36 BULLETIN 486, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



ing 3 acres a day at each cultivation, for 2 days, $3; hauling and dis- 

 tributing, fertilizer for second application. 50 cents; total cost of 

 fertilizer, 1,500 pounds (10-3-5 formula), at $20 a ton (the normal 

 wholesale price before the European war). $15. 



Harvesting costs about $5 per acre. Hauling to the mill, assuming 

 that the average distance is three-fourths of a mile and that 1 man 

 and 2 mules will haul about eight loads a da}', will be about $5 per 

 acre. 



Summarizing, the cost per acre, according to this farmer's esti- 

 mates, is as follows: 



Rental of land ' $2. 50 



Seed cane in the banks 10.00 



Breaking the land, harrowing, and marking and opening the 



furrows 3.00 



Preparing the cane, hauling, and planting 5. 38 



Hoeing by hand 1. 00 



Cultivation 1 3.00 



Second distribution of fertilizer . 50 



Total fertilizer, 1,500 pounds 15. 00 



Harvesting 5. 00 



Hauling to mill ■ 5. 00 



Additional time of overseers 3. 00 



Total cost of 1 acre of cane delivered at the mill 53. 38 



The allowance made for mule hire, 75 cents a day, is the usual rate. 

 With good management, however, employing the mule profitably 200 

 days a year, the expenses for mule hire may be somewhat reduced, as 

 is shown by the following computation made b} T the same farmer: 

 Original cost of mule old enough to work, $250; average length of 

 service of a mule, 10 years, with $75 per year for his keeping. $750; 

 total cost for 10 years' service, $1,000. Assuming that the mule is 

 employed profitably 200 days per year, the cost per day is 50 cents. 

 However, as the time that the mule is actually employed profitably 

 rarely averages 200 days per year, and to cover also the rental and 

 deterioration of implements, the allowance of 75 cents a day is 

 reasonable. 



ANOTHER DETAILED ESTIMATE, BY A GEORGIA FARM MANAGER. 



Another detailed estimate of the cost of cane production was ob- 

 tained from the manager of a large estate in the same locality. He 

 allowed the same wages for common laborers and for mules as was 

 allowed in the preceding estimate, viz, 75 cents a day for men and 

 mules and 50 cents a day for boys and women. He employed less 

 labor, but for fertilizer he allowed more, making the total practically 

 the same. 



