SIXTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART VIII. 715 



To get close estimates it will be necessary to follow the routine of 

 raising corn. If the land has been in corn the previous year the stalks 

 must be disposed df. A man with a three horse harrow can cover forty 

 acres in a day, and going over it twice would cost 20 cents per acre. 

 Raking twelve acres per day would cost 30 cents per acre. Discing before 

 plowing 35 cents per acre. Plowing $1.25 per acre. On an average one 

 half of the plowed land must he disced before planting, at a cost of 15 

 cents per acre. Harrowing twice, 25 cents per acre. Seed corn 15 cents 

 per acre. Planting 25 cents per acre. Two harrrowingB after planting 25 

 cents per acre. A team can cultivate in the neighborhood of seven acres 

 per day at a cost of $3.25 or 45 cents per acre. Three cultivations $1.35. 

 Husking costs at least 4 cents per bushel. 



Giving an acre of average Madison county corn land $6.00 worth of 

 labor, it should produce a larger yield than the average yield of the 

 county. Under such conditions as mentioned a yield of forty-five bushels 

 per acre should be obtained. 



Not considering rent the cost would be over 15 cents per bushel. Since 

 the average yield of Madison county is about thirty-five bushels per acre, 

 with $4.50 worth of labor It would still cost 15 cents per bushel to pro- 

 duce, and with the rent added, 28 cents per bushel. 



SUMMAET. 



Rent $4.60 



Breaking stalks 20 



Raking and burning 30 



Discing before plowing 35 



Plowing 1.25 



Discing after plowing ^ .15 



Harrowing 25 



Seed 15 



Planting 25 



Harrowing 25 



Cultivating 1.35 



Husking 45 bushels at .04 l.bO 



Total cost per acre $10.30 



Per bushel 23 



COST OF CORN PRODUCTION. 



John Burch, before Madison County Farmers' Institute. 



Generally estimated by Iowa farmers, forty acres of corn can be pro- 

 duced somewhat cheaper than can twenty or thirty acres, for the 



