The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1919-11-21
IMPORTANCE OF THE
FARM CENSUS

alton work will begin January 2, 1920,
is to be the most important ever TAX
en-, is shown by the fact that the Act |
of Congress providing for this census
expressly increased the scope Of the
inquiries so as to include forestry and
forest products, two subjects never
covered specifically by any preceding
census act.
The inquiries to be made relating to
population, manufacturers, mines,
quarries and agriculture were also ex-
tended in their scope by Congress, the
keenest interest over the forth-com-
ing census having been shown by
members of the census committees of
both the house and senate, while the
law was under consideration.
The statistics gathered on mining
will include all oil and gas wells.
Many startling developments in this
important branch of the nations re-
sources are looked for by census Off
cials. The figures gathered in Texas,
Oklahoma and Kansas will no doubt
prove to be those most eagerly sought
for, as shown by inquiries already re-
ceived by the census bureau.
The compilation and gathering of
forestry and forest products statistics
will be in charge of special force of
experts. The accurate >and compre-
hensive figures gathered concerning
this vital natural resoruce will be
much in demand, and the comparisons
made with conditions existing before
the war will be of great interest.
Agricultural statistics will likewise
be the subject of special effort on the
part of the census bureau as the inn
portance of farming is being realized
by the average citizen far more than
ever before. f
What is farm?
Seems foolish question to ask,
doesn't it? Almost anyone can tell
off-hand just what farm is and
knows one when he sees it.
But do you happen to know the in
depreciation Uncle Sam places on the
word "farm" for census purposes
No? Then read how his bureau of
the census defines the word:
"A farm for census purposes is all
the land which is directly farmed by
one. person conducting agricultural
operations, either by his own, labor or
with the assistance of members of
his household or hired employees"
In further explanation of this de-
finition the census bureau points out
that the term agricultural opera
tions" is used as a general term re-
ferring to the work Of growing crops,
producing other agricultural pro-
ducts and raising domestic animals,
poultry or bees.
From this definition it will be seen
that farm may consist of a single
tract of land or of number of sepa-
rate and distinct tracts. And these
several tracts may be held under diff
ferent tenures as, for instance, when
one tract is owned by the farmer and
another is rented by him. Thus, if a
man who owns 100 acres rents an ad-
ditional ten acres from some one else
and operate both the 100 acres and
the ten acres, then his "farm" includes
both tracts of land comprising 11O
acres.
/ By the same token when a land
owner has one or more tenants, rent
ers, croppers or managers, each DIFF
ferenct tracts of land operated by any
such tenant, renter, cropper or man
ager is considered a separate and dis.
4, tinct farm by the census bureau. Or
to give an example, if a man owning
12O acres of land rents 40 acres to a
tenant, and farms the remaining sc
acres himself, his farm is the 80 acres
which he operates, not the 120 acres
which he owns, while the 40 acre tract
which he rents to tenant comprises
separate farm to be reported in the
name of the tenant.
Another Question to be determined
is how important does an agricultural
enterprise have to be in order to Sc
cure recognition in the census as a
farm? A small vegetable garden or a
chicken yard accommodating a few
busy hens will not be allowed to
qualify as "farm" in the census no
matter with what pardonable pride
and satisfaction the proprietor may
view his agricultural enterprise.
But If the garden or chicken yard
expands until it covers not less than
three acres of ground, or until it re-
quires for its care the continuous SER
vices OF at least one person, or yields
products annually to the value OF
$3.50 or more, it comes within the
census definition of farm and will be
recognized as such and counted.
The agricultural schedule contains
many questions regarding farm values
expenses and live stock as well as the
acreage and quantity of crops raised
in the year 1919. Census bureau off.
cials are urging farmers everywhere
to prepare for the census enumerator
by looking over their books and rec.
ords so that accurate answers may be
furnished to questions.
In this connection the bureau of the
census emphasizes the fact that tha,
informant furnished to census taker,
is absolutely confidential, made so b,