The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-01-11
So Says Z. 8. Government Ex-
perts in Report.
REWARD IS IN PRODUCTS
OF Food Consumed IS Per Cent
Supplied by Farm.
Then the Farmer Pays Out No
House Rent.

Washington, d. c., Jan. 11.-Extensive
investigations into the profits of farm
ing have indicated that the amount Of
money which the average farmer re-
selves for his years work is little more
than that which he would be paid If he
hired himself out as farm hand to one
of his neighbors. In other words.
though the farmer is in business for
himself. the average farmer gets lit
tie or no money reward for the intel
ligence 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 himself.
A recent study conducted by experts
in the United States department of ag-
riculture shows that in many cases this
reward may best be found in the prod
ucts with which his farm furnishes him
directly. When a farm is nearly. II
not quite, self-sustaining, say agricul-
tural experts, when it supplies the fam
lily that lives upon it with most of the
necessities of life, a large money in
come is not necessary to prosperity
A greater sum derived from a farm
which yields nothing for home con-
much worse Off
Under the title OF Farmers Bulletin
635. What the Farm Contributes Di-
rectly to the Farmers Living" the de-
partment Of agriculture is about to
publish the results of a survey of con-
ditiOns on a large number of farms in
the ten states of North Carolina. Geor-
gia, Texas. Kansas. Iowa, Wisconsin,
Ohio. Pennsylvania. New York and
Vermont.
The farms selected for study, though
possibly little more prosperous than
of their sections which, it will be noted
| included three corn and cotton areas
| two states in the corn and wheat belt
two regions where general farming was
carried on. and three different dairy
districts. The average value Of the
chief necessities Of life-food. fuel. OF
and shelter-used each year by the
farm family the Investigators found t.
be $595.08. OF these necessities esti-
mated in money. the portion contrib
uted directly by the farm was $421 II
| leaving $173.91 to be purchased with the
cash obtained from the sale of prod.
ucts. In considering these figures il
must be remembered that If the farm
err had been compelled to pay city
prices for his home grown necessities
| this $421.17 would have represented
much less comfort.
Farm Provides Food.
OF the food consumed, SO per CEN
was furnished by the farm. This pro-
portion varied greatly in the different
sections. but was greatest in the local
ity studied in North Carolina. where
the farms supplied 1928 per cent OF thu
food consumed. whife the average il
the New York locality was only 5O.4
| Next to food, shelter is probably thu
most important necessity of life. II
! considering the farmers income, how
ever, a common error in the past ha!
been to ignore the question of house
rent. The value of the house ha!
usually been included in the value o.
the land and the whole considered a.
copita1 invested on which interes
must be paid before the farmer car
be regarded as receiving any pay a
all.
According to the recent investiga
ton. if the average farmer had to pa,
rent, his home would cost him SIP;
a year. This figure represents ten PEI
cent of the value of the average house
Including interest. depreciation ant
repairs, this is regarded as a fair rem
tai charge for the class of houses usu
ally found on the farm.