7S 8 AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS 



his own farm. The closer the actual practice approaches the system 

 outlined in the rate sheet, the better is the farmer's credit. 



The bankers consider that the following arrangement is a safe 

 basis, for borrowing and for loaning money: 



FOOD CROPS 



Four pigs for 1,000 pounds of pork. 



Fifty laying hens or equivalent in other poultry. 



Two cows, one in milk constantly. 



One acre for constant supply of fresh vegetables and canning; cowpeas 

 and other beans, to be grown in corn; area sweet potatoes, one-quarter 

 acre; area for syrup, one-quarter acre sorghum or sugar cane; pumpkins 

 and cushaws, to be planted in corn for good food and feed; one and one- 

 half acre pasture. For winter pasture sow a grain between the cotton rows. 



FEED CROPS 



Acres corn with cowpeas, corn shocked, 240 bushels on 12 acres, at 20 

 bushels per acre; 48 bushels cowpeas, at four bushels per acre; corn stover, 

 four tons; acres in hay crops, \2\ tons, five acres sorghum, Sudan or other 

 hay; total acres food and feed, 20 acres. 



COTTON, MONEY CROP 



Acres in cotton, 20 acres; total acres in crops, 40 acres, two-horse farm. 



For the purpose of the rate sheet, it is assumed that the yield of 

 cotton will be one- third of a bale per acre, and of corn 20 bushels an 

 acre. A farm managed .in this way will yield, according to the 

 bankers, an income of $664.78, with cotton at 8 cents a pound, and 

 of $698.08, with cotton at 10 cents. On the other hand, the all- 

 cotton farm, with the same prices for cotton, will have an income of 

 only $460 or $560. 



In drawing up these estimates, the labor factor is not considered, 

 although the all-cotton farm probably requires more than the food 

 and feed farm. Furthermore, the fact that 20 acres of cotton can be 

 worked more carefully and a greater yield per acre secured than 40 

 acres, is not taken into account. It is probable, however, that when 

 only 20 acres are planted to cotton, a yield of one-half a bale, instead 

 of one-third could be secured. The food that the food-and-feed 

 farmer grows for his own use is credited to him at the same price that 

 the all-cotton farmer would have to pay for it. The objection that 

 this food may be more than the farmer's family needs is answered by 

 the fact that some of the products may be exchanged for flour, sugar, 



