81 



as seed. This amount is more or less constant. In the 

 years of poor production, the net amount to sell may be 

 so small that the higher prices will not compensate for 

 the short crop. The price of potatoes seems to be high 

 enough so that the total value of the crop sold is likely 

 to be highest in the years of small crops. Crops that are 

 partly fed nearly always pay the farmer best in years of 

 good crops, because in poor years the amount left after 

 feed and seed is deducted is so small. 



The prosperity of the farmer is, of course, influenced by 

 the condition of the country, so that high yields and low 

 prices are in part offset by general business conditions. 



58. Variation in relative values of farm products. The 

 relative prices of farm products are constantly changing. 



The value of wheat on the farm has been decreasing 

 relative to the prices of corn, oats, eggs, and most other 

 products. (Table 14.) Thirty years ago a bushel of 

 wheat would buy 4 dozen eggs; now it buys only 2.7 

 dozen. It would then buy 2 bushels of corn; now it 



TABLE 14. COMPARATIVE FARM PRICES, SHOWING WHAT A 

 BUSHEL OF WHEAT WOULD BUY AT DIFFERENT PERIODS, 

 FROM TABLES 81 AND 82. 



1 The price of eggs used is the city wholesale price, Table 82. 

 G 



