12 UNIV. OF N. H. AGR. EXPERIMENT STATION [Bulletin 232 



ranges are being used) ; house refrigerators, an average of 35.3 kilowatt 

 hours per month, ranging from 23 to 39.5; hot water heaters, an average of 

 182 kilowatt hours per month, ranging from 15.2 to 548 ; washing machines, 

 an average of 2.6 kilowatt hours per month; flatirons, 7.3 kilowatt hours 

 per month, and ironing machines 12.7; barn lights, an average of 7.9 

 kilowatt hours per month, ranging from 4.3 to 13.9; milking machines, an 

 average of 91.5 kilowatt hours per month, ranging from 56.5 to 134; dairy 

 cooling rooms, an average monthly consumption of 119 kilowatt hours, 

 ranging from 96.5 to 148. 



Detailed results of the studies have been published in Bulletin 228. 

 It seems certain that electricity will have a wider range of usefulness on 

 New England farms, if properly guided, and may have a far-reaching 

 effect on the labor situation and increasing the margin of profit for the 

 producer if reasonable rates are provided by the power companies. A 

 special rate for agricultural use has been provided by schedules already 

 published by several leading companies. The desirability of the rural 

 electric load, from the power companies' standpoint, is much better than 

 expected and may be developed to improve the present power factor, 

 probably without increasing their present equipment. (Miscellaneous 

 Income.) 



STUDIES OF GRAIN COSTS 



Great variations in the efficiency of handling grain are indicated in the 

 results of a statewide survey of the retail feed and grain stores of New 

 Hampshire. The survey, conducted by E. H. Rinear, who obtained data 

 from 197 stores, found that gross margins charged by dealers over whole- 

 sale prices ranged from $2 to $12 a ton, with the large majority charging 

 between $4 and $6 a ton. 



Credit, delivery and volume of business were found to be important 

 factors in the cost of handling grain; and total costs varied from $2 to $10 

 a ton, with the majority ranging from $4 to $6. In other words, the aver- 

 age grain dealer in the state is apparently only "breaking even." Effi- 

 ciently operated stores with a large volume of business were found handling 

 as much as $60,000 of yearly sales per person employed, while others were 

 handling as little as $5,000. Practically every store in the state was 

 visited in the survey. 



One of the outstanding features was the lack of systematic accounting. 

 Many dealers did not have any record of yearly costs and could furnish 

 only meager estimates of their business. Of the 197 dealers, 44 per cent 

 furnished fairly accurate accounts; 48 per cent gave estimates; and the 

 remainder, or 8 per cent, did not have any record. 



The survey showed that 212,393 tons of feed and grain were sold in 

 New Hampshire during 1926. Fifteen per cent was sold at the car-door, 

 62 per cent at the store and 22 per cent was delivered to the customers. 



Following this preliminary survey the grain dealers of the state were 

 invited to attend a conference at the University where the facts shown in 

 the investigation were presented. One of the results of this meeting has 

 been the formation of a set of suitable accounts for use by grain dealers. 

 (Purnell Fund.) 



