22 BULLETIN 696, U. S. DEPAE^TMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



In the surplus-producing North Central States, costs of hauling 

 will be observed to be lower than elsewhere and fairly uniform over 

 large areas. The Southern and Western States are marked by long 

 hauls and high hauling costs, as well as great irregularity in the 

 price areas. Irregular price levels may be observed (Map 3) through- 

 out mountain sections. Accessibility to markets, the existence or 

 absence of good roads or of water transportation, is often reflected 

 in material price variations within small areas. Thus, in a report of 

 the Waterways Commission it is shown that farmers along naviga- 

 ble rivers in Tennessee receive several cents per bushel more for their 

 corn than those in surrounding regions. In the more remote farms 

 the cost of hauling corn to or from shipping points appears to be 

 almost prohibitive. Such isolated areas have an almost entirely 

 local market. In the western irrigated sections — distant from mar- 

 kets — the price of alfalfa hay has been known to drop from around 

 $20 per ton in a year of local shortage to below $5 in a year of local 

 surplus. 



To the causes making for price irregularity because of farm con- 

 ditions may be added the preference for ear corn, the trade for which 

 is local,, and the added expense of shelling corn to lessen freight 

 charges. 



Local conditions are thus seen to depress farm prices of corn in 

 regions of surplus production, influences of the character mentioned 

 often causing deviations from the general geographic arrangement 

 of prices. But in areas of insufficient production the described 

 drawbacks incident to bringing in corn tend to increase the prices 

 obtained by farmers. Map 2, showing density of production, should 

 be compared with Map 3, which shows prices. The relationship is 

 apparent, for prices drop wherever production is shown to be 

 denser. In the regions of deficient production such areas as show 

 notably heavy corn crops form price depressions. For instance, in 

 Maryland, Delaware, and southeastern Pennsylvania production is 

 greater and corn prices are lower than in surrounding territories; 

 this contrasts with the tendency of corn prices to increase east and 

 southward. In central Tennessee, also, lower prices and greater 

 production will be noted than in the southwestern part of the State. 



