The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1907-01-10
THE SMALL OR
THE LARGE FARM
by Prof. j. w. Sanborn, Proprie-
tor oOO-acre Farm IN New
Hampshire.

Let agriculture be governed by the
great economic laws of the age un-
%haimpered by tradition. sentiment, or
law so long as II is conducted on sound
ethical and legal grounds. Let the
measure OF the mar be as large as the
farm. and vice versa. In this respect
the law that governs the volume of
business in the outside world Of affairs
should govern the size Of landed es-
tates. Many young men. invaluable to
the life of the country have dropped
the plow handles for yardsticks. bills
of exchange, or professional degrees,
because the farm horizon appeared to
limit them. and life and effort seemed
narrow. Enrich farm hope and aspira-
tion and encourage II by successes
worthy of strong men.
On the economic side Is to be cred
tied the greater personal attention
that can be given to each acre, animal
and process, and better work han Ear
be given on large estates and through
hired labor. Less destruction of tools,
less waste and distance to work. A
farm of 100 acres Is 1877 rods square
and one of 300 acres is 220 rods square.
The average distance to the field work
OF one is 73 per cent. or 90 rods less
than to the other and 2 per cent, so
far al crop work is involved, of ones
norma! working powers are used in
travel on the larger farms. 1t Is not
destructive but would be important
on a farm OF 1000 acres.
Large farms invite genius. men of
great organizing and administrative
powers and make possible a high order
of culture and living. There is now no
obstacle in the way of men OF this
class applying their talents to land,
nor no valid opposing reason. Present
conditions invite captains of industry
To marshal their forces over the green
fields and the furrowed grounds. Ma
chinery, the genius of the times. com
pels or demands breadth of action for
economy OF operation.
The trouble OF the small farm. out
side of gardening and fruit growing, is
that the limit of its income is below
the demands of large men and of the
living of the twentieth century, |
have a neighbor 10 miles from mar
kets growing staple crops only, He is
one OF the best of farmers. His gross
income is $40 to $50 per acre. His
profits per acre are large, yer. though
la man of moderate expenses, good
habits, industrious and able, he has
little or no net income above family
Expenses. His acreage is small. He
has ambition and capacity for large
operations. On our New England
farms, 35 acres of actual tillage area
will cover the amount found on the
average farm of 100 to $50 acres. The
remainder OF the farm returns but a
mere nominal, almost negligible in
come. Even $40 net profit per acre
on 80 acres is but $500, and can leave
but little after taking out the essen
tials for living in our times; 100 acres
at the same rate would net $4,000, a
respectable sum. Even though the
profit per acre is reduced to SIS be-
cause of reduced efficiency under
broad farming, and the resultant is
but $500. there is something for the
higher life left.
Granting the small farmer the ad
vantage of personal interest, a power
full factor in creating and saving on
the farm, yet can he handle an acre
of ground cheaper n grow a unit OF
crops for less than the large farmer
III the small farmer has not ample ma
chinery he is doomed at the outset: 4
he has this machinery 1t is heavily dis
proportionate to his land and mar
power Investments. A modern, larg,
farm in New England requires 81. so
to $4,000 in machinery. The ipteres