FARM MANAGEMENT STUDY OF COTTON FARMS. 



49 



HORSE LABOR. 



The average annual cost of work stock per head is $101.37 * (see 

 fig. 13). The average cost is almost exactly the same on large farms 

 as on small. However, the cost per acre and the cost per day decrease 

 materially as the size of farm increases. The annual feed cost per 

 animal amounts to $83.08. The average value of this stock is $135 

 per head and the interest on this valuation at 8 per cent amounts 

 to $10.73. 



The annual depreciation of work stock is comparatively low on 

 these farms, averaging $6.38. Very little shoeing is done for ordi- 

 narv farm work; only where teams are used for hauling on the 



Fig. 15. — Barn, with overhanging eaves for machinery shelter. 



hard pike roads are they shod. The average cost per head per 

 year is seen to be only $0.95. The veterinary cost is but $0.23 per 

 head. Only an occasional animal is injured and very little disease 

 is found in the region. 



COST OF MACHINERY. 



The cost of maintenance and operation of machinery and tools is 

 comparatively high in Ellis County. Figure 11 shows the relation of 

 the various cost items to each other and to the total cost per $100 of 

 equipment. The largest item is seen to be depreciation, which is 

 equivalent to 14 per cent of the value of the machinery. According 

 to this rate, the average life of machinery for the region is about 7 



1 This figure does not include cost of labor in caring for work stock. This labor is in- 

 cluded in the nonproductive labor, all of which is distributed to the various enterprises. 



