TENANCY AND OWNERSHIP AMONG NEGRO FARMERS 
21 
the poorest accumulators buy the greatest amount of groceries, but 
the data here presented do not show this. In short, the larger 
average amount of family living obtained from the farms by the 
higher classes of accumulators reflects a higher standard of living 
rather than a reduction in food purchased. 
Table 18. — Family living expenses of different classes of accumulators 
Operators 
Average 
persons 
in 
family 
Family living expenses 
Class of 
Amount 
bought 
Selected items 
accumulators 
furnish- 
ed by 
farm 
Total 
Value of 
food 
products 
raised 
on farm ' 
1 Tobacco 
Grocer- and 
ies pur- i other 
chased j personal 
expenses 
Tenant class: 
Number 
37 
37 
38 
Number 
6.7 
6.7 
6.4 
5.4 
6.6 
6.9 
$188 
200 
223 
197 
272 
522 
$217 
suns 
$107. 
122.4 
156.4 
132.0 
161.0 
262.0 
$82 1 $8.30 
241 441 
88 ! 9.57 
Best 
296 
272 
324 
452 
519 
469 
596 
974 
80 ! 6.79 
Owner class: 
Poorest 
49 
50 
50 
73 i 5.86 
Medium 
Best 
91 7. 16 
130 | 9. 10 
1 Meats, poultry, dairy, and garden products. 
If the total amount of family living cost be taken as an index of 
standard of living, the greatest difference in standards will be found 
between the poorest tenant class and the best owner class of ac- 
cumulators, the latter having a family living cost 2.4 times as much 
as the former. 
Food raised on the farm probably influences the standard of liv- 
ing more than the same value of purchased family living supplies. 
In the first place, it is usually somewhat undervalued by the farmer; 
and in the second place, it is, as a rule, of better quality than the 
same lands of foods purchased. Of the total difference in family 
living cost between the best and poorest classes of tenants 69 per 
cent is accounted for by the difference in amounts received from the 
farm. On the other hand, of the total difference in family living 
cost between the best and poorest owner classes only 36 per cent is 
accounted for by the difference in the amounts received from the 
farm. In short, the amount received from the farm is a more im- 
portant factor in the higher standards of the best tenants than in the 
case of the best owners. 
DISTRIBUTION OF EXPENDITURES FOR FAMILY LIVING 
During the calendar year 1921 the average expenditure for living 
by tenants on the farms studied was $455, as compared with $681 
for owners. (Table 19.) 
Including the value of living furnished by the farm, tenants spent 
for all items of family living approximately $70 for each member 
of the family, while owners spent approximately $108 for each mem- 
ber of the family. As previously stated, the portion of family liv- 
ing produced on the farm probably raises the standard of living more 
per dollar of value than does the portion of family living purchased. 
The value of food obtained from the farm was two-thirds as much 
for each person in tenant families as for each person in the families 
of owners. 
