26 BULLETIN 590, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



the business, as suoli a statement could be obtained only through an 

 inventory of the supplies on hand, by taking into consideration the 

 revenue accrued on unclosed pools, and by a "closing of the books " 

 in the regular way. A report of this kind would, however, present 

 to the directors many matters in which they are greatly interested. 



TRIAL BALANCE OF THE GENERAL LEDGER. 



A copy of the monthly trial balance of the general ledger should 

 be included in the report. While the trial balance constitutes 

 nothing more than a transcript of the balances appearing on the 

 ledger accounts, considerable information can be gleaned from it. 



It is important that attention be called to the necessity of taking 

 a monthly trial balance, inasmuch as there seems to be a disposition 

 on the part of many bookkeepers to allow this matter to go unheeded. 

 While the amount of the transactions per month when averaged 

 over the 12 months of the year seems relatively small, the business 

 of shipping fruit is a seasonal one and the total monthly business 

 during the active months is proportionately large. The manager 

 should insist that a balance of the accounts be secured not later 

 than the second day of the following month. By posting at frequent 

 intervals during the month, the amount of posting to be done at the 

 end will comprise merely the closing entries and columnar totals of the 

 books of original entry. 



RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS OF CASH. 



A segregation of the receipts of cash for the month can easily be 

 made from the cashbook, giving the total amounts received from the 

 following sources: Fruit sales; cash sales of supplies; railroad claims; 

 growers' accounts; accounts receivable (other than growers); mis- 

 cellaneous. 



Asegregation of the disbursements of cash to show the total amounts 

 paid out: To growers; for supplies; accounts payable; expense — gen- 

 eral, packing-house, warehouse; miscellaneous. 



A further division of the items grouped as miscellaneous under 

 both receipts and disbursements of cash can be made if the amounts 

 warrant and the information is desired. 



