The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1916-11-14
TENANT FARMING.
Half Share Renting More Profitable
Than Cash Renting.
TPreoared nv United States department of

Half Share Renting More Profitable
Than Cash Renting.
Prepared by United States department of
agricultural
Significant facts bearing upon the
relation between systems Of renting,
types of farming and the returns re-
allied by landlord and tenants are
brought out in the report of a farm
management survey Of 246 tenant
farms In the truck region of south
western New Jersey, published as Unit
ed States department of agriculture
bulletin AL The survey was made
In 1913 During this year 1t was found
that half share renting was both more
popular and more profitable than cash
renting; that late truck farming was
safer financially than early truck farm
ing and that the highest average In
come for both landlord and tenant was
derived from few of the larger farms
upon which dairying was an impor-
tant enterprise and for which the ten
ant paid as rent half the returns from
the dairy as well as half the crops.
OF 112 early truck farms forty three
made no labor income and twenty-five
even failed to make a family income,
while of 121 late truck farms but TWEEN
ty-eight made no labor income and nine
no family income. On the other hand,
seven Of the early truck farmers clear
ed labor incomes of over $500 as
against six of the late truck farmers.
The average family income of the 246
tenants was 1888 and the average Ia
Dor income 1882 found by deducting
from the family income the value Of
unpaid family labor and interest on
working capitaD.
The 1856 tenants who rented on the
crop half share system made an aver
age labor income of 1923. Twelve
farms, larger than the average, rented
for half share of both crops and re-
turns from the dairy, made an average
labor income for the tenant of $715.
The thirty-five tenants who rented for
cash made an average labor income OF
$200.
The returns received by the land
lords showed the same trends. FIT
teen owners Of early truck farms fail
ed to make anything on investment,
while thirteen made over Is per cent
and thirty-one over 10 per cent. But
four owners Of late truck farms lost
money, while only one made over 10
per cent and but thirteen over 10 per
cent. The average interest on real es-
tate investment for the 246 farms was
SO per cent. For farms rented for a
half share Of the crops the landlords
| interest averaged 6.8 per cent; for
farms let for half share of both crops
and returns from the dairy, TT per
cent and for farms let for cash 81 per
cent.
These figures should be considered in
the light of the fact that the crop
yields and prices for the period of the
survey (1918) were below normal
The crop half share system, in vogue
on 166 farms, provides that the tenant
furnish labor, teams, stock and tools
and give as rent half the grain and
half the returns from truck and other
crops sold, but none of the receipts
from live stock. Other share systems
are variations of this plan.
Under all share systems the landlord
| furnishes certain things, particularly
fertilizers. This question Of purchased
fertility is of greater importance on
early truck farms than on late truck
farms. On all the 1873 crop half share
farms commercial fertilizers were pur
chased. The landlord paid for all com.
mercial fertilizer on seventy-fve OF
the ninety early truck farms and more
than half the cost on the remaining fif.
teen, while on the late truck farms the
landlord bought all the commercial fer.
tilizer on but one farm, more than hall
on but twenty and but half on the re.
naming seventy-six. On all farms
rented for half the crops where stable
manure was bought the landlord paid
the entire cost. Manure was bought
on eighty-seven of the ninety early
truck farms at an average cost Of
| 1885 per farm, while Of the ninety-siz
late truck farms but twenty-one
bought manure, at an average expense
Of $135 per farm. Landlords Of early
truck farms bought roughage for forty
one of their tenants at an average cost
Of $75 per farm.