Show farm labor Is more effective workers have decreased while mass of crop production shows increase Pr trl by the th unita states department i ot t farm labor labo r becaro nebout 18 per cent more effective la crop production during the last decade says bays the ho united states department of agriculture Arl culture although the number of farm workers decreased over 4 per rent cent in that period tho the mass of crop production increased about 13 per cl c ont ent tho the increased efficiency efu effi clency la Is attributed at trI buted chiefly to the uso use of more dioro and better machinery the time saved by tho the uso use of automobiles and to tho the fact that farm owners and their families are working harder or longer on account of farm labor shortage and high wages the average crop area per worker in 1920 was 2 acres compared with in 1010 an increase of nearly 17 per cent the average aizo sizo of farms lifts has olbo also increased being in 1020 compared with acres in 1010 1910 grain and liny crops which are especially machine produced show a higher rate of increase in nerease f from rom the average of IM 1007 13 to that of 23 than other crops it Is pointed out tho the acreage of nil all crops increased about 12 per cent whereas that of grains and liny hay increased about 14 per cent better batter machines used moro more ard ara ar d bever machines are boing being used since 1010 jhb depart department ment says two bottom sulley plows tor for e example have in many bitses replaced walking plows and two row cult IV n tor are being used timed instead of one row cultivators so long as laud land Is more plentiful than labor high production per worker Is 1 the economic objective instead of high production per acre the department points out hence farmers are displacing human labor with machinery the automobile which made possible a saying saving in human time was one of the great gifts to the farm farmer or during the decade the department says in 1020 the census found that farms arms in tho the united states had 2140 automobiles the ap farms comprised nearly 81 31 per cent of till all farms but in some sections of the country the percentage of automobile ow owning ning farms was as an high as 58 per cent approximately 78 75 per cent of the uso use of automobiles on farms la is tor for business purposes the department has haa found there has also been it substitution of animal power for human power during the decade as indicated by the increased ratio of horses and mules to agricultural workers in 1010 there were horses and mules per agricultural anden and jo 1020 the average was showing dh ab increase of 11 per cent the ratio of crop chopi acreage to number of horses and mules has also increased being acres in 1020 1920 as compared with acres acrea in 1010 1910 motor trucks on farm s at the time of the 1020 census were much less lesa numerous innumerous than automobiles and slight i ly less than tractors there were motor trucks on farms nearly 5 per cent of the farms in the middle atlantic states had motor trucks these time tavete have given the farmer in a large degree another pair of hands the department says they have not increased his leisure time tim but have multiplied the effectiveness of his labor efficiency not diminished it seems probable that the efficiency of farm labor at theand of the decade 1010 20 has not diminished in the three subsequent years yeara the department says A net loss of persons allowing for births and deaths of the agricultural population during 1022 1922 was estimated by the department this figure includes bep mep men women and children which would make the man labor loss losa around men vo NO estimate for 1923 has been made bu but t it la Is thought probable that there was a continued reduction of tho the agricultural population particularly as there was great industrial activity last year and farmers were abt a continued economic disadvantage in the purchasing power ot of their products there Is reason to suppose the department part joart ment says that crop production last year which was average and a smaller number of persons with agricultural ri occupations combined to indicate an increased effi dency of farm arm labor a little above the 18 per cent of over 1907 18 13 especially since the aids to that labor have in some respects increased since 1020 |