FARMERS EARNINGS IN SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA 
15 
The receipts from crops would have been somewhat larger had 
crops been worth as much in relation to dairy and poultry products 
as they ordinarily are; but even with that qualification the pre- 
dominance of livestock enterprises in general and the dairy enter- 
prise in particular, as sources of receipts in this region, is striking. 
It is evident that mushrooms produce a very Targe average gross 
return. The place of this enterprise on Chester County farms will 
be given special consideration later, in view of its importance. 
ITEMS OF EXPENSE 
The average cash expenses on farms in different groups is shown in 
Table 14. Direct expenses on the mushroom enterprise are grouped 
together and presented in itemized form later on. 
Aside from the mushroom enterprise, expenditures for materials 
make up the most important group of expenses in every group of 
farms shown (Table 15). Labor is next in importance, with real- 
estate expenses next. 
Feed is the outstanding item on dairy farms, and fertilizer is also 
important in every group. Repair and replacement of machinery is 
also an important item. 
Besides labor hired, many specialized jobs are hired done, the 
expenditure for special service being about half as great as for labor in 
several groups. This illustrates the extent to which such parts of 
farm operations as can be more economically performed on a large 
scale or by specialists tend to become separated from the family farm 
business as such. 
Table 14. — Average cash expenses of farms in specified groups 
Item 
Expenses by groups of farms 
Dairy 
Small 
dairy 
Mushroom Mu ^° y om 
Crop 
Total cash expenses 
Materials purchased: 
Feed 
Fertilizer 
Lime 
Seed 
New machinery and repairs . 
Fuel and oil 
Twine 
Miscellaneous i 
Dollars 
2,458 
Dollars 
2,004 
Dollars Dollars 
5, 282 4, 771 
Dollars 
2,027 
Total materials. 
434 
157 
31 
71 
143 
25 
7 
23 
396 
123 
102 
63 
21 
20 
47 
41 
165 
168 
15 
16 
5 
3 
22 
22 
485 
126 
30 
93 
208 
22 
156 
181 
11 
77 
132 
14 
1.026 
601 
Labor: 
Cash expense for labor 
Cash expense for board for labor. 
Total cash for labor 
Services purchased: 
Baling 
Threshing 
Feed grinding 
Horse shoeing 
Milk hauling 
Silo filling 
Veterinary 
Farm use of telephone 
Cow testing 
Miscellaneous 2 . 
412 
75 
227 
25 
487 
252 
825 
64 
35 
912 
Total services. 
204 
128 
101 
223 
314 
45 
359 
197 
1 Includes plants and trees, spray material, ice, barrels, and other containers, bedding, etc. 
1 Includes breeding and registration fees, electricity, machine hire, etc. 
