N. H. Agri. Experiment Station 



[Bulletin 251 



operated at a loss which was often demonstrated when their accounts 

 were figured. On the other hand, there were dealers who kept exact 

 records and balanced their books monthly. They knew when and 

 how they had made or lost money. In all instances, an effort was 

 made to obtain all the information possible, and estimates were tak- 

 en when records were not available. 



Total tonnage of grain sold in New Hampshire during 1926 was 

 210,835 tons, of which 15 per cent was sold at the car door, 62 per 

 cent at the store and 23 per cent was delivered to customers. 



Gross margins varied among the stores as shown in Table 1. Where 

 dealers dia not iiave a regular system of accounts, gross margins were 

 estimated, sometimes in dollars per ton, sometimes in per cent of sales. 

 The average gross margin per ton of 138 dealers was $4.71, and the 

 average per cent of sales of 33 dealers was $11.29. There were 12 gen- 

 eral merchandise stores handling grain on a margin between $2 and $3 

 a ton. This is the group which sold grain primarily because it brought 

 trade to their store. 



Gross margins at the car door varied from $1 to $3 a ton, with the 

 larger number charging about $1.50 a ton. 



Table 2 — Average Net Sales, Gross Margins, Operating Costs and Net Income of 



41 Retail Grain Stores in 1928 



