296 THE BOOK OF CORN 



to invite estimates rather than actual records, and was 

 faulty to an extent that made necessary a supplemen- 

 tary circular at a later date. The results, therefore, 

 are open to the objection of being based upon esti- 

 mates, or at best imperfect recollection of unimportant 

 circumstances taking place nearly a year before the 

 asking of any questi9ns concerning them. 



The data gathered are so imperfectly presented 

 that it is impossible to construct a table which shall 





Pig 83— The Seed Corn Maggot 



Phorbia fusciceps : «, male fly, dorsal view; b, female, lateral view; c, head 

 of female from above; d^ larva, from side; e, anal segment of larva;,/", anal 

 spiracles; g^ thoracic spiracles; >g, puparium — all much enlarged (after Chitten. 

 den). 



show in detail the cost of the various items necessary to 

 a showing of the cost of growing corn. The final con- 

 clusion is that the "cost per bushel through husking" 

 averaged 16.1 cents, qualified by the statement: "If we 

 omit rent, the cost per bushel through husking would 

 according to this inquiry be about eight cents." In 

 view of the fact that this does not include any allow- 

 ance for depreciation of horses or machinery, team 

 maintenance during their period of idleness, fertiliza- 

 tion, and other items of cost always present, even the 

 final conclusion cannot be accepted as having any very 

 positive value. 



