CONSUMPTION 115 



about because of the early heavy southern peach crop. Thousands 

 of persons here canned the southern goods instead of waiting for the 

 arrival of the later Michigan crop. 



"It hasn't been the heavy receipts that kept down prices, but it is 

 obvious to me that the people have been peached to death," one 

 prominent handler declared. It was evident at this market that 

 everybody had become tired of peaches, and only stock of the finest 

 quality had any demand. 



C. The Administration of Farm Income 



28. SOME ITEMS OF THE FARMER'S LIVING 1 

 BY W. C. FUNK 



It is what the farm furnishes directly toward the living expenses 

 of his family which enables the farmer to get along, even though his 

 crops are poor or the loss on his live stock eats up his profits. Food 

 and shelter are the important requisites of life, and a good proportion 

 of these necessaries are furnished by the farm in addition to the income 

 derived from the sale of farm products. The labor income is therefore 

 not the limiting factor in determining how much the farmer shall 

 have to eat, but it is of the wage-earner in the city. 



The three important elements furnished by the farm for the family 

 are food, fuel, and the use of a dwelling. Food is the most important 

 of these. Of the total value of products and privileges furnished by 

 the farm, food equals 62 per cent; house, 30 per cent; and fuel, 8 per 

 cent. 



In the southern states the values of food products furnished by 

 the farm are appreciably higher than in the northern states, owing 

 to the long growing season for vegetables and to more meat being 

 furnished by the farm for home consumption. 



In the southern states less fuel is needed than in the other states. 

 In the Texas area the farm furnished only a small portion of the fuel 

 used, most of the farmers buying both wood and coal. 



In Table I the average values per family of food, fuel, and use of 

 house are shown by states. The general average of these items fur- 

 nished by the farm per family is $421 . 17. This amount represents a 

 very valuable contribution of the farm toward the farmer's living, 

 and in many cases is no doubt greater than the labor income received 



1 Adapted from Farmers' Bulletin 635, pp. 1-9. 



