BULLETIN 412 



Miscellaneous expenses 



The items included under miscellaneous expenses, and the amounts at 

 which they were charged, are given in table 52. A few farmers had sown a 

 cover crop in the fall of 1919 on the land in tomatoes in 1920. Seed and 

 other costs on the cover crop were charged to the tomato crop. In one 

 locality a group of farmers cooperated with the factory and the New York 

 State College of Agriculture in employing a specialist to study diseases 

 and other problems affecting the production of canning crops, particularly 

 tomatoes. In the Chautauqua area, in addition to wages, the car fare 

 of extra help was sometimes paid by the farmer. In the Niagara area 

 the growers' association received i per cent of the returns from the toma- 

 toes of association members for selling the crop. The companies deducted 

 this from the payments to the farmers and paid it to the association. 

 The returns were figured on the prices before the deduction was made, 

 and the i per cent was included as a cost. In the Chautauqua area a 

 large proportion of the tomatoes was sold thru an association, which 

 received 60 cents a ton for this service. This was not included in the 

 price when the returns were calculated, and was therefore not included as a 

 cost. A few growers sold tomatoes before the factories opened. Baskets 

 for these were included as a cost. 



TABLE 52. MISCELLANEOUS EXPENSES ON TOMATOES, 133 FARMS, 1920 



Interest 



As previously explained, interest was charged from the average date 

 when the costs were incurred until returns were received for the tomatoes. 

 The dates at which payment was made varied somewhat. Payment 

 was usually made in two installments. The larger companies paid about 

 one month after the tomatoes were delivered. Ordinarily the smaller 

 companies did not pay as promptly as this. Because of the unsatisfactory 

 condition of the canned-tomato market, some of the smaller companies 

 made only partial payments on the contract dates. 



