AGRICULTURAL WAGES 825 



These comparisons establish the conclusion that the money wage 

 rates of farm labor have increased during the eighteen years covered 

 hi a considerably greater degree than the wages of workingmen hi 

 non-agricultural occupations. 



In the purchasing power of wages in terms of retail prices of food 

 the workingmen barely gain from the first period to the second, the 

 mean index number for the second period being 101.4. Fr the farm 

 laborer the gain was from about 10 to 15 per cent, so that, notwith- 

 standing the great rate of increase of retail prices of food, the rates 

 of wages of farm labor increased in degrees sufficient to make as a 

 net result a substantial rate of increase. The subject may be examined 

 in detail by referring to Table 27. 



264. THE FARM FURNISHES A LIVING IN ADDITION TO 

 OTHER INCOME 1 



BY W. C. FUNK 



According to the Thirteenth Census, approximately 32 per cent of 

 the population of the United States are actually living on farms. 

 Most of these depend upon the farm for their livelihood. Some 

 studies have already been made to determine the labor income of 

 farmers in various sections, but this income is exclusive of what the 

 farm furnishes in food, fuel, and house rent. The farm should be 

 credited with the indirect income it furnishes to the farmer's family 

 hi products and in the privilege of the use of the house. 



This indirect income from the farm is often underestimated by the 

 farmer or merely taken for granted and its real value not appreciated. 

 The person whose vocation demands that he live in the city has to 

 pay a large proportion of his income for those things which the farmer 

 receives without any cash outlay. 



This bulletin considers the amount the farm should be credited 

 with for that which it furnishes to the farmer's family in products and 

 in the privilege of the use of the farmhouse. In the group of items 

 studied, however, data are presented covering the amount purchased, 

 as well as that furnished by the farm. 



Studies were made in 10 localities, covering 3 cotton-growing, 2 

 corn-belt, 2 general-farming, and 3 typical dairy sections. 



The average annual value of food, fuel, oil, and shelter per person 

 for the families visited was $129.74, of which $91.97 was furnished 



1 Adapted from Farmers' Bulletin 635, pp. i, 21. 



