8 



New Hampshire Experiment Station [Bulletin 239 



TABLE V. 

 Relation of Size to Labor and Costs per Acre and per Bushel. 1926-1927. 



methods. Certain farmers have organized their production meth- 

 ods to compete successfully with the efficient growers of other 

 regions on the basis of labor and material requirements. 



Other studies have shown that the most important factors 

 influencing potato acre yields are the amount of seed used per 

 acre, the amount and value of manure and fertilizer used per 

 acre, and the frequency of spraying. Certified seed has recently 

 become important. These influences on yield are a factor in their 

 relation to material and labor requirements and to costs per bushel. 

 In addition, differences in area in potatoes have shown some in- 

 fluence on yield, and on labor cost per bushel. Its greatest influ- 

 ence has been on labor per acre largely through the savings in labor 

 made possible with special potato machinery. This acre labor re- 

 quirement has been reflected in marked decreases in costs per bush- 

 el even where yield has remained the same. 



In this study the limited data in the tables indicate the influ- 

 ence of one factor compared with another. Otherwise, notes have 

 been made in the table explanation. 



Area in Potatoes 



One important factor influencing cost of production is the 

 area in potatoes. The larger areas not only require more machin- 

 ery but must use it more efficiently to accomplish the work in the 

 proper season; even though the larger area on a farm may consist 

 of several small fields. The small grower has the same planting 

 and harvesting time as the larger grower, which permits him to 

 dally with the operations. He quite frequently takes as long to 

 plant and dig as the larger grower. 



