Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1919-11-11
Census Interpretation of Word Farm.

Census Interpretation of Word Farm
WASHINGTON, November 8.
What is farmP
Seems foolish question to ask, doesn'
it? Almost anyone can tell off-hand JUS
| what farm is and knows one when ht
sees 1t.
But do you happen to know the
Interpretation Uncle Sam places on tht
word "farm" for census purposes? MOI
Then read how this Bureau of the Census
defines the word:
"A farm for census purposes Ia all tht
land which is directly farmed by one
person conducting agricultural opera
tions, either by his own labor or with
the assistance of members of his house.
hold or hired employees"
In further explanation of this defini.
tion the Census Bureau points ont that
the term agricultural operations" is
used as general term referring to the
work of growing crops, producing other
agricultural products and raising domes-
tic animals, poultry or bees.
From this definition 1t will be seen
that farm may consist of single tract
of land or of q number of separate and
distinct tracts. And these several tracts
may be held under different 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 additional ten acres from some
one else and operates both the 100 acres
and the ten acres, then bis "fsrm" in
cludes both tracts of land comprising
10 acres.
By the same token when q landowner
has one or more tenants, renters, crop
pers or managers, each different tract of
land operated by any such tenant, renter,
cropper or manager is considered a sepa-
rate and distinct farm by the Census
Bureau. Or, to give an example, if a
man owning 120 acres of land rents 40
acres to a tenant and farms the remain.
ing so acres himself, his farm is the so
acres which he operates, not the 12O
acres which he owns, while the 40 acre
tract which he rents to a tenant CON-
prises 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 secure
recognition in the census as a farm? A
small vegetable garden or a chicken yard
accommodating few busy hens will
not be allowed to qualify as a "farm" in
the census no matter with what pardon
able pride and satisfaction the proprietor
may view his agricultural enterprise.
But if the garden or chicken yard ex-
psnds until ii covers not less than three
acres of ground, or until it requires for
it's care the continuous services of at
least one person, or yields products an
uually to the value of $3.50 or more, 1t
comes within the census definition of q
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 officials
are urging farmers everywhere to pre-
pare for the census enumerator by look
ing over their books and records so that
accurate answers may be furnished to
questions.
In this connection the Bureau of the
Census emphasizes the fact that that
information furnished to census takers
is absolutely confidential, made SO by
Act of Congress, and that under no cir
cumstsnces can any such information be
used as basis for taxation.
"Co-operstion between farmers and
the census officials next January is more
necessary and vital than ever before" !"
declares Director Of the Census Sam. l..
Rogers. "The world war and the part
that the farmer played in 1t and will con-
tinue to play in the rehabilitation OF
Europe serve to make the agricultural
section of the Fourteenth Decennial
Census the most important in the
Nations history. Absolute accuracy
and completeness In the census returns
is the goal toward which every citizen
should strive"