INTERPRETATION OF COST ACCOUNTS 381 



should figure out everything possible in dollars and cents. 

 Then he is ready for the comparison with some other re- 

 sults. Sometimes, however, the changes involve a weighing 

 of money expenditure against convenience. In such cases 

 the complete cost should be calculated before an attempt is 

 made to decide whether such cost is sufficient or insuffi- 

 cient to warrant the resulting convenience or inconven- 

 ience. 



The experience of others should be used whenever pos- 

 sible in determining the best course to follow. The U. S. 

 Dept, of Agriculture and the Experiment Stations of most 

 of the State Agricultural Colleges have performed valuable 

 experiments intended to assist the farmer and save him 

 the time and loss that are often necessary to prove certain 

 facts. A list of some of the more helpful bulletins and 

 books on farm management or accounts is given in the 

 bibliography at the close of the book. 



ILLUSTRATIVE PROBLEMS 



1. Using the accounts of C. P. May prepared under instruc- 

 tions of problems 3, 4 and 5, Chapters VIII and IX, analyze the 

 Loss and Gain account, finding the income as an individual, as 

 a fanner, as a laborer, as a capitalist (Income from Investment), 

 and as a manager. 



2. Using the Corn account of C. P. May as kept for the three 

 years under problems 3, 4 and 5, Chapters VIII and IX, pre- 

 pare a Comparative Analysis of Corn Account for the years 

 ended Feb. 29, 1916, Feb. 28, 1917, and Feb. 28, 1918. (See Illus- 

 tration 64.) Be prepared to discuss the facts brought out by the 

 comparison. 



3. Referring again to the C. P. May accounts for the year 

 ended Feb. 29, 1916, prepare a Comparative Analysis of Crop 

 Accounts for the year, considering only corn, oats and wheat. 

 (See Illustrations 64 and 66.) 



4. Prepare a Comparative Corn Production and Cost Record 

 for the three years ended Feb. 29, 1916, Feb. 28, 1917, and 



