FARM MANAGEMENT 411 



COST AN ACRE OF CORN PRODUCTION 



Seed $.226 



Shelling seed .026 



Plowing 1.31 i 



Dragging 544 



Planting. . .240 



Cultivating 1. 806 



Husking 3-45^ 



Machinery cost -549 



Land rent 3-5 



General expense i .000 



$12.658 



In the above calculation land is valued at $70.00 an acre, upon 

 which interest at the rate of 5 per cent is charged. Man labor varied 

 from 1 2 cents to 13.5 cents an hour ; horse labor averaged 9.25 cents an 

 hour, and all horse and man labor included are charged at these rates. 

 One half the cost of manuring is charged to the corn crop on a some- : 

 what arbitrary basis and is included under general expense. The 

 general expense of the farm, charged on a pro rata basis, is about 

 $1.00 an acre, and this figure is used for the corn field. 



ACCOUNTING 



If a farm is to be conducted as a business enterprise, 

 it follows ' that some system of accounting must be 

 adopted which will permit a close analysis of each enter- 

 prise conducted. 



An inventory should be taken at the end of each year 

 as a basis of comparison of the business for the year. 

 An account should be opened with each crop grown, as 

 wheat, oats, corn, hay, or orchard, also with the various 

 classes of live stock, as cows, swine, sheep, poultry, or 

 horses, and with all labor also, and each enterprise 

 charged with the amount consumed in carrying for- 

 ward the work. While it would be possible to learn 



