Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-11-25
FALLACy OF SMALL FARMS
Shock in Store for Back.tO.the-
Land Boomers.
Bulletin Of Department Of Agriculture
Will show Farming In Profitable
Only When Intensive and
on n Large Scale.

The small farm fallacy, in other
words. the fact that under present con-
dtions the small farm is not the ideal Of
American agriculture, is to be exposed
by the department Of agriculture in due
course of time, writes the Boston Tran
scripts Washington correspondent. The
exposure will came as shock and disap-
pointment to many who have been agitat-
Ing back to the land" without regard
to the economic facts of the land as
source of livelihood. In an advance no.
tice OF this bulletin the department says:
Under the conditions which prevail on
the average American farm, the oppor-
tunity for making a satisfactory profit
varies directly with the number Of acres
farmed. according to farm manage
ment specialists in the departments :"
This statement is substan.iated by fig
TRES gathered in the course Of survey
which has recently been made by the
department of a portion Of Chester coun-
ty. Pennsylvania.
This Is probably the first time that an
official and thorough study Of this ques-
ton has been made, and the results.
which Will be discussed at length in a
bulletin to be issued later will be persued
with interest by all small farmers, pres
ent and prospective. The idea Is preva-
lent that the small farm Is the best
kind of farm both from the point OF
| view of the public and from the point
Of view OF the farmer Numerous legis-
! lative measures and numerous real es-
| tate schemes are based on this fallacy
which like many theories about farming.
has been formed without due regard to
the facts
1t appears that the small farm which
carries on the general farming business
labors under fixed handicap which is
Inherent In Its size. Here are the figures
which prove the point:
On farms of from thirty to forty acres
sl5 worth Of machinery on an average
was required for each crop. On farms
OF 16O acres and over. the machinery in.
vestments per acre required for success.
full agriculture cost 49, Again, on the
small farms. one horse was needed for
every nine acres as compared with one
horse for more than seventeen acres or
the larger holdings In spite OF this in.
creased investment per acre. the inves.
tigators declared, the small farms were
not so we'll equipped with labor saving
machinery as were the larger ones.
| Again, as might be expected from these
| figures. the average labor income or
farms Of from thirteen to forty acres was
S24o. as against sl,575 for farms OF ovei
100 acres, indicating clearly that there
is less profit on small farms than or
large. proportionate to their size. Very
small FARMS" declares the department
ARE difficult to make successful any
| where. and 1t is only the exceptions
man who Is equal to the task. They mus
| always be devoted to the most intensive
| types OF farming, and the products OF
most KINDS OF intensive farming fluctuat,
greatly in volume and price, so that the
| business Is very insecure. The danger
Is greatly magnified II the small farm
Is situated long distance from the mar
ket. for prices for their products do no
have to fall very far until the transpor
tation charges wipe out all profits. Ever
in the vicinity Of the better markets
these small farms succeed only in local
tiles where they have distinct advantages
for the particular type Of farming which
they follow
While the department Of agriculture Is
OF course, interested in encouraging farm
ing and the productivity of the soil. 1
is not at all averse to discouraging per
sons from going into farming unless 4
is reasonably certain that they can sue
| coed. Officials OF the department hav'
realized for some time that a great dea
OF harm Is being done by the genera
advertising OF farming as a business int
which anyone. without training or capital
can go at any time. Cnquestionably tn
publication OF the bulletin above refer
red to will bring criticism from certain
sources upon the department. but in tn
long run intelligent farmers will prob
ably agree that farming Is to be promot
ed by the elimination Of the uneconomic
al unit.