from which practically nothing but 
 potatoes was sold. The operators of these farms were putting 
 nearly all their efforts in the production of potatoes. Other 
 crops were raised, and some stock kept, the latter for family 
 use, and the crops mainly to keep the horses, a. few cows, hogs 
 and chickens. 
 
 Table L. — Acre Cost of Producing Potatoes on 25 Potato Farms in IVIon- 
 mouth County, New Jersey. 
 
 Total acres of potatoes 919 
 
 Labor expense $21 58 
 
 Cost of potato seed, 4.85 bbls 10 76 
 
 Fertilizer expense 24 94 
 
 Machinery depreciation 2 35 
 
 Spraying materials 51 
 
 Barrels 55 
 
 Cover crop seed 73 
 
 Taxes, 3 10 
 
 Insurance, 94 
 
 Interest 21 72 
 
 Grass seed per acre, 92 
 
 Miscellaneous, 7 62 
 
 Total acre expenses $95 72 
 
 Receipts from crops other than potatoes, divided by the 
 number of acres of potatoes, 10 57 
 
 Cost per acre of potatoes $85 15 
 
 yield per acre 92. 1 bbl. 
 
 Cost per barrel, 0.92 
 
 Cost per bushel, 0.33 
 
 This is arriving at the cost of production in a different man- 
 ner than usual. None of these farms had OA^er lo per cent, 
 of their receipts from any source except potatoes. The whole 
 had an average of 7.8 per cent, of their total receipts from 
 a source other than potatoes. These receipts have been de- 
 ducted from the current cost so that the figure arrived at, 
 33 cents per bushel or 92 cents per barrel, must be quite 
 representative of the production cost of potatoes in this 
 region. It represents the actual cost of raising potatoes when 
 the man has his house, garden and products to use for his family 
 in addition tO' what the receipts show for his efforts. The re- 
 ceipts per acre for potatoes were $123.48, leaving a margin of 
 $3'8-33 pel" acre for these farms. The average price received for 
 the potatoes was $1.45 per barrel, and the average labor income of 
 these farms was $2,123. Some of these items may be considered 
 
69 
 
 high, e. g., fertilizer per acre. This is true if we consider the 
 application of fertilizer to potatoes alone. But a limited amount 
 was purchased to apply to corn, which was raised to feed stock 
 and work horses. The spraying cost may be considered low, 
 but very little spraying material is used except arsenicals, and 
 these are not used in all cases. Interest may appear quite high, 
 yet the best part of the farm- is used for potatoes, and other crops 
 are raised to feed the horses necessary to have in raising the 
 crop. Hence it is not as excessive as it may appear. 
 
 An acre cost of $85.15 would represent a conservative figure 
 for the cost of producing potatoes in this area for 19 14. On 
 these 25 farms, this would be 33 cents per bushel, or 92 cents 
 per barrel. When potatoes sell at $1.42 cents per barrel, their 
 normal price for the 7 years up to 191 5, a margin of 50 cents 
 per barrel is left. Hence, a grower who has an average pro- 
 duction makes about $40 per acre on potatoes. 
 
 PROPORTION OF CROP ACRES IN POTATOES 
 
 That the potato crop is profitable has already been fully 
 demonstrated. Just to what extent of specialization it will lend 
 itself with profit can be demonstrated only by isolating those 
 farms producing the largest proportion of the crop. There are 
 numerous factors to consider when we desire tO' increase or 
 decrease the area of a certain crop, but the most important con- 
 sideration is the results to be obtained through any change of 
 crop area. Returns will show whether there is a lack of proper 
 maintenance of fertility, the establishing of the wrong rotation 
 or the wasteful use of labor. 
 
 RELATION OF PROPORTION OF CROP ACRES IN POTATOES 
 TO PROFITS 
 
 Table LI. — Relation of Proportion of Crop Acres in Potatoes to the Labor 
 
 Income on 194 Farms Operated by Owners in Monmouth 
 
 County, New Jersey. 
 
 No, -with Per Cent. Av'age Per 
 
 Per Cent. Crop Potatoes, Minus Minus Average Cent. Crop 
 
 Crop Acres No. of Acres per Acres per Labor Lator Labor Acres in 
 
 in Potatoes. Farms. Farm. Farm. Income. Income. Income. Potatoes. 
 
 27 80.S 13.6 5 18.5 $442 16.8 
 
 48 75.6 20.0 14 29.2 464 26.3 
 
 47 75.6 26.7 12 25.5 788 35.3 
 
 20 or less, 
 
 21 to 30, . . 
 31 to 40, . . 
 41 to 50, . . 
 51 to 60, . . 
 61 and over, 
 
 38 67.6 30.8 6 16.0 1,081 45.5 
 
 16 61.8 34.0 1- 6.0 1,611 .^5.1 
 
 18 eaJR 48.0 1 6.0 2,127 69.6 
 
 4 
 
 The highest profitable proportion of potatoes has apparently 
 not been reached. The last class of 68.8 per cent, of the crop 
 
acres in potatoes shows the highest profit. This may be near 
 the limit of the most profitable proportion, but it has certainly 
 not passed it. The difference is striking and strongly empha- 
 sizes the fact that potatoes are the most desirable enterprise in 
 this area. That they adapt themselves well to specialization is 
 indicated by these results. That the farms with a high potato 
 acreage should furnish a labor income of almost five times as 
 much as the farms with a small acreage in potatoes is quite 
 convincing. 
 
 Table LI I. — Relation of Proportion of Crop Acres in Potatoes to Labor 
 income on 149 Tenant Farms in Monmouth County, New Jersey. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Average 
 
 Per Cent. 
 
 
 
 Potatoes, 
 
 
 Per Cent. 
 
 Crop Acres 
 
 No. of 
 
 Crop Acres 
 
 Acres per 
 
 Average 
 
 Crop Acres 
 
 in Potatoes. 
 
 Farms, 
 
 per Farm, 
 
 Farm. 
 
 Labor Income. 
 
 in Potatoes, 
 
 20 or less, 
 
 11 
 
 7S.0 
 
 l.S.S 
 
 $186 
 
 17.7 
 
 21 to 30, 
 
 47 
 
 95.1 
 
 2.3. S 
 
 483 
 
 25.0 
 
 31 to 40 
 
 45 
 
 92.2 
 
 31.9 
 
 S88 
 
 34.6 
 
 41 to 50, 
 
 27 
 
 77.0 
 
 ^4.3 
 
 1,002 
 
 44.5 
 
 51 to 60, 
 
 11 
 
 72.5 
 
 39.3 
 
 968 
 
 54.2 
 
 61 and over, . . . . 
 
 8 
 
 71.2 
 
 46.9 
 
 1,224 
 
 65.8 
 
 The tenants do not have such a large proportion of farms 
 with a high percentage of potatoes. After 50 per cent, or half 
 of- their crop acres are in potatoes the labor income increase for 
 the tenant is not as marked as for the owners. The tenants 
 who have an average of 44 per cent, of their crop acres in 
 potatoes have a labor income of $1,002, while the highest class, 
 with 66 per cent., or two-thirds of their crop acres in potatoes, 
 have a return of $1,224. The owners in this class secure a 
 return of $2,127. It is not as profitable for the tenants to have 
 an exceedingly high proportion of potatoes as for the owners. 
 This, too, is emphasized by the fact that a smaller number of 
 tenants have such a large proportion of their crop acres in 
 potatoes. On examining the cost of producing potatoes, as 
 previously shown, this is explained. The expenses for labor, 
 fertilizer, and seed furnished by the tenant remain about sta- 
 tionary. The landlord's interest charge against potatoes will 
 decrease with the increasing proportion of potatoes planted. 
 Therefore, the tenant's expenses per crop acre remain about the 
 same, while the landlord's decrease. Thus it is a more profitable 
 crop for the landlord as well as for the owners operating their 
 own farms. While potatoes are profitable for the tenants, they 
 are comparatively more profitable to the mvners and landlords. 
 
71 
 
 LABOR 
 
 
 
 
 INCOLIE 
 
 
 
 1^2100 
 
 
 / 
 
 / 
 
 1900 
 
 
 / 
 
 
 
 
 / 
 
 
 1700 
 
 
 r^ OMfi.'ERS / 
 
 
 1500 
 
 
 / 
 
 
 1300 
 
 
 / 
 
 
 1100 
 
 
 / TEIIAUTS / 
 
 
 900 
 
 
 l/^~^^^ 
 
 
 700 
 
 
 / 
 
 
 500 
 
 
 Jj 
 
 
 300 
 
 
 7 
 
 
 100 
 
 
 
 
 
 10^ 
 
 20J2 30^ A0% 50^ e>0% 
 
 70^ 
 
 
 PROPORTION CROP AGR7.S IN POTATOES 
 
 
 Fig. 23. — Relation of Proportion of Crop Acres in Potatoes to Labor 
 Income on 343 Farms in iVIonmoutii County, New Jersey. 
 
72 
 
 Potatoes, 
 
 Otter Crop 
 
 Other Crop 
 
 Receipts per 
 
 Receipts 
 
 Receipts 
 
 Acre. 
 
 per Farm. 
 
 per Acre, 
 
 $114.00 
 
 $931 
 
 $13.90 
 
 111.50 
 
 1,008 
 
 18.00 
 
 116.80 
 
 712 
 
 14.60 
 
 117.70 
 
 415 
 
 11.30 
 
 126.60 
 
 676 
 
 24.40 
 
 122.90 
 
 195 
 
 9.30 
 
 Stock Receipts 
 
 Total Farm 
 
 Total Acre 
 
 per Acre, 
 
 Receipts. 
 
 Receipts. 
 
 $4.30 
 
 $2,8.50 
 
 $35.30 
 
 4.40 
 
 3,586 
 
 47.40 
 
 6.50 
 
 4,442 
 
 58.70 
 
 5.10 
 
 4,421 
 
 65.40 
 
 5.80 
 
 5,^45 
 
 86.60 
 
 5.10 
 
 6,346 
 
 92.30 
 
 RELATION OF PROPORTION OF CROP ACRES IN POTATOES TO 
 
 RECEIPTS 
 
 Table Llll. — Relation of Proportion of Crop Acres in Potatoes to Receipts 
 
 on 194 Potato Farms Operated by Owners in IVlonmouth County, 
 
 New Jersey. 
 
 Per Cent, of Potatoes, 
 
 Crop Acres Receipts per 
 
 in Potatoes, Farm. 
 
 20 or less, $1,552 
 
 21 to 30 2,218 
 
 31 to 40 3,119 
 
 41 to 50 3,621 
 
 51 to 60 4,291 
 
 61 and over 5,889 
 
 Per Cent, of 
 
 Crop Acres Stock Receipts 
 
 in Potatoes. per Farm, 
 
 20 or less, $349 
 
 21 to 30, 331 
 
 31 to 40, 495 
 
 41 to 50 344 
 
 51 to 60, 361 
 
 61 and over, 348 
 
 Receipts per acre of potatoes increase slightly with the in- 
 crease in proportion of acres in potatoes. The farm receipts for 
 all crops other than potatoes are greater on the farms with a 
 smaller proportion of crop acres in potatoes, but the crop acre 
 receipts for these crops do not vary uniformly with the increase 
 of potato acreage. The stock receipts per farm are about the 
 same, though the farms with less potatoes have somewhat more 
 stock. The total farm receipts and acre receipts, including 
 receipts from miscellaneous sources, are much greater per farm, 
 as well as per acre, on the areas having a high proportion of 
 potatoes. 
 
 Table LIV. — Relation of Proportion of Crop Acres in Potatoes to Receipts 
 
 on 149 Potato Farms Operated by Tenants in IVIonmoutli County, 
 
 New Jersey. 
 
 Per Cent, of Potatoes, Potatoes, Other Crop Other Crop 
 
 Crop Acres Receipts Receipts Receipts Receipts 
 
 in Potatoes. per Farm, per Acre. per Farm. per Acre. 
 
 20 or less, $875 $63 $296 $4.90 
 
 21 to 30, 1,380 58 499 6.90 
 
 31 to 40 2,169 69 469 7.80 
 
 41 to 50 2,086 61 386 9.00 
 
 51 to 60 2,458 63 155 4.90 
 
 61 and over, 3,092 66 43 1.70 
 
 Per Cent, of 
 
 Crop Acres Stock Receipts 
 
 in Potatoes. per Farm. 
 
 20 or less $292 
 
 21 to 30 : 364 
 
 31 to 40 367 
 
 41 to 50, 182 
 
 51 to 60 239 
 
 61 and over. 186 
 
 Stock Receipts 
 
 Total Farm 
 
 Total Acre 
 
 per Acre. 
 
 Receipts, 
 
 Receipts. 
 
 $3.7 
 
 $1,519 
 
 $19.5 
 
 3.8 
 
 2,267 
 
 23.8 
 
 4.0 
 
 3,042 
 
 34.1 
 
 2.4 
 
 2,736 
 
 35.2 
 
 3.3 
 
 2,891 
 
 39.9 
 
 2.6 
 
 3,362 
 
 47.1 
 
73 
 
 The relation of tenants' receipts to the proportion of crop acres 
 in potatoes, is very similar to those of the owners', except that on 
 the tenant farms, receipts from other crops and stock decrease 
 with an increased proportion of potatoes. The tenant must use a 
 larger portion of his hay and corn to feed his horses, leaving a 
 smaller proportion to sell. The owner farms, too, have rela- 
 tively less stock on the farm^ with a high proportion of potatoes, 
 yet the receipts from the stock are about the same. Evidently, 
 more efficient use is made of the stock on the latter farms. 
 
 RELATION OF PROPORTION OF CROP ACRES IN POTATOES TO 
 
 EXPENSE 
 
 Table LV, — Relation of Proportion of Crop Acres in Potatoes to Expenses 
 
 on 194 Potato Farms Operated by Owners in IVIonmouth County, 
 
 New Jersey. 
 
 Per Cent. Total Cur- Total Cur- Farm Acre Cash Cash 
 
 of Crop Acres rent Farm rent Acre Fertilizer Fertilizer Lahor Cost Labor Cost 
 
 in Potatoes. Expense. Expense, Cost. Cost. per Farm, per Acre. 
 
 20 or less, $1,67.5 $20.70 $391 $4.S0 $.568 ,$7.00 
 
 21 to 30, 2.313 30.60 575 7.60 8-17 11.20 
 
 31 to 40, 2,551 33.70 669 8.80 913 12.10 
 
 41 to 50, 2,618 38.70 723 10.70 893 13.20 
 
 51 to 60, 2,489 40.30 802 13.00 726 11.80 
 
 61 and over, . . 3,302 48.00 1,123 16.30 952 13.80 
 
 The expenses increase materially with the increased potato 
 acreage, and of these expenses fertilizer is the one which in- 
 creases the most. L-abor increases slightly, but not to such a 
 great extent as one might suppose. Again, the receipts and ex- 
 penses are not only far greater on the farms high in potato 
 acreage, but the proportion of the receipts used for the expenses 
 is smaller on the farm high in potato acreage. Thus the latter 
 farms are doing business in a more economical manner than is 
 the case where less potatoes are raised and more from other 
 crops. It is a good indication that the farms of high potato 
 acreage are not approaching diminishing returns due to over 
 specialization. 
 
 Table LVI. — Relation of Proportion of Crop Acres in Potatoes to Expenses 
 
 on 149 Potato Farms Operated by Tenants in IVIonmouth County, 
 
 New Jersey. 
 
 Per Cent. Total Cur- Total Cur- Farm Acre Cash Cash 
 
 of Crop Acres rent Farm rent Acre Fertilizer Fertilizer Lahor Cost Lahor Cost 
 
 in Potatoes. Expense. Expense. Cost. Cost. per Farm, per Acre, 
 
 20 or less $1,171 $15.20 $210 $2.60 $618.30 $7.80 
 
 21 to 30, 1,602 16.80 323 3.30 779.30 8.20 
 
 31 to 40, 1,884 21.10 467 4.90 857.10 9.00 
 
 41 to 50, 1,614 20.90 391 5.10 742.60 9.70 
 
 51 to 60, 1,740 24.00 440 6.00 702.70 9.80 
 
 61 and over, . . 2,011 28.20 693 9.70 695.00 9.50 
 
74 
 
 The tenants need to use a larger proportion of their receipts 
 to meet current expenses than the owners. While they get but 
 half of the receipts, their current expense is more than half of 
 the owners' on the same type of a farm. When comparing the 
 owners and tenants, it is quite noticeable that the tenants have 
 only about three-fourths so heavy a cash labor expense as the 
 owners. As with the owners, the cash labor expense is somewhat 
 greater for farms higher in potato acreage, but the difference is 
 not large. 
 
 RELATION OF PROPORTION OF CROP ACRES IN POTATOES TO 
 
 LABOR 
 
 Table LVII. — Relation of Proportion of Crop Acres In Potatoes to Man, 
 
 Horse and Equipment Labor on 194 Potato Farms Operated by 
 
 Owners in Monmouth County, New Jersey. 
 
 Per Cent. Crop Acres 
 
 Crop Acres Crop Acres Crop Acres per $100 Work Units Work Units 
 
 in Potatoes. per Man. per Horse. Equipment. per Man. per Horse. 
 
 20 or less 35.3 17.9 12.6 220.2 83.5 
 
 21 to 30 26.5 14.1 0.5 202.1 80.6 
 
 31 to 40 27.1 13.5 8.2 215.6 §3.5 
 
 41 to 50 25.8 13.1 7.4 200.1 81.7 
 
 51 to 60 25.8 11.4 7.0 230.2 86.2 
 
 61 and over 22.9 11.7 7.7 195.6 93.2 
 
 While the crop acres per man, horse and equipment labor are 
 more for the farms with less potatoes, if we omit the first class 
 the difference is not great. By examining the man and horse 
 work units, which are a more accurate measure as they include 
 the live stock and give the proper value to all the different 
 crops for all the labor performed upon them, we find the men 
 and horses get practically the same amount of work accomplished 
 on all the farms regardless of potato acreage. 
 
 Table LVII I. — Relation of Proportion of Crop Acres in Potatoes to Man, 
 
 Horse and Machinery Labor on 149 Potato Farms Operated 
 
 by Tenants in Monmouth County, New Jersey. 
 
 Per Cent. Crop Acres 
 
 Crop Acres Crop Acres Crop Acres $100 of Work Units Work Units 
 
 in Potatoes. per Man. per Horse, Equipment. per Man. per Horse, 
 
 20 or less, 32.4 15.9 13.9 192 72.0 
 
 21 to 30 34.8 17.2 11.1 226 87.5 
 
 31 to 40 31.2 15.5 11.2 238 89.2 
 
 41 to 50 27.6 13.1 10.0 230 86.4 
 
 51 to 60, 28.8 12.0 <?.2 257 89.6 
 
 61 and over 27.6 12.9 11.6 261 99.6 
 
 As on the owner farms, the number of crop acres per man, 
 horse and $ioo worth of equipment is greater on the farms with 
 the smaller potato acreage. Again, the difference is not striking. 
 The man and horse work units are, on the other hand, greater 
 per man and per horse on the farms having the larger potato 
 
, 75 
 
 acreage. According to the data, these farms with a high pro- 
 portion of all crop acres in potatoes are more economical and 
 efficient in the use of labor than are those with a smaller acre- 
 age of potatoes, but with a larger proportion of other crops and 
 stock. In this locality potatoes lend themselves to high special- 
 ization, and are fully as economical in the use of horse and man 
 labor as are other crops and stock, when a more diversified type 
 of farming is followed. Diversification, with a larger number 
 of crops and with more stock, does not provide for the use of 
 labor more efficiently on these farms. In many locahties this 
 would not be true, but here potatoes give a fairly uniform dis- 
 tribution of labor. 
 
 Some of the plowing is done during the winter whenever a 
 period of favorable weather prevails. The soils are light and 
 become dry in a very short time after rains. Hence, tillage is 
 not as greatly hindered by adverse weather conditions as would 
 be the case in a heavier soil. Ordinarily, plowing is fairly well 
 completed by the latter part of March. Planting usually begins 
 at this time and lasts up to the middle of April, Cultivation 
 begins as soon as planting is completed and lasts up until July. 
 Digging begins in this month and continues until October. 
 After digging the fields are seeded to cover crops. This leaves 
 but a short interval during July when other labor does not con- 
 flict with potatoes. During the late fall and winter the potato 
 fertilizer and seed is hauled while some of the plowing is done 
 the latter part of the winter. During the break in July the hay 
 and winter grain, if grown, is harvested. These two crops do 
 not conflict materially with potatoes. Potatoes, as grown in 
 this region, allow high specialization without lessening the labor 
 efficiency. In fact, it appears to make a more even distribution 
 than is found on many general crop farms. 
 
 RELATION OF PROPORTION OF CROP ACRES IN POTATOES TO 
 
 YIELD 
 
 Table LIX. — Relation of Proportion of Crop Acres in Potatoes to Yield on 
 
 194 Potato Farms Operated by Owners in IVIonmouth County, 
 
 New Jersey. 
 
 Per Cent, of 
 
 Crop Acres No. of Farm Yield, Acre Yield, 
 
 in Potatoes. " Farms. Bbls. Bbls, 
 
 20 or less, 27 1.018 74.7 
 
 21 to 30, 48 1,598 80.3 
 
 31 to 40 47 2,156 80.7 
 
 41 to 50, 38 2,539 82.5 
 
 51 to 60 16 3,001 88.2 
 
 61 and over, 18 4,129 86.2 
 
 These data look very promising for the more highly specialized 
 
76 
 
 farms. The yields are not only being maintained, but are slightly 
 increased, with an increase in the proportion of potatoes. This is 
 in view of successive cropping, which is a more frequent practice 
 on the farms having a high potato acreage. 
 
 Table LX. — Relation of Proportion of Crop Acres in Potatoes to Yield on 
 
 149 Potato Farms Operated by Tenants in Monmouth County, 
 
 New Jersey. 
 
 Per Cent, of 
 
 Crop Acres No, of Tarm Yield, Acre Yield, 
 
 in Potatoes. Farms. Bbls. Bbls. 
 
 20 or less 11 9S1 Tl.O 
 
 21 to 30 47 1,893 79.3 
 
 31 to 40 45 2,752 85.1 
 
 41 to 50 27 3,050 88.9 
 
 51 to 60 11 3,454 87.7 
 
 61 and over 8 4,148 88.2 
 
 The tenants, too, have a higher acre yield upon the farms with 
 the highest ].>otato acreage. This is a very convincing answer to 
 the frequently asked question whether the highly specialized 
 potato farms in Monmouth County can maintain their fertility, 
 organic matter, and yield without a more careful rotation than 
 many of the more prominent growers follow. Their yields are 
 being not only maintained but increased. Successive cropping 
 evidently does not have an injurious effect upon the potato' yield. 
 As long as diseases can be kept under control there appears to be 
 no material danger from successive cropping. Whether this will 
 be continued indefinitely can be determined only by future results 
 in this area. Some unknown factor may enter to change con- 
 ditions, but the present indications show no* danger. 
 
 RELATION OF PROPORTION OF CROP ACRES IN POTATOES TO 
 
 SUCCESS 
 
 Table LXI. — Relation of Proportion of Crop Acres in Potatoes to a Given 
 
 Labor Income on 194 Potato Farms Operated by Owners in 
 
 Monmouth County New Jersey. 
 
 , Labor Income 1 
 
 $1 $401 $701 $1,001 $1,501 $2,001 $2,501 
 
 Per Cent. Crop No. of Less to to to to to to and 
 
 Acres in Potatoes. Farms, than $1. $400. $700. $1,000. $1,500. $2,000. $2,500. Over. 
 
 20 or less, 27 5 6 7 4 4 1 
 
 21 to 30 48 14 10 8 3 9 1 3 
 
 31 to 40, 47 12 8 • 2 5 7 3 6 4 
 
 41 to 50 38 6 5 7 5 6 4 1 4 
 
 51 to 60, 16 1 4 1 1 4 4 1 
 
 61 and over 18 1 1 1 3 2 1,2 7 
 
 Farms in all classes lost money regardless of the potato acreage. 
 However, the losses were less frequent on the farms with the 
 larger proportions of potatoes, while on farms with yo per cent. 
 of the crop acres in potatoes over one-third the total number O'f 
 
77 
 
 owners made a labor income of over $2,500. Only one farm out 
 of 27 produced over $1,500 in the class with less than 20 per 
 cent, crop acres in potatoes. 
 
 Table LXII. — Relation of Proportion of Crop Acres in Potatoes to a Given 
 
 Labor Income on 149 Potato Farms Operated by Tenants in 
 
 IVlonmouth County, New Jersey. 
 
 I Labor Income , 
 
 ?1 $401 $701 $1,001 $1,501 $2,001 $2,501 
 
 Per Cent. Crop No. of Less to to to to ' to to and 
 
 Acres in Potatoes. Farms, than $1. $400. $700. $1,000. $1,500. $2,000. $2,500. Over. 
 
 20 or less, 11 3 4 3 1 
 
 21 to 30 47, 6 17 13 3 6 2 
 
 31 to 40, 45 3 11 5 9 9 4 3 1 
 
 41 to 50, 27 . . 6 7 4 2 4 3 1 
 
 51 to 60 11 . . 2 3 2 2 2 
 
 61 and over, 8 .. .. 2 1 2 2 1 2 
 
 The results for the tenants are more clearly defined than for 
 the owners. Hiere none of the tenants who^ had 41 per cent, or 
 more of their farm in potatoes lost money. 
 
 It is quite evident that these farms have at least not passed the 
 highest profitable proportion of potatoes. The highest profits are 
 obtained when two acres out of every three are planted to the 
 potato crop. The third crop acre will furnish sufficient feed for 
 the work hoises and a few cows, pigs and chickens necessary to 
 supply the farmer's table with butter, milk, eggs, and meat. A 
 single crop v^/hich permits successive cropping without decreasing 
 its production, which makes economical use of man, horse and 
 machinery labor, and which provides for a large farm business 
 on a moderate-sized farm, makes a very successful crop for 
 specialization. Potatoes on these farms prove to be the crop 
 having all these characteristics. One other crop deserves atten- 
 tion at this point, namely, alfalfa, which is found on a compara- 
 tively few places, averaging about an acre per farm. AVhile it 
 would interfere somewhat with the labor of potato raising in 
 June and August or September, yet it might furnish a far more 
 satisfactO'ry hay crop than the grasses. This is especially true 
 on the farms with a small acreage, since it would allow a larger 
 area for potatoes and corn. While a few farmers are adopting 
 alfalfa in this capacity, the number is not so great as it should be 
 in order to bring the greatest profit. The crops then might be 
 alfalfa for hay for the horses and a few cows or other stock, 
 corn for horses and stock, with the remainder of the farm in 
 potatoes so far as the soils will permit. This would rnake the 
 most profitable crop combination for these farms. This would 
 eliminate a large area of grass for hay, and rye and wheat 
 for grain to sell, as these soils are not well adapted to grass and 
 
78 
 
 small grains. However, rye is a desirable crop to grow with 
 co'wpeas or soybeans in securing sufficient organic matter to build 
 up the soils which are light or deficient in organic content. 
 
 The potato thus lends itself admirably to specialization. It is 
 efficient in the use of labor and equipment. It provides for good 
 profits, and continuous culture is not decreasing the yield. 
 
 This is an instance when specialization rather than diversifica- 
 tion is most profitable. The prevailing opinion of men interested 
 in farm management work that diversity and stock are essential 
 toi highest profits is erroneous if applied to an area such as this 
 potato region. Recommendations in farm management practice 
 should be made with the same consideration as when recommend- 
 ing a fertilizer application. With certain conditions certain prin- 
 ciples are applicable. Too broad applications should not be made. 
 
 -^jSgii, STOCK 
 
 Many types of farming other than truck-raising and fruit 
 growing or similar intensive types, require that a certain propor- 
 tion of live stock be kept in order to maintain fertility, distribute 
 labor more uniformly, add to the diversity, and use up waste 
 products or cheap feed from the farm. Surveys on such areas 
 usually show that a certain amount of live stock brings greater 
 profit to the farmer, and it is recommended that stock be added 
 tO' the farm business. This potato area has many farms which 
 keep only sufficient stock to furnish the farmer's family with 
 milk, butter, eggs and meat. Years ago these farms were far 
 more heavily stocked, and at present we sometimes hear it de- 
 plored that the region has let its live-stodk industry diminish to 
 such a marked degree. The following data will show to what 
 extent these farms should increase or decrease their live stock in 
 order to have the proper proportion. 
 
 RELATION OF LIVE STOCK TO LABOR INCOME 
 
 Table LXIII. — Relation of Live Stock to Profits on 194 Potato Farms Op- 
 erated by Owners in IVIonmoutli County, New Jersey. 
 
 stock Receipts, Productive No. with 
 
 per Cent, of No. of Animal TTnits Laljor Minus Lalior 
 
 Total. Farms. per Farm. Income, Income. 
 
 to 5 63 3.6 $1,256 15 
 
 5.1 to 10 63 5.2 803 12 
 
 10.1 to 20, 44 5.7 740 8 
 
 20.1 to 30 13 7.9 612 1 
 
 30.1 and over 11 10.5 742 3 
 
 As the farmers increase the stock on the farm, their profits 
 decrease. The farms having an average of 3.6 productive animal 
 
79 
 
 units or an equivalent 3 cows and 60 chickens, which is the 
 equivalent of one cow for each 20.9 crop acres, make a larger 
 labor income than any of the succeeding classes which have more 
 stock. The relation is consistent for all excepting the last class, 
 which increases slightly above that of the preceding group. 
 
 
 ■-.'' 
 
 
 LABOR 
 
 imcol:e 
 
 $1200 
 
 r^ 
 
 / 
 
 lodo 
 
 - ' / 
 
 ' 
 
 800 
 
 ^ 'j - 
 
 
 600 
 
 -^-^ 
 
 
 
 5 10 lb 
 
 20 
 
 
 CROP ACRSS; FOR EACH PRODUCTIVE ANIIiAI. UlIIT 
 
 
 Fig. 24 Relation of Live Stock to Profits on 194 Farms Operated by 
 
 Owners in Monmoutii County, New Jersey. 
 
 Several factors bear upon this last class to make it approach 
 higher profits. Eight out of eleven of these farms are situated 
 on the edge of the typical potato region and this location influ- 
 ences their stock returns abnormally. 
 

 Productive 
 
 
 No. with 
 
 No. of 
 
 Animal Units 
 
 Labor 
 
 Minus Laljor 
 
 Farms. 
 
 per Farm. 
 
 Income, 
 
 Income. 
 
 35 
 
 4.5 
 
 $891 
 
 1 
 
 38 
 
 6.6 
 
 682 
 
 5 
 
 48 
 
 6.2 
 
 733 
 
 4 
 
 21 
 
 10.5 
 
 696 
 
 2 
 
 7 
 
 11.6 
 
 749 
 
 
 
 8o 
 
 Table LXIV. — Relation of Live Stock to Profits on 149 Potato Farms Op- 
 erated by Tenants in Monmouth County, New Jersey. 
 
 stock Receipts, 
 
 per Cent, of 
 
 Total. 
 
 to 5, 
 
 5.1 to 10 
 
 10.1 to 20 
 
 20.1 to 30 
 
 30.1 and over, .... 
 
 The tenant farms do not show the same relation as do those 
 of the owners. This may be influenced by the fact that the 
 tenants do not always share the stock receipts with the land- 
 lord. In such a case the tenants have a better bargain in live 
 stock than in potatoes, and should receive comparatively greater 
 returns. Therefore, as long as the tenants can stock the farms 
 and keep the major portion of their stock receipts, they can 
 afford to keep stock. However, there is no apparent advantage 
 in doing so, for their returns are not any greater than those of 
 the farmers who keep no more stock than what actually is needed 
 for family use. 
 
 RELATION OF LIVE STOCK TO TgBHiD AND FERTILIZERS COST 
 
 Table LXV. — Relation of Stock Receipts and Amount of Stock per Farm, 
 
 to Acre Yields and Fertilizer Cost per Crop Acre on 194 Potato 
 
 Farms Operated by Owners in Monmouth County, 
 
 New Jersey. 
 
 stock 
 
 
 Crop Acres 
 
 
 
 
 
 Receipts, 
 
 
 for Each Pro- 
 
 Acres of 
 
 
 Potato 
 
 Fertilizer 
 
 Per Cent. 
 
 No. of 
 
 ductive Ani- 
 
 Potatoes 
 
 Other 
 
 Yield 
 
 Cost per 
 
 of Total. 
 
 Farms. 
 
 mal Unit. 
 
 per Farm. 
 
 Crop Acres. 
 
 per Acre. 
 
 Crop Acre. 
 
 5% or less, . . . 
 
 63 
 
 20.9 
 
 30.9 
 
 44.4 
 
 86.7 
 
 $10.60 
 
 5.1 to 10 
 
 63 
 
 14.8 
 
 27.9 
 
 49.1 
 
 81.4 
 
 9.10 
 
 10.1 to 20, 
 
 44 
 
 11.7 
 
 22.4 
 
 44.4 
 
 80.2 
 
 8.90 
 
 20.1 to 30, 
 
 13 
 
 9.2 
 
 19.3 
 
 53.1 
 
 78.3 
 
 7.30 
 
 30.1 and over, . 
 
 11 
 
 5.8 
 
 17.9 
 
 42.8 
 
 73.2 
 
 9.60 
 
 The statement that live stock is essential to maintain fertility 
 in extensive farming is not borne out by these figures. In fact, 
 the farms with the smaller proportion of live stock are produc- 
 ing greater acre yields of potatoes than those more heavily 
 stocked. There is a consistent decrease in yield as the propor- 
 tion O'f stock increases. 
 
 The amount of fertilizer purchased per crop acre is somewhat 
 greater for those with the smaller proportion of live stock. But 
 these farms, too, have a larger proportion of the crops in pota- 
 toes. As the major portion of the fertilizer is applied to the 
 potatoes, it is evident that the more heavily stocked farms are 
 using less fertilizer per farm but more per crop acre of potatoes. 
 This might indicate that the stocked areas are on poorer soils. 
 
but this does not appear to be the case. From these data it ap- 
 pears that a system of potato farming- with green manures and 
 commercial fertihzers is more efficient in maintaining and increas- 
 ing fertility in ths area than is the use of live stock. The lightly 
 stocked farms purchased about 7 tons of fertilizer more than 
 those heavily stocked. These seven tons of commercial fertil- 
 izers, applied with the green manure cover crop, apparently is 
 of more value in adding fertility than are the extra 6.9 animal 
 units on these farms. It is merely a question of balancing one 
 practice against another in maintaining fertility and production 
 on the farm. In this case live stock apparently is not equal to 
 commercial fertilizers and green manure cover crops as they are 
 used in the area. 
 
 Table LXVI. — Relation of Stock Receipts and Amount of Stock per Farm, 
 
 to Acre Yields and Fertilizer Cost per Crop Acre on 149 Potato 
 
 Farms Operated by Tenants in Monmouth County, 
 
 New Jersey. 
 
 Stock 
 
 
 Crop Acres 
 
 
 
 
 
 Receipts, 
 
 
 for Each Pro- 
 
 Acres of 
 
 
 Potato 
 
 Fertilizer 
 
 Per Cent. 
 
 No. of 
 
 ductive Ani- 
 
 Potatoes 
 
 Other 
 
 Yield 
 
 Cost per 
 
 of Total. 
 
 Farms. 
 
 mal TTnit. 
 
 per Farm. 
 
 Crop Acres. 
 
 per Acre. 
 
 Crop Acre, 
 
 5% or less, . . . 
 
 35 
 
 17.4 
 
 32.7 
 
 45.8 
 
 90.4 
 
 $10.30 
 
 5.1 to 10 
 
 38 
 
 13.8 
 
 32.4 
 
 56.7 
 
 85.9 
 
 S.90 
 
 10.1 to 20, 
 
 48 
 
 13.8 
 
 28.4 
 
 58.1 
 
 81.4 
 
 8.40 
 
 20.1 to SO 
 
 21 
 
 8.6 
 
 25.6 
 
 65.6 
 
 82.6 
 
 7.60 
 
 80.1 and over,. 
 
 7 
 
 8.8 
 
 23.0 
 
 79.7 
 
 77.0 
 
 5.30 
 
 The tenants have larger farms and fertilize a little less heavily 
 than do the owners. The seven farms most heavily stocked have 
 decreased their fertilizer expense to almost half that of the 
 lightly stocked farms. However, they too have only half of the 
 proporton of acres in potatoes as the first class under 5 per cent. 
 stock receipts and with 17.4 acres per animal unit. Comparing 
 live stock with commercial fertilizer and green manure cover 
 crops, the tenants' farms are similar to those of the owners in 
 that the most heavily stocked farms are not so productive as 
 those more lightly stocked. 
 
 RELATION OF LIVE STOCK TO LABOR 
 
 Table LXVI I.— Relation of Live Stock to Horse and IVlan Labor on 194 
 
 Potato Farms Operated by Owners in Monmouth County, 
 
 New Jersey. 
 
 Acres for 
 
 Stock Receipts, Productive Each Produo- Cash Labor 
 
 per Cent. No. of Animal TTnits tive Animal Crop Acres per Crop 
 
 of Total. Farms. per Farm. Unit. per Horse. Acre. 
 
 5% or less, 63 3.6 20.9 l^-l 511-60 
 
 5.1 to 10, 63 5.2 14.8 13.6 11.80 
 
 10.1 to 20, ^ 44 5.7 ll.T 13.4 11.30 
 
 20.1 to so! 13 7.9 9.2 13.6 10.60 
 
 30.1 and over, ... n 10.5 5.8 13.4 9.30 
 
 6 EX 
 
82 
 
 The increased proportion of live stock does not materially 
 affect the labor expense upon the farm. But since the farms 
 with most stock have the smallest prop'ortion of potatoes, the 
 direct comparison is not satisfactory. By comparing the farms 
 with 10.5 animal units per farm with those of 3.6, we find on 
 the more heavily stocked farms seven-tenths of an acre less per 
 horse, and $2.30 less per crop acre paid out for labor. On the 
 other hand, these farms have less potatoes, a condition which 
 probably might infiuence the labor cost to some extent. These 
 stock farms have 13 acres of potatoes less per farm but the same 
 number of other crop acres. These extra 13. acres of potatoes 
 would require considerably more man and horse labor than the 
 stock on the stock farms. In comparison with the previous class 
 the difference is less marked. The live stock does not appear 
 to make any appreciable difference in the more economical use 
 of man or horse labor on these farms. 
 
 Table LXVIII. — Relation of Live Stock to Horse and Man Labor on 149 
 Potato Farms Operated by Tenants in iVlonmoutli County, 
 
 New Jersey. ' 
 
 Crop Acres 
 
 Stock Receipts, Productive for Each Cash 
 
 per Cent. No, of Animal TTnits Productive Crop Acres Labor per 
 
 of Total. Farms, per Farm. Animal TTnit. per Horse. Crop Aore« 
 
 5% or less, 3o 4.5 17.4 14.1 $9.20 
 
 5.1 to 10 3S 6.6 l.-J.o 15.4 10.10 
 
 10.1 to 20 48 6.2 l.'^.S 15.7 8.20 
 
 20.1 to 30 21 10.5 8.6 16.3 8.40 
 
 30.1 and over, ... 7 11.6 8.8 17.9 7.80 
 
 As on the owner farms, there is no relation between cash 
 labor cost and animal units per farm. A better and more satis- 
 factory means of measuring the effect of live stock on the use 
 of labor on these fanns is that of the measure of work units. 
 
 Table LXIX. — Relation of Live Stock to the Use of Man and Horse Labor 
 on 343 Potato Farms Operatetf in Monmouth County, fiew Jersey. 
 
 stock Receipts, 
 per Cent, 
 of Total. 
 
 5% or less 
 
 5.1 to 10, ....... 
 
 10.1 to 20, 
 
 20.1 to 30, ... 
 
 30.1 and over, . ... 
 
 , Ov 
 
 Work TJnits 
 per Matu 
 197.6 
 196.4 
 191.8 
 2.S2.I 
 284.2 
 
 mers < 
 
 Work TTnitB 
 per Horse, 
 87.8 
 80.7 
 78.9 
 74.8 
 88.5 
 
 , .Leu 
 
 Work Units 
 per Han, 
 
 228.2 
 
 226.5 
 
 228.6 
 
 212.5 
 
 237.3 
 
 ajmk , 
 
 Work TTnitB 
 per Horse, 
 85.8 
 88.1 
 82.3 
 86.1 
 93.0 
 
 When measured by the work units, live stock shows no appre- 
 ciable difference in the more economical use of labor. This, 
 then, is another reason why it is not more profitable on these 
 farms. 
 
83 
 
 RELATION OF PROPORTION OF LIVE STOCK TO ANIMAL UNIT 
 
 . RECEIPTS 
 
 Table LXX. — Relation of Proportion of Total Receipts from Live Stock to 
 
 Total Stock and Animal Unit Receipts on 343 Potato Farms in 
 
 IVIonmouth County, New Jersey. 
 
 Stock , Owners — ^^ , , Tenants ^ ,. Landlords , 
 
 Receipts, Eeceipts Receipts Receipts Receipts Receipts Receipts 
 
 Per Cent. per per Animal per per Animal per per Animal 
 
 of Total. Farm, tTnit. Farm. Unit. Farm. TTnit. 
 
 5% or less, .. $74.10 $20.30 $52.40 $11.60 $34.70 $7.70 
 
 5.1 to 10 309.50 59.60 204.00 30.90 62.20 9.30 
 
 10.1 to 20, 525.50 91.20 352.70 56.90 41.80 6.70 
 
 20.1 to 30 897.80 113.60 621.10 59.00 111.70 10.60 
 
 80.1 and over,. 1,198.90 114.20 900.80 87.80 259.10 22.30 
 
 On the farms with the lesser number of animal units, most of 
 the stock products are used by the farmer and his famliy. This 
 accounts for the low returns per animal unit. The farms with the 
 higher proportion of stock get good returns from their animals 
 and should be making profits with such returns. However, it is 
 not as much a question of profit but rather a question of what is 
 most profitable. In this case stock is unable to compete with 
 potatoes. These farmers are able to maintain the fertility and 
 give satisfactory employment to their labor without the use of 
 live stock. The amount of cheap feed and pasture in this area is 
 small. Therefore, it is necessary to keep the stock on land high 
 in value and on feed having a high market value. It is quite 
 evident that keeping live stock cannot be done on these farms in 
 a profitable way so long as potatoes are successful. The relation 
 is somewhat dififerent for the tenant farms, since the tenants in 
 many cases do not share the stock receipts. When the landlord 
 furnishes all the land to raise the hay and maintains the build- 
 ings the tenant is given a good bargain with stock. This, then, 
 accounts for the tenants' labor income not decreasing as much 
 as that of the owners with the greater amount of live stock kept 
 on.the farms. However, in no case would it appear advantageous 
 for the region to increase its live stock above the amount needed 
 to supply the farmers' family. After this need is met, a greater 
 amount adds nothing to the profits of farms adapted to potato 
 production. This again is a diversion from the results reported 
 in nearly all other surveys made up to the present time. It is 
 universally supposed that stock is needed to give employment to 
 labor during the season when crops are not growing, use up 
 waste products and low grade feed, provide for a more stable 
 income, and make manure to maintain fertility. Yet on these 
 farms none of these platitudes apply. They clearly show that 
 stock does not increase the efficiency in any of these phases. 
 The very fact that stock is decreasing in the area shows that the 
 
84 
 
 farmers know that it is not advantageous for the greater number 
 of the individuals. Like all other so-called principles of agricul- 
 ture, the recommendation that a farmer keep stock so as to 
 increase the receipts from his farm, should be made with careful 
 consideration of his individual conditions, for what is true with 
 one condition is not true with another. There may be a few 
 farms of this area of which stock is profitable, but usually it is 
 not with present conditions. 
 
 DISTANCE FROM THE RAILROAD 
 
 For some types of farming the distance to market or the rail- 
 road is a very important factor influencing farm profits. On 
 others this is of minor importance. Whether the distance from 
 the market or railroad station is of great importance in the pur- 
 chase of a farm or the growing of certain crops and animals 
 depends much upon the type of farming. Potatoes are a bulky 
 product to market, and one might expect that the distance to 
 market would be of considerable influence upon the profits and 
 production of potatoes. Practically all of the crop is hauled to 
 the railroad station directly from the field, an operation which 
 requires much labor if the distance is great. 
 
 RELATION OF DISTANCE TO RAILROAD AND PROFITS 
 
 Table LXXI. — Relation of Distance to the Railroad Station to Labor In- 
 come on 194 Farms Operated by Owners In Monmoutht 
 County, New Jersey. 
 
 No, with 
 
 Miles to No. of Per Cent. labor Minus Xabor 
 
 Eailroad. Farms. of Total. Income. Income. 
 
 1 or less 4S 25 $1,167 6 
 
 1.1 to 2 51 26 842 8 
 
 2.1 to 3 48 25 761 11 
 
 3.1 to 4, 20 10 1,592 4 
 
 4.1 and over, 27 14 403 10 
 
 The farms nearer to the railroad are making a larger labor 
 income than those farther away. As the distance increases the 
 profits decrease. Owners of the last class of farms having over 
 4 miles to haul their potatoes are not making more than the 
 hired men. Not only do these situated farther away from the 
 railroad average less profits, but the proportion losing money 
 increases with the distance from the railroad. The men who 
 are between 3; and 4 miles are making unusually large labor in- 
 comes. Upon close analysis of this class it is found that they 
 have larger crop areas per farm than any other class, a larger 
 acreage of potatoes, and the highest farm receipts from all three 
 main sources, potatoes, other crops and stock. Further, there 
 
85 
 
 were several very unusual farms among- these twenty to make 
 the returns very high for the whole number. Since the number 
 of these potato farms rapidly grows less after a distance of 
 3 miles is exceeded, it is plainly shown that the farmers realize 
 the decreased opportunity in raising potatoes under such condi- 
 tions. Distance from the railroad station is one of the limiting 
 factors for profitable production of the crop and should not be 
 overlooked by anyone contemplating potato farming. 
 
 Table LXXII.^ — Relation of Distance to the Railroad Station to Labor In- 
 come on 149 Potato Farms Operated by Tenants in Mon- 
 mouth County, New Jersey. 
 
 No. with 
 
 Miles to No. of Per Cent. Labor Minns Labor 
 
 Railroad. Farms. of Total. Income. Income. 
 
 1 or less, 31 21 $904 3 
 
 1.1 to 2, , 53 35 723 4 
 
 2.1 to 3 24 16 712 
 
 3.1 to 4 16 11 568 2 
 
 4.1 and over 25 17 786 3 
 
 The difference for the tenants is not as great as that for the 
 owners, due possibly to the fact that the tenant keeps miore stock 
 when farther from the railroad. Since the tenant very frequently 
 keeps all the stock receipts from hogs, chickens, and a small 
 number of cows, stock is more profitable for him than for the 
 owner. Nevertheless it is quite evident that profits for the tenant 
 decrease as the distance from the railroad increases. 
 
 RELATION OF DISTANCE TO RAILROAD TO FARM VALUES. 
 
 Table LXXIII. — Relation of Distance to Railroad and Farm Values on 194 
 
 Potato Farms Operated by Owners In Monmouth County, 
 
 New Jersey 
 
 Farm Acre Crop Acre 
 Value Com- Value Com- 
 pared with pared with 
 That of Farmfl That of Farms 
 One Mile or One Mile or 
 - Miles to Farm Farm Acre Crop Acre Less from Less from 
 Railroad. Value, Value. Value. Railroad. Railroad. 
 
 1 or less, $14,297 $167.30 $209.00 $000 $0.00 
 
 1.1 to 2, 13,559 147.60 197.70 —19.70 —11.30 
 
 2.1 to 3 « 13,363 135.80 189.70 —31.50 —19.30 
 
 S.l to 4, 14,801 128.40 163.00 —38.90 . —46.00 
 
 4.1 and over, .... 14,074 121.20 198.70 —46.10 -10.30 
 
 The farm acre value decreases uniformly with distance from 
 the railroad, but the crop acre value decreases far less. Farms 
 are too frequently valued at their total area without sufficient 
 consideration being given to that part which can be cropped 
 economically. The difference between the crop acre value and 
 farm acre value for the near farms is $41.70, whereas for thte 
 distant farms it is $77.50. Farms rated by their crop acres can 
 be bought about as cheap near the railroad as farther away. On 
 the other hand, those near the railroad are much more profitable. 
 
VALUE 
 PRR ACRS 
 
 $!Z2D 
 
 
 eoo 
 
 180 
 
 160 
 
 140 
 
 120 
 
 SHOP ACHE 
 
 VALUE 
 
 4 S 
 
 iilL^S TO SAII^OAD 
 
 Fig. 25. — Relation of Distance to Railroad to Farm Acre and Crop Acre 
 Value on 343 Potato Farms in Monmoutln County, New Jersey. 
 
8; 
 
 Table LXXIV. — Relation of Distance to Railroad' to Farm Values on 149 
 
 Potato Farms Operated by Tenants in IVIonmouth County, 
 
 New Jersey. 
 
 Farm Acre Crop Acre 
 Value Cora- Value Com- 
 pared with pared with 
 That of Farms That of Farms 
 One Mile or One Mile or 
 Kiles to Farm Farm Acre Crop Acre Less from Les3 from 
 B-ailroadi Value. Value. Value. Railroad. Railroad. 
 
 1 or less $16,516 $164.40 $203.30 $00.00 $0.00 
 
 1.1 to 2 18,536 148.70 217.80 -'—15.70 -1-14 00 
 
 2.1 to 3 15,233 141.60 187.80 —22.80 —15.50 
 
 3.1 to -4 17,312 136.10 205.10 —28.30 -f-1.80 
 
 4.1 and over 15,804 105.00 165.30 —59.40 —38.00 
 
 The tenant farms decrease less in crop acre value than do the 
 owners, yet the difference is not uniform. The farm values 
 decrease uniformly with an increase in distance, as they should. 
 
 The crop acres are the portion of the farm from which the 
 major receipts are derived. Again, a crop acre 4 miles from the 
 railroad would not be worth as much as one a mile away, because 
 of increased cost of operation. When farm values are based 
 upon total farm acreage they are frequently misleading. A 
 calculation based upon the acres which are the source of crop 
 production would be a more accurate method. For the produc- 
 tion of potatoes the farms nearer the railroad are comparatively 
 cheaper than those farther away. 
 
 RELATION OF DISTANCE TO RAILROAD TO CROPS, STOCK AND 
 
 LABOR 
 
 Table LXXV. — Relation of Distance to the Railroad to Crops and Stock on 
 343 Potato Farms In IVIonmouth County, New Jersey. 
 
 Miles to 
 Railroad. 
 1 or less, ,-. 
 1.1 to 2, .„- 
 2.1 to 3, ... 
 3.1 to 4, .., 
 4.1 and over. 
 
 Miles to 
 Railroad, 
 1 or less, . - 
 1.1 to 2, .„- 
 2.1 to 3, „,. 
 3.1 to 4, .,. 
 4.1 and over. 
 
 ' 
 
 uwnera - 
 
 
 Productive 
 
 Acres of 
 
 Acres of 
 
 Total Crop 
 
 Animal Units 
 
 Potatoes. 
 
 Other Crops. 
 
 Acres. 
 
 per Farm. 
 
 29.6 
 
 38.8 
 
 ■ 68.4 
 
 5.0 
 
 24.1 
 
 43.5 
 
 67.6 
 
 4.8 
 
 27.5 
 
 51.5 
 
 78.0 
 
 6.2 
 
 33.2 
 
 54.5 
 
 87.7 
 
 7.2 
 
 19.1 
 
 51.7 
 
 . Tonairb 
 
 70.8 
 J 
 
 5.2 
 
 Productive 
 
 Acres of 
 
 Acres of 
 
 Total Crop 
 
 Animal Units 
 
 Potatoes, 
 
 Other Crops. 
 
 Acres, 
 
 per Farm. 
 
 S6.5 
 
 44.0 
 
 SO. 5 
 
 3.4 
 
 28.7 
 
 56.6 
 
 85.3 
 
 4.9 
 
 29.1 
 
 61.1 
 
 90.2 
 
 6.2 
 
 26.3 
 
 67.8 
 
 84.4 
 
 5.2 
 
 2S.6 
 
 69.0 
 
 95.6 
 
 ^ 
 
 As the distance from the railroad increases the acreage of 
 potatoes decreases, while the proportion of other crop acres and 
 animal units increases. As the distance increases, therefore, it 
 appears that potatoes are to some extent replaced by other crops, 
 
such as corn, rye, wheat and stock. This indicates again that the 
 potato crop becomes less profitable with increased distance. 
 
 Table LXXVI. — Relation of Distance to the Railroad to Work Units on 343 
 Potato Farms in Monmouth County, New Jersey. 
 
 , Owners » , ^ — Tenants , 
 
 Miles to Work Units Work Units Work Units Work Units 
 
 Railroad. per Man. per Horse, per Man. per Horse. 
 
 1 or less, 1S0.8 S2.7 212.8 92.9 
 
 1.] to 2 207.2 79.7 220.9 S5.4 
 
 2.1 to 3 206.3 S4.6 248.2 85.4 
 
 3.1 to 4 239.6 91.9 224.3 81.6 
 
 4.1 and over, 195.5 761,5 319.1 85.6 
 
 The distance from the railroad station apparently does not 
 affect the amount of productive work done or number of crop 
 acres handled by men and horses. This is not what one would 
 expect, and there must be some other factor entering into these 
 results. It certainly requires more man and horse labor to raise 
 and haul the potatoes from an acre of land when 4 miles from 
 the railroad than when i mile. If we examine the receipts per 
 crop acre for the farms near the railroad, this may be explained. 
 
 Table LXXVII. — Relation of Distance to the Railroad to Receipts on 343 
 Potato Farms in Monmouth County, New Jersey. 
 
 
 ' 
 
 
 From 
 
 
 
 From 
 
 
 
 From 
 
 Stock per 
 
 
 From 
 
 Stock per 
 
 Miles to 
 
 From 
 
 Other 
 
 Animal 
 
 From 
 
 Other 
 
 Animal 
 
 Railroad. 
 
 Potatoes, 
 
 Crops. 
 
 Unit. 
 
 Potatoes. 
 
 Crops, 
 
 Unit. 
 
 1 or less, . . 
 
 $127.50 
 
 $14.80 
 
 $70.70 
 
 $62.90 
 
 $6.70 
 
 $61.20 
 
 1.1 to 2 
 
 118.30 
 
 15.20 
 
 64.00 
 
 65.30 
 
 6.80 
 
 60.40 
 
 2.1 to S 
 
 116.90 
 
 13.50 
 
 63.80 
 
 63.90 
 
 7.00 
 
 58.70 
 
 3.1 to 4 
 
 138.90 
 
 16.80 
 
 75.70 
 
 55.70 
 
 9.50 
 
 48.90 
 
 4.1 and over,. 
 
 123.30 
 
 14.20 
 
 54.60 
 
 65.50 
 
 6.80 
 
 69.00 
 
 The farms near the railroad are obtaining the same receipts per 
 crop acre for all crops and stock as those farther away. Since 
 those farther away have a larger proportion of acres in crops 
 other than potatoes, a smaller proportion of com, hay, rye or 
 wheat raised is required on the farm for the stock and cover crops. 
 Yet farmers near the railroad sell just as much per acre as those 
 farther away with a larger acreage of crops other than potatoes. 
 Men nearer the railroad are putting more labor on the crops 
 and stock for they are getting higher returns per acre for stock 
 and cro^s other than potatoes. This greater amount of work 
 upon other crops may account for the use of as much labor per 
 crop acre of potatoes on the farms near the railroad as for those 
 farther away. Again, the hauling of potatoes must be done in 
 
89 
 
 a short period during the harvesting. It is possible that the 
 amount of extra time consumed in getting these potatoes to 
 market would not show very markedly in the total work done 
 for the year. Therefore, it is largely a matter of distance and 
 getting the potatoes to the railroad in a comparatively short 
 period. The time necessary for hauling may limit the number 
 of acres planted, and in that way influence profits more than the 
 increased labor involved. It is difficult for a farmer who is 
 located far from the railroad to haul a large acreage of potatoes 
 to the depot, during the harvest season, with his horses and equip- 
 ment needed to raise them. 
 
 Distance to the railroad is a factor influencing profits, propor- 
 tion of crop acres in potatoes and the labor of marketing. The 
 crop acre value is less influenced than is the real estate value. 
 After a distance of 4 miles from the railroad is reached potatoes 
 rapidly become less profitable. 
 
 FARM EFFICIENCY 
 
 In order to measure the efficiency of a farm in its operations 
 it is necessary to establish a measure for the amount of productive 
 work actually accomplished by the men and horses operating the 
 place. To a certain extent this is a measure of a man's ability 
 to handle or manage his men and horses, in order to get a large 
 amount of productive work done. For this measure the work 
 unit is used, intended to represent the average amount of work 
 done in a day by the average workman on the farm. Some men 
 get more work done because they are better managers. They do 
 not necessarily work more days in a year or more hours in a day, 
 but, through good management and careful farm organization, 
 they get more accomplished for the time spent. The size and the 
 arrangement of the farm also will affect the amount of work 
 accomplished per man and horse. 
 
 RELATION OF WORK UNITS AND PROFITS 
 
 Table LXXVI 1 1.— Relation of Productive Work Units per Man to the 
 Profits on 194 Potato Farms Operated by Owners in Mon- 
 mouth County, New Jersey. 
 
 
 
 Number 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 •with Minus 
 
 Average 
 
 
 
 
 Work Units 
 
 No. of 
 
 Labor 
 
 Labor 
 
 Crop 
 
 "Work TTnits 
 
 ■Work Units 
 
 per Man. 
 
 Farms. 
 
 Income. 
 
 Income. 
 
 Acres. 
 
 per Man. 
 
 per Horse. 
 
 140 or less, . 
 
 33 
 
 14 
 
 $53 
 
 50.8 
 
 118.2 
 
 66.8 
 
 141 to 180, . 
 
 47 
 
 11 
 
 700 
 
 67.7 
 
 162.1 
 
 77.8 
 
 181 to 220, . 
 
 37 
 
 5 
 
 895 
 
 71.2 
 
 202.2 
 
 85.7 
 
 221 to 260, . 
 
 34 
 
 2 
 
 1,219 
 
 81.1 
 
 240.6 
 
 88.9 
 
 261 to 300, . 
 
 23 
 
 3 
 
 1,111 
 
 86.4 
 
 274.8 
 
 93.0 
 
 301 and over, 
 
 20 
 
 4 
 
 2,039 
 
 96.0 
 
 354.3 
 
 103.6 
 
 7 EX 
 
90 
 
 The ability to accomplish a large amount of work per man 
 and horse is a very important factor in the success of these farms. 
 It appears almost as important as size and production. Men who 
 get an average of ii8 days' work done out of the year have an 
 average labor income of only $53 for the year, while the men 
 who get 354.3 days' work for the year have a labor income of 
 $2,039. As the number of work units per man increases the 
 labor income increases. Also, as the work units per man increase, 
 those per horse increase. The fact that the last 20 men have an 
 average number of work units per man of 354.3 does not neces- 
 sarily mean that these men must work harder than the others, 
 but merely that they get more accomplished. This may be possi- 
 ble through a number of different agencies, such as size of farm, 
 shape and convenience oi fields, ability to plan work properly, 
 or some other agency such as proper equipment, machinery, 
 horses, tools, etc. When time is lost it makes little difference 
 how, for it is a great leakage no matter from, what source this 
 loss may occur. Many of these losses can be controlled by the 
 operator, and to a large extent they are a measure of his ability 
 to manage and get work done. These work units might be termed 
 a measure of efficiency in the management of a farm. 
 
 Table LXXIX. — Relation of Productive Work Units per iVian to the Profits 
 
 on 149 Potato Farms Operated by Tenants in iVionmouth 
 
 County, New Jersey. 
 
 
 
 Number 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 with Minus 
 
 Average 
 
 
 
 
 Work TTnits 
 
 No. of 
 
 Labor 
 
 Labor 
 
 Crop Acres 
 
 Work Units 
 
 Work ITnits 
 
 per Man 
 
 Farms. 
 
 Income. 
 
 Income. 
 
 per Farm. 
 
 per Man. 
 
 per Horse, 
 
 140 or less, .... 
 
 8 
 
 3 
 
 .$63 
 
 62.3 
 
 121.6 
 
 69.5 
 
 141 to ISO, 
 
 29 
 
 3 
 
 613 
 
 73.1 
 
 164.0 
 
 77.5 
 
 ISl to 220, 
 
 35 
 
 2 
 
 643 
 
 87.5 
 
 199.6 
 
 84.1 
 
 221 to 2C0, 
 
 29 
 
 1 
 
 807 
 
 91.7 
 
 239.9 
 
 89.6 
 
 261 to 300, 
 
 25 
 
 2 
 
 856 
 
 86.3 
 
 278.4 
 
 99.4 
 
 301 and over, . . 
 
 23 
 
 1 
 
 1,158 
 
 105.6 
 
 353.1 
 
 95.6 
 
 The tenant farms show the same relation as the owners' farms, 
 except that there are less men in the class with 140 or less work 
 units. Tenants usually are more economical in the use of labor 
 than the owners. It is necessary that they should be, since' they 
 cannot live on the interest of their capital as some owners. 
 This, then, necessitates a greater degree of efficiency on the part 
 of the tenant. The average number of work units per man for 
 the tenant farms is 233.2 per man while for the owners it is 
 209.2, a difference of 24 work units more per man for these rented 
 farms. An inefficient owner had far better rent his farm to a 
 good tenant. His farm would be of greater value to the com- 
 munity. The men who get only a small amount of work accom- 
 
91 
 
 plished are not necessarily idle. They may be working just as 
 hard as those getting- much done, but it is not productive of 
 profits. Profitable farming consists of raising things to sell. To 
 that end the labor should be employed. It is quite possible for a 
 
 lABOH 
 IKC01£E 
 
 ♦2100 
 
 1900 
 
 (^ 
 
 1700 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 / 
 
 1600 
 
 
 
 / 
 
 
 1300 
 
 
 OWKEHS 
 
 / 
 
 • 
 
 1100 
 
 
 
 
 /^ 
 
 900 
 
 — 
 
 / TEl^ANTS 
 
 X 
 
 
 700 
 
 
 
 
 
 500 
 
 
 
 
 
 300 
 
 1, 
 
 
 
 
 100 
 
 -1 
 
 1 1 
 
 
 1 
 
 100 
 
 150 200 2S0 
 
 300 
 
 360 
 
 
 
 WORK inTITS F3R XS3> 
 
 
 
 Fig. 26. — Relation of Productive Work Units per IVIan to Labor Income 
 on 343 Farms in IVlonmouth County, New Jersey. 
 
92 
 
 man to keep himself and men busy many days of the year at work 
 which brings no return or is not efficiently used. Operations, 
 such as hoeing weeds, that could have been destroyed by timely 
 cultivation, building fancy fences, or plowing when the soil is 
 not in proper condition, are all wasteful of labor. 
 
 It is quite noticeable that the size of the farm increases with 
 the number of productive work units per man. Whether this 
 great difference would show in farms of the same size might be 
 questioned. The following divisions in Table LXX'X have been 
 made tO' eliminate the size of the farm as an influencing factor. 
 This method furnishes a more accurate measure oif the farmer's 
 efficiency in managing his labor operations for productive 
 purposes on farms of the same size. 
 
 Table LXXX. — Relation of Productive Man Work Units on 194 Potato 
 
 Farms of Equal Size Operated by Owners in iVlonmouth 
 
 County, New Jersey. 
 
 , Farms of 55 or Less Crop Acres , 
 
 Productive Crop Work "Work Bbls. of 
 
 Work Units No. of Labor Acres TJnits ITnits Potatoes 
 
 per Man. Farms. Income. per Farm, per Horse, per Man, per Acre, 
 
 140 or less 23 —$125.00 36.9 61.0 117.1 75.9 
 
 141 to 195 22 +341.00 34.8 71.4 167.7 74.9 
 
 196 and over, 21 491.00 41.6 78.3 247.4 81.1 
 
 -Farms of 56 to 85 Crop Acres- 
 
 170 or less, 19 $668.40 71.2 75.0 142.9 82.3 
 
 171 to 200, 20 894.20 73.2 74.6 189.9 85.7 
 
 221 and over 24 1,180.30 70.5 88.0 275.3 80.5 
 
 200 or less, 18 
 
 211 to 250, 20 
 
 251 and over, 27 
 
 $668.40 ■ 
 
 112.1 
 
 77.0 
 
 358.3 
 
 82.1 
 
 1,605.50 
 
 103.2 
 
 91.6 
 
 222.9 
 
 89.0 
 
 2,229.20 
 
 117.5 
 
 100.3 
 
 308.8 
 
 80.2 
 
 Though there are a smaller number of the small farms with a 
 large work unit per man, there is a wide variation in amount of 
 productive work accomplished upon individual farms o^f the same 
 size. On the small farms the highest average is but 247.4 
 productive man work units, while on the large farms the highest 
 class is 308.8 productive man work units. In all cases there is 
 a direct relation between the labor income per farm and the num- 
 ber of productive man work units. The same is true of the horse 
 work units, as one might expect. They almost invariably bear 
 the same relation as the man work units. The yield of potatoes 
 on these farms is approximately the same regardless of work 
 units. There appears to be no relation to yield. 
 
93 
 
 Table LXXXI. — Relation of Productive iVIan Work Units on 149 Potato 
 
 Farms of Equal Size Operated by Tenants in IVlonmouth 
 
 County, New Jersey. 
 
 , Farms of 55 or Less Crop Acres , 
 
 Productive Crop "Work Work Bbls. of 
 
 Work Units No. of Labor Acres Units Units Potatoes. 
 
 per Man, Farms. Income. per Farm, per Horse, per Man. per Acre. 
 
 140 or less, 2 $129.00 16.0 38.8 77.7 86.6 
 
 141 to 195 10 335.00 40.8 67.4 163.9 84 4 
 
 196 and over 6 708.00 41.0 89.2 252.8 82.5 
 
 , Farms of 56 to 85 Crop Acres , 
 
 170 or less 10 $287.00 71.6 62.2 145.8 90 7 
 
 171 to 220 17 591.00 72.7 79.6 190.4 83.9 
 
 221 and over 29 799.00 71.1 82.2 278.1 85.1 
 
 I Farms of 86 Crop Acres and Over ., 
 
 200 or less 22 $599.00 ' 101.4 83.2 175.1 82 8 
 
 201 to 250, 24 972.00 105.6 88.3 225.8 89.0 
 
 251 and over 29 1,095.00 119.7 98.7 296.5 83.6 
 
 The tenant farms show the same relation as do the owners' 
 farms when divided so as to ehminate the factor of size. That 
 individual men should accomplish so much more work through 
 good management or good organization is to be expected. This 
 is a strong argument for more attention to the efficient opera- 
 tion of the farm. As yet but little interest has been manifested 
 in this phase of agriculture. At present the American farmer 
 is reputed for the relatively high degree of efficiency in his farm 
 operations. But the opportunity for improvement is great. 
 This not only means much to the individual, but also' to a marked 
 extent affects the welfare of the state and of the nation. 
 
 RELATION OF THE EFFICIENCY OF THE FARMER TO 
 PROFITS ON THE FARM 
 
 Unfortunately, we have no accurate measure to illustrate the 
 efficiency of the individual farmer or the man who is in charge. 
 A great deal of the agricultural teaching would tend to show 
 that success is largely due tO' the man. This is undoubtedly 
 true in a measure, but not to the extent to which it is credited. 
 No matter how expert or how efficient a man may be, he can- 
 not produce something out of nothing. The manager of a large 
 corporation could not earn $20,000 a year for the company if 
 he were an ordinary laborer, since as a laborer he would not 
 have the opportunity to use his skill to a good advantage. The 
 same is true of the farmer. He must have the necessary con- 
 ditions for success on a farm before he can show profitable 
 returns. There are some men on small farms who have ability 
 to run a farm properly, yet who rarely have a labor income 
 much above the wages of a hired man. A large and a small 
 farm, might be compared with the manager and the laborer of 
 
94 
 
 a corporation. Both might be equally efficient and capable, yet 
 the laborer must advance to the position of manager before he 
 can influence the success of the company to any appreciable ex- 
 tent. So too in farming, a man must have the opportunities 
 necessary for success. There are, then, successful men and suc- 
 cessful farms. This is a study of successful farms rather than 
 of successful farmers. Failures in farming are due to unsuc- 
 cessful farms as well as to unsuccessful farmers. The former 
 are more easily measured than the latter. By thus establish- 
 ing the conditions necessary for a successful farm we elimi- 
 nate the personal factor which is entirely a different problem. 
 Throughout all this work it will be noticed that not all large 
 farms were successful, not all farms producing high yields were 
 successful, not all farms near to the railroad were successful, 
 indicating that even though the farm is successful the farmer 
 may not be so, a condition which may again cause a marked 
 failure. 
 
 The following four farms illustrate lack of efficiency in fac- 
 tors that may be controlled by the operator. 
 
 Table LXXXII. — A Comparison of Organization and Incomes on 4 Potato 
 
 Farms. 
 
 CAPITAIr— 
 
 Real Estate, 
 Live Stock, 
 Mackinery, . 
 
 Feed 
 
 Cash 
 
 Total, . 
 
 RECEIPTS— 
 
 Potatoes 
 
 Other Crops, 
 
 Stock 
 
 Miscellaneous, 
 
 Total, 
 
 EXPENSES— 
 
 Labor, , 
 
 Fertilizer and Lime, 
 Miscellaneous , 
 
 Total, 
 
 MAN WORK UNITS — 
 Per Man, 
 
 HORSE WORK UNITS— 
 Per Horse 
 
 Receipts from Live Stock — 
 Butter, 
 
 Eggs, ; 
 
 Calves, 
 
 Hogs, 
 
 Pigs ' 
 
 Chickens, ...".. 
 
 Milk, '.'.'.'.'.'.'. 
 
 Capons .'.'.' 
 
 Cows, .' 
 
 Steers 
 
 Farm No. 1. 
 
 Farm No. 2. 
 
 Farm No, 3. 
 
 Farm No. 4 
 
 $12,000 
 
 $15,000 
 
 $15,000 
 
 $20,000 
 
 1,061 
 
 1,823 
 
 1,825 
 
 1,465 
 
 579 
 
 818 
 
 621 
 
 1,481 
 
 205 
 
 90 
 
 504 
 
 830 
 
 1,500 
 
 2,000 
 
 500 
 
 500 
 
 $15,345 
 
 $19,731 
 
 $18,450 
 
 $24,276 
 
 ?1,SOO 
 
 $3,120 
 
 $3,200 
 
 $2,552 
 
 995 
 
 240 
 
 930 
 
 089 
 
 358 
 
 410 
 
 1,404 
 
 37 
 
 
 1600 
 
 20 
 
 .... 
 
 $3,153 
 
 $4,370 
 
 $5,554 
 
 $3,278 
 
 
 $730 
 
 $624 
 
 $1,156 
 
 $616 
 
 522 
 
 70S 
 
 924 
 
 510 
 
 910 
 
 800 
 
 1,382 
 
 1,036 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 $2,162 
 
 $2,132 
 
 $3,462 
 
 
 $2,162 
 
 
 
 
 196 
 
 258 
 
 314 
 
 189 
 
 70 
 
 74 
 
 107 
 
 69 
 
 I. 
 
 II. 
 
 III. 
 
 IV. 
 
 $30 
 
 $25 
 
 
 
 50 
 
 50 
 
 $312 
 
 $30 
 
 15 
 
 210 
 
 35 
 
 270 
 
 84 
 
 
 
 
 54 
 
 60 
 
 50 
 
 > • . . 
 
 140 
 
 
 50 
 SOO 
 
 75 
 132 
 
 22 
 
95 
 
 1 
 
 I. 
 
 Farm Income $901 
 
 Interest on Capital, . , 767 
 
 Labor Income 224 
 
 Distance to Railroad 1% Miles. 
 
 Cro^^cresiAyieW-^- ■ ___ 
 
 '^T^ote-'TbusiielsX; TTTTTTr::;:;::;;;;—-- — 84 
 
 Wheat (bushels) ^__]^]|^ 35 
 
 Rye .!_;;~~~ — 424 
 
 Hay (tons), -ZUl^^^i^T. 
 
 Potatoes (barrels) , .ZI^^^IT"" — ''^ 
 
 Apples, »^_^^^^^~~ SO 
 
 Stock — 
 
 Horses, 6 
 
 Cows, 2 
 
 Heifers, Calves and Bulls, ... 1 
 
 Hogs ' a 8 
 
 Chickens, So 
 
 Crop Acreage — 
 
 Apples 1 
 
 Potatoes, 18 
 
 Corn 20 
 
 Rye, 20 
 
 Buckwheat, 8 
 
 Hay, 10 
 
 Wheat 7 
 
 11. 
 
 III. 
 
 IV. 
 
 $2.2ftS 
 
 $3,422 
 
 —$484 
 
 9R7 
 
 923 
 
 —1,200 
 
 1,221 
 
 2,499 
 
 -1,693 
 
 2% Miles. 
 
 21/2 Miles. 
 
 2% Miles. 
 
 86 
 
 87 
 
 86 
 
 50 
 
 80 
 
 40 
 20 
 
 17 bu. 
 
 1% T. 
 
 
 1%. 
 
 1% 
 
 1 
 
 80 ' 
 
 77 
 
 70 
 
 6 
 
 K 
 
 7 
 
 7 
 
 7 
 
 6 
 
 2 
 
 
 1 
 
 3 
 
 • • • ■ 
 
 3 
 
 60 
 
 175 
 
 40 
 9 
 
 30 
 
 30 
 
 27 
 
 12 
 
 16 
 
 25. 
 
 6 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 38 
 
 22 
 
 15. 
 lO 
 
 ^ From boarding horses. 2 g pigs, 1 sow, 1 hog 
 
 These four farms have approximately the same conditions 
 necessary to make money. They have 84 to 87 crop acres, their 
 yields of potatoes ranging from 70 to 80 barrels per acre. The 
 expenses for the first three farms are almost identical, while 
 for the fourth they are about $1,300 more. The receipts for 
 this money spent range from $3,153 to $5,554. The farm with 
 the least expense had the greatest receipts, while the farm with 
 the highest expense had $184 less receipts than the actual ex- 
 pense. The operator spent too much for labor, fertilizer, and 
 seed potatoes, and received for them a low return. The work 
 units per man and per horse were low. The operator of the 
 fourth farm worked at the rate of 189 days out of the year for 
 each man employed and used the horses but 69 days. This is 
 extremely low and shows that the fourth man was a poor man- 
 ager. His farm had the conditions necessary for success, but 
 he was not successful in conducting it. The third and most 
 successful farm obtained the greatest receipts from the least ex- 
 pense. . The operator of this place knew how to handle labor 
 and plan his work so as to get a large amount of work done. 
 This farmer had 314 days' work in the year for each man em- 
 ployed. He knew where to invest money so that it would bring 
 a return. These, then, might be termed successful farms, but 
 the men operating them are not all successful farmers. The 
 public ordinarily blames the farmer for his lack of success, feel-- 
 
96 
 
 ing that he is incapable. More frequently this is due to the 
 conditions under which he is working. When these are properly- 
 adjusted, farmers as a class are prosperous people. If the proper 
 facilities are not at hand he will tend to become a peasant, as 
 so frequently is the case in European agriculture. Studies such 
 as these throw definite light upon the requirements necessary 
 to develop a strong and prosperous rural people. No industry 
 that is not based upon a strong economic foundation can be 
 successfully maintained. Economic principles, though more 
 difficult to work out, are nevertheless important in American 
 agriculture. 
 
 REORGANIZATION 
 
 The reorganization of a farm should be approached in a very 
 conservative manner. Any change will affect the whole system, 
 and therefore much care should be exercised in contemplated 
 changes. In Table LXXiXII is given the relative acreage devoted 
 to different crops as found in this survey, together with the rela- 
 tive acreage which the results of this survey indicate to be most 
 profitable. 
 
 Table LXXXIII. — Relative Acreage of Crops in iVlonmoutln County Indi- 
 cated to be Most Profitable as a Result of This Survey, Com- 
 pared with the Relative Acreage Found. 
 
 Recommended Crops. 
 Crop. Acres. 
 
 Potatoes, 50.0 
 
 Alfalfa or Grass, 16.0 
 
 Corn, 12.0 
 
 Fruit, 0.8 
 
 Crop. 
 
 Present Crops. 
 
 Acres. 
 28.2 
 
 Hay 
 
 
 16.8 
 
 
 
 13.6 
 
 
 
 8.7 
 
 
 
 3.7 
 
 Wheat, 
 
 
 3.4 
 
 Alfalfa, . . 
 
 
 0.9 
 
 
 
 0.7 
 
 
 
 2.8 
 
 
 
 
 Total, 
 
 The rotation for these three crops could be worked out into a 
 5-year rotation as follows : 
 
 Suggested Rotation. 
 
 Field. 
 
 1st Year. 
 
 2d Year. 
 
 3d Year. 
 
 4th Year. 
 
 5th Year. 
 
 Potatoes 
 
 Potatoes 
 
 Potatoes 
 
 Grass 
 
 Com 
 
 Potatoes 
 
 Potatoes 
 
 Grass 
 
 Corn 
 
 Potatoes 
 
 Potatoes 
 
 Grass 
 
 Corn 
 
 Potatoes 
 
 Potatoes 
 
 Grass 
 
 Com 
 
 Potatoes 
 
 Potatoes 
 
 Potatoes 
 
 Com 
 
 Potatoes 
 
 Potatoes 
 
 Potatoes 
 
 Grass 
 
 Such a rotation would provide for a large proportion of the 
 most profitable crop, furnish sufficient corn and hay for the stock 
 and allow for the maintenance of organic matter so essential in 
 potato farming. The hay should consist largely of clover or 
 
97 
 
 alfalfa. As alfalfa is more successfully grown it may well be 
 alfalfa entirely rather than clover and grass. In any case alfalfa 
 should be mixed into the grass seed until it is demonstrated that 
 it can be successfully grown, when alfalfa should be used ex- 
 clusively with some red clover when desired. This should provide 
 for 2 toi 3 tons of hay per acre and leave a large amount of 
 organic matter to plow under. The expense of seeding to hay 
 would not be much greater than seeding to a good cover crop. 
 Anyone desiring to risk the use of lime on potato land could 
 apply ground limestone at the rate oif one ton per acre, and 
 harrow in the soil before seeding the grass or alfalfa. Potatoes 
 then would not come on this land until the third year after it was 
 limed. This should to- a large extent prevent the growth of scab 
 due to liming- for hay. Giants in particular would be adapted 
 to such practice since they are more resistant to scab. 
 
 This rotation would require no extra plowing for grass or 
 alfalfa when seeded after potatoes, but only sufficient harrowing 
 to produce a firm compact seed-bed underneath and a fine loose 
 uniform soil mulch on top. 
 
 When alfalfa is seeded alone on fields that have never grown 
 it before, considerable care is needed to make it a sure and sue- 
 cessful crop. Lime at the rate of 2 to 4 tons of ground lime- 
 stone, or I to 2 tons O'f burned lime should be applied. The field 
 should be inoculated with 300 to 500 pounds of alfalfa soil 
 taken from another successful alfalfa field. This soil should be 
 screened, broadcasted and harrowed in as soon as applied, in 
 order to prevent the killing of the bacteria by the sun's rays. 
 When a seed bed, free from weeds, compact underneath, loose 
 and fine on the surface is obtained, good clean reliable seed should 
 be sown in August at the rate of 20' pounds to the acre. When 
 this crop is used in the rotation with potatoes, three cuttings can 
 be made of which the first two would be made into hay while the 
 third can be left on the ground to plow under with the sod and 
 furnish more organic matter in the soil. If not needed for this 
 purpose it can be made into hay to sell. There certainly is not 
 nearly the acreage o^ alfalfa on these farms that can be grown. 
 The large yield of forage of high quality, and the excellent sod 
 for a succeeding crop of corn or potatoes, would warrant a wider 
 use of this hay crop. 
 
 THE CORN CROP 
 
 Though this is not a new crop it still is not nearly improved to 
 the extent that it should be in this area. One source of loss is the 
 
98 
 
 lack of standard varieties known to be superior for this county. 
 Nearly every farmer grows some unnamed variety obtained 
 from a neighbor sometime during his period of farming. A few 
 varieties known to be superior yielders for the county would add 
 materially to the revenue of these farms with but little added 
 expense. Corn is not as profitable a crop as potatoes on these 
 farms but most farmers may find it profitable to raise enough to 
 feed their stock and work horses. It also furnishes forage and 
 bedding for the stock as well as grain. 
 
 THE POTATO 
 
 As the main money crop, this is deserving of most attention. 
 In this area American Giants, commonly called "long stock," are 
 largely grown by most of the farmers. On the 343 potato farms 
 9,075 acres were of Giants, yielding 84.9 barrels per acre, while 
 522 acres were of round stock with a yield of 58.2 barrels per 
 acre. This is a marked difference and explains one of the reasons 
 for the greater preference for Giants. Though round stock 
 brings a greater price per bushel, the difference is not sufficient 
 to compensate for the smaller yield of the round stock. Again, 
 but little sorting is necessary for the Giants as they are handled, 
 permitting the use of unskilled laborers for pickers. This, too, is 
 a very hardy potato which resists disease, is smooth with shallow 
 eyes and sells well on the wholesale market. For these reasons 
 this is a very desirable variety to grow on this area. In recent 
 years the most troublesome factor in production of the potato 
 crop is the procuring of good, pure, viable seed free from disease. 
 Practically all of the seed is raised by Maine and New York 
 State growers. Much diseased seed of low quality has been 
 obtained in recent years. This is a serious problem with the 
 farmers, and may compel them to attempt the production of their 
 own seed stock through late planting, which will allow the major 
 growth to be made during cool weather. In some of the southern 
 potato sections as well as in South Jersey, this practice has be- 
 come a prominent industry, by which the growers produce a seed 
 potato of a very high quality. This, if once known to be success- 
 ful in this area, would be the satisfactory solution of the seed 
 potato problem for these farms. Not only could they grow 
 potatoes known to be free from, disease, but improved strains 
 could be selected in the same manner as when breeding for high 
 producing strains of corn. These are very important problems 
 in this area and need immediate attention. Round varieties, such 
 as Irish Cobbler, Gold Coin, Norcross, Green Mountain and Mills' 
 
99 
 
 Pride, are grown to a limited extent. A few acres of Cobblers are 
 frequently planted to dig and market early to the shore trade. 
 They aid in the labor distribution for the crop and are in good 
 demand for local and retail trade. 
 
 MEASURE OF EFFICIENCY FOR POTATO FARMS IN MONMOUTH 
 
 COUNTY 
 
 Any farm that will measure up to or siirpass this standard 
 in all four points is practically sure of success. 
 
 PROMTS 
 
 AVERAGE 
 
 4A&2B. 
 
 #ft?n 
 
 ^326 LOSS 
 
 4 measures 
 abovs av. 
 
 2 roeagurea above av, 
 2 ^ "belo^ " 
 
 1 -measure above av. 
 3 " below ", 
 
 Fig. 27. — Four Measures: Size, Production, Proportion of Crop Acres in 
 Potatoes^ and Work Units per Man; and Their Effect on Profits. 
 
 Most farms have one or two of these measures as good as or 
 better than the average, many have three as good or better, but 
 only a few are successful enough to have all four major measures, 
 crop acres, potato yield per acre, proportion of crop acres in pota- 
 
lOO 
 
 toes and productive work units per man or the number of days' 
 work accomplished by each man on crop and stock. When all 
 four measures are as good as or better than the average, maxi- 
 mum success is obtained. Two measures allow less profit while 
 the third farm with 3 measures below the average lost money. A 
 well organized farm makes a successful farm. It considers all 
 important measures for success. 
 
 The average number of crop acres per farm is 78.8; barrels 
 of potatoes per acre, 84; proportion of crop areas in potatoes, 
 36 per cent., and an average of 219 productive work units per 
 man. One might not expect it to be difficult to find farms which 
 were of the average grade, or better than the average in all 
 these four factors. Yet, out of the total 343 potato farms, there 
 were only 9 owners' farms and 13 tenants' farms, which were as 
 high as or higher than the average in all four points. The 
 operators of these 9 potato owners' farms which met this stand- 
 ard made an average labor income of $4,578 while the 13 tenants 
 made an average labor income of $1,856. None of the operators 
 of these 22 farms lost any money. The lowest labor income for 
 the owners was $1,753, while that for the tenants was $868. A 
 man who can take a farm of 78.8 crop acres or more, obtain a 
 yield of 84 barrels of potatoes or more, have 36 per cent, or 
 more crop acres in potatoes, and get 219 or more productive 
 work units per man done for the year, is apparently certain of 
 profitable returns for his investment and effort. All of these 
 four factors are quite important. Each, as an individual, is 
 important and when all are possessed by one farm, large profits 
 are indicated. Of these 9 potato owner farms, the largest pro- 
 duced a phenomenal return of $10,343, while the largest labor 
 income for the tenant farms was $3,255. One cash tenant who 
 had an unusually good bargain, made a labor income of $3,257, 
 with his work units below the average, although all other fac- 
 tors were above. However, he made it through his low casK 
 rental. Of the total 370 farms, there were none which were 25 
 per cent, or more above the average in all the four factors, size, 
 potato yield, crop acres of potatoes and man work units. These, 
 then, are four very important measures for a successful potato^ 
 farm in this area, and can be used by the individual farmer as 
 a standard for measuring his own efficiency. 
 
lOI 
 
 SUMMARY 
 
 The average labor income for the Monmouth County potato 
 farms, included in this survey is $842. The cash tenants have 
 the largest average labor income of $938, while the owners have 
 $917, and share tenants $739. 
 
 Forty-five per cent, of the potato farms are operated by 
 tenants. 
 
 Cash renting is most profitable for the tenant who is a good 
 farmer. 
 
 Landlords get a return bf 8.3 per cent, on their investment, 
 not including rise of land values. 
 
 The system of share renting is too arbitrary, and does not 
 consider differences as found on individual farms that ^ect 
 economical farm operations. 
 
 Ten per cent, of the owners and part owners get a labor in- 
 come of over $2,500. 
 
 Owners making th^^^gh^stjiiabo^^^^ 
 $20,000 and $30,000 rol^^-^aaibr Tr m c omG_Q 43esy=j--J $^^0 - 
 and part owners $15,000 to $20,000. 
 
 Thirty per cent, of the owners who had a capital between 
 jarcron $20,000 and $30,000 made a labor income of over $2,500. 
 
 Thirty-four per cent, of the tenants who had between $5,000 
 and $7,000 made a labor income of over $1,500. 
 
 Farm owners who have a capital between $20,000 and $30,000 
 receive a yearly return of $121 per thousand dollars invested. 
 
 The owners have 80 per cent, of their capital in real estate, 8 
 per cent, in live stock, 5 per cent, in equipment, 2 per cent, in 
 supplies and 5 per cent, in cash. 
 
 Five per cent, of the total capital invested is in work horses 
 and 3 per cent, in productive live stock. 
 
 The average farm investment for the owners is $17,673, for 
 the share tenants $3,369, and for the cash tenants $3,085. 
 
 The farm profits increase with the increase of crop acres per 
 farm for both owner and tenant farms. 
 
 The larger farms are far more efficient in the use of man. 
 horse and machinery labor than are the smaller farms. 
 
 The larger farms have a smaller proportion of their capital 
 invested in buildings. 
 
 Farm and crop acre values decrease as size increases for all 
 farms regardless of tenantry. 
 
 Landlords receive as great a percentage of money return on 
 small h&s^ as on large farms. 
 
102 
 
 The potato yields are fully as good on large as on small farms. 
 Large receipts are necessary for large profits. 
 
 The average sized farm! for the owners is 73, crop acres, and 
 for the tenants 87 crop acres. 
 
 Size of farm has a direct relation to the depreciation rate tO' be 
 charged for buildings and equipment. 
 
 The average acre yield for potatoes was 83 barrels for the 
 owner farms, and 84.7 barrels for the tenant farms. 
 
 Profits are greater with each increase of potato yield per acre. 
 
 Men and horses handle as many crop acres on the heavy yield- 
 ing farms as upon the light yielding farms. 
 
 The acre cost of producing potatoes is $85.15. The cost per 
 barrel is 92 cents. 
 
 Farmers producing 60 barrels or less per acre lose money. 
 
 No class of farmers are raising higher yields of potatoes than 
 are profitable. 
 
 Less than one farm out of twenty had a yield 20 per cent. 
 above the average. 
 
 The larger the proportion of crop acres in potatoes the greater 
 is the labor income. ' '' " 
 
 The potato crop in this area lends itself admirably to high 
 specialization. 
 
 The potato crop affords as good a distribution of labor for the 
 men and horses as more diversified crops. 
 
 Lack of rotation is not decreasing potato yields. 
 
 Live stock above what is needed for the farmer's personal 
 use is not profitable on most farms. 
 
 Live stock is not essential in maintaining fertility. 
 
 Distance to the railroad station has an important bearing upon 
 the profits derived from these potato farms. 
 
 Farm' acre values decrease as distance from the railroad in- 
 creases, but crop acre values decrease less rapidly. 
 
 The proportion of crop acres in potatoes decreases with dis- 
 tance from the railroad. 
 
 After a distance from' the railroad of 4 or more miles has been 
 reached, potatoes show a low return. 
 
 The efficiency in the operation of the farm varies widely and 
 affects the profits greatly. 
 
 Cooperative buying and selling has proved very successful in 
 this region. 
 
 Farm values are based on farm acres rather than on crop acres. 
 
 Diversification lowers profits on these farms. 
 
I03 
 
 The following are the four major measures of a successful 
 farm in this area : 
 
 1. Crop acres. 
 
 2. Yield. 
 
 3. Proportion of area in potatoes. 
 
 4. Work units per man, or amount of work accom- 
 plished per man. 
 
 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 
 
 The writer takes pleasure in expressing his appreciation to 
 Prof. K. 'C. Livermore and Dr. G. F. Warren for their assistance 
 and suggestions in the preparation of this work; also to A. G. 
 Waller for his suggestions and his assistance in reading the manu- 
 script, collecting, checking and tabulating the data; to D. A. 
 Coleman, R. C. Cook, H. B. Holcomb, R. M. Hubbard, E. C. 
 Stillwell, L. N. Lewis and F. C. Johnson, for assistance in col- 
 lecting the data; to Miss Grace Read for her able assistance in 
 tabulation of the work, and to the farmers who co-operated so 
 that the gathering of the data was possible. 
 
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
 002 685 384 9 •_