COST OF FARMING OPERATIONS 



maintaining the fertility of the soil and only 

 incidentally on account of the increased 

 profits. 



COST OF PRODUCTION 



For a number of reasons it is difficult to 

 determine the cost of growing farm crops. 

 One reason deserves to be especially em- 

 phasized. In any business enterprise it may 

 be necessary to run at a loss, because to stop 

 would entail a still greater loss. This is par- 

 ticularly true in farming, where men are 

 employed by the month in order that they 

 may be had when needed. Since they are 

 receiving pay, it is better that such men 

 should be employed some days at farm 

 operations which return only a portion of 

 their wages rather than not to have them 

 employed at all. Under such circum- 

 stances, therefore, the cost of producing a 

 given crop may be greater than is indicated 

 by the time actually employed in its 

 production. 



Many other factors also enter, as the 

 average number of hours per day which it 



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