The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1915-04-22

"
erage farmer receives for his years work
is little more than that which he would
be paid If he hired himself out as a farm
hand to one of his n~eighbors. In other
words, though the farmer is In business
for himself, the average farmer gets little
or no money reward for the intelligence
and skill with which he has managed his
affairs or the risk and responsibility he
has assumed.
But he must get something in return
or no one would trouble to farm for him
self. A recent study conducted by ex-
perts in the United States Department OF
Agriculture shows that in many cases this
reward may best be found in the products
with which his farm furnishes him d.
rectly. When a farm is nearly, II not
quite, self-sustaining, say agricultural ex-
perts, when 1t supplies the family that
lives upon it with most of the necessities
of life, a large money income Is not neces-
sary to prosperity. A greater sun de-
rived from a farm which yields nothing
for home consumption may leave the &C.
cupants much worse off.
Under the title of What the Farm Con-
tributes Directly to the Farmers Living"
the Department of Agriculture is about to
publish the results of a survey of condi-
lions on a large number of farms in the
10 states of North Carolina, Georgia,
Texas, Kansas, Iowa, Wisconsin, Ohio,
Pennsylvania, New York and Vermont.
The farms selected for study, though pos
sibly a little more prosperous than the
average, were fairly representative OF
their sections which, it will be noted, In
cluded three corn and cotton areas, two
states in the corn and wheat belt, two
regions where general farming was car
ried on, and three different dairy dis
tricts.
The average value of the chief neces-
stiles of life-food, fuel, oil and shelter
used each year by the farm family, the
investigators found to be $595.08. OF
these necessities, estimated in money, the
portion contributed directly by the farm
was $421.17, leaving $173.91 to be pur-
chased with the cash obtained from the
sale of products.
In considering these figures 1t must be
remembered that if the farmer had been
compelled to pay city prices for his home
grown necessities, this $421.17 would
have represented much less comfort.
Cash Crops Disastrous.
OF the food consumed SO per cent was
furnished by the farm. This proportion
varied greatly in the different sections,
but was greatest in the locality studied in
North Carolina. where the farms supplied
1928 per cent of the food consumed, while
the average in the New York locality was
only 50.4.
In view Of the present economic crisis In
the South this fact Is regarded as of par
ticular significance, since 1t demonstrates
the extent to which with a proper system
of agriculture Southern farms can be
made self-sustaining. Concentration upon
one cash crop-cotton-has proved disas-
trous and agricultural authorities are now
trying in every way to induce the people
to adopt a system which will lead to con-
ditions similar to those now prevailing In
this particular area Of North Carolina.
In this connection the investigation re-
vealed some interesting facts in regard to
the four items of groceries, animal prod
ucts, fruits and vegetables in the average
farm family's food bill.
OF the value of the food consumed gro
ceries constituted practically ~one-quarter,
animal products more than one-half, veg
etables 11.6 per cent and fruit only 6.3.
Practically all of the groceries were
bought; on the other hand the quantity
of fruits and vegetables used was in d.
rect proportion to the quantity raised on
the farm and where this quantity was
great the grocery bill was corresponding
ly low.
Produce and Bills.
This was also found to be true Of ami
NAL products, including, of course, not
only butchers meat, but poultry, eggs,
milk, cheese, etc. Where these were abun-
dant on the farm fewer groceries were
purchased. Since the grocery bill was
found to be ordinarily two-thirds Of the
entire amount expended in cash for food,
one very obvious and effective way of
economizing appears to be to raise more
vegetables, more fruit, more milk and
eggs. In many cases, experts say, this
can be done with no appreciate increase
in trouble or expense.
Next to food, shelter Is probably the
most important necessity of life. In con-
sidering the farmers income, however, a
common error in the past has been to ig-
more the question Of house rent. The
value of the house has usually been in.
cluded in the value of the land and the
uhOIn poncidnrnd ac napfto1 tprnctoS -