62 BULLETIN 1034, U. S. DEPAETMEIsTT OF AGRICULTURE. 



In 1913 the average cost was 11.8 cents per pound, and about 52 

 per cent of the farms produced at this cost or less. This average 

 cost included about 60 per cent of the acreage and about 64 per cent 

 of the production. In 1918 the average cost was 23.2 cents per 

 pound, and this included 48 per cent of the farms, 54 per cent of the 

 acreage, and 57 per cent of the production. 



In 1913 the cost of production was above the average on 48 per 

 cent of the farms, and included about 40 per cent of the acreage 

 and about 36 per cent of the production, while in 1918 the cost of 

 production was above the average on 52 per cent of the farms, and 

 included 46 per cent of the acreage and 43 per cent of the production. 



The average price received in 1913 was 12.2 cents and the aver- 

 age cost of production 11.8 cents. In 1918 the average price received 

 was 29.2 cents and the average cost 23.2 cents. 



Plate IV shows the number of farms producing at various costs 

 in 1913 and 1918. 



COST OF PRODUCTION BY CLASSES OF FARMERS. 



Table 35 shows a rang© in average cost in 1913 from 10.3 cents 

 per pound of lint for white tenants to 12.2 cents per pound for white 

 owners. In 1918 the range was from 20 cents per pound for the 

 white tenants to 24.6 cents for white owners. 



The cost to the white-owner operators is the one of most import- 

 ance in cotton production in this area. The white owners repre- 

 sented one-half the farms under study for each year, but in 1913 

 they had 72 per cent of the cotton acreage and 75 per cent of the 

 cotton production, and in 1918, 69 per cent of the cotton acreage and 

 69 per cent of the cotton production. 



While their cost per unit of production was higher in both 1913 

 and 1918 than for either white tenants, colored owners, or colored 

 tenants, the size of their business and greater efficiency of operation 

 won for them the largest farm incomes and labor incomes. (See 

 Table 12, page 33.) 



The average cost in 1918 for each class of operators shown in 

 the table was slightly less than twice that of 1913 except for the white 

 owners, whose average cost in 1918 was slightly more than twice that 

 of 1913. 



On most of the tenant farms, owing to the small size of business 

 conducted and small output per worker, the cost must pf necessity 

 be comparatively low per unit of production if they are to have left 

 a living income after paying rent and other expenses. The owner 

 farms, on the other hand, are equipped for a much larger output 

 per man; they have better buildings, machinery, mules and other 

 working equipment, which increase their cost per unit of production, 



