FARM PROFITS. iy 
FAMILY LIVING FROM THE FARM. 
Farm receipts, farm income, labor income, and value of farmer’s 
labor, as already discussed, do not include the value of the family 
living from the farm. It is well understood that a very significant 
proportion of the farmer’s family living comes directly from the farm. 
This may be considered as a form of income additional to that of 
farm receipts, farm income, or labor income. An estimate of the 
value of the items food, fuel, and house rent thus furnished in this 
area was $359 per farm for the seven-year average, having increased 
from $300 in 1912 to $494 in 1918. 
PRODUCTS SOLD AND PRICES RECEIVED. 
The amount of farm products produced for sale or for use in 
increasing the size of the farm business is of value in determining 
the possibilities of success in various areas. While it is important 
that a farm be so organized as to contribute liberally toward the 
farmer’s living, a farm can not be considered a profitable business 
until it is yielding enough products for sale to maintain itself ade- 
quately as a business organization. It was not possible to reduce 
to quantity form all the various products sold from these farms, but 
in Table I are shown the amounts for the more important sources of 
income. The number of cattle for the seven-year period averaged 
3 head, eggs 677 dozen, wool 301 pounds, hogs 9 head, and wheat 45 
bushels. ‘The most cattle were sold in 1917, the most eggs in 1914, 
the most wool in 1912, the most hogs in 1914-15, and the most wheat 
in 1915. 
The prices also which the farmers received over the seven-year 
period for these products are shown in Table I. In 1912 the average 
price received for cattle was $5.70 per hundredweight, in 1916 it had 
advanced to $8.20, and in 1918 to $10.24. Eggs for the first four 
years remained at 19 cents per dozen, but in 1918 had advanced to 
34 cents. Wool showed a large advance in 1917 and remained at 
the same price (65 cents per pound) for 1918. In 1913 and 1914 the 
increased price of hogs brought increased production, but with the 
drop in price in 1915 the production the following year was decreased. 
From a study of the production and prices shown in this table it is 
evident that the increase in profits was due more to increased prices 
than to increased production. 
LABOR INCOME AND RETURN ON CAPITAL OVER THE SEVEN-YEAR PERIOD. 
The labor income for each of the 25 farmers is shown for each year 
in Table II, and the: per cent return on the capital in Table III. 
The farms in each table are arranged beginning with the farm having 
the highest seven-year average labor income. The labor incomes are 
also shown graphically in figure 7. 
13648°—20—Bull. 920 
3 
