Historic, archived document Do not assume content reflects current scientific knowledge, policies, or practices. ie oe PCy, ee a, + PES a ge, Cree. eet aed Meme 8 meets ee pee Mee aS ; Y “6 + ai + ee) ea Sap ap 8S z ee, ae pee m e ¥% Aare ‘ fhe PS ae 2% - * ‘ ; "UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULT ott tay | COSTS AND FARM PRACTICES IN PRODUCING POTATOES . on 461 Farms in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan New York, and Maine for the Crop Year, 1919 By - W. C. FUNK, Assistant Farm Economist Bureau of Agricultural Economics | , Geographic Distribution of Potato Production .. . . 2) °«®«&labor ........ ee ee ee eee _ Production and Price Trends . . ........ 5 Materiales Fee iS Og FS eS AT eh yeeene 33 | Conditions Peculiar to Surplus Production of Potatoes 7 se Of Ean eS ese Ps Glee 35 | Costs and Practices in 1919 om Specific Farms . . . 9 Marner RS es Pe auc! SM 35 _ Labor and Material Used per Acre . . 2.2... 12 Grockead <2°¢ 245 os eS Bo as 36 a eet on Protein O00 ek eee 13 Gite Cada or ORR 36 _ Variation in Costper Acre... ....-+.. 5G OOS eet Sea RN Mo be Us 37 : Variation in Cost per Bushel . . . . 2. +e... : : : 4 Bahien of Yall te Coslper Bukel 2... Relation of Costs and Prices, 1913-1921 . . .... 37 WASHINGTON GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1924 «"sceeee UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Walnntes, D. C. COSTS AND FARM PRACTICES IN PRODUCING POTATOES On 461 Farms in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, New York, and Maine for the Crop Year 1919 By W. C. Funx, Assistant Farm Economist, Bureau of Agricultural Economics. CONTENTS. Page. | Page Introduction. ........- ae Se See ep ee 1 | Relation of yield to cost per bushel. ......... 15 Geographic distribution of potato production. 2 | Analysis ofitems of cost— Production and price trends....-..........-. 5 Labor..... eee srrsite Sage c oleae vee e 16 Conditions peculiar to surplus production of Migrerials -2388 < Sede cokes es ess. Kercsnet 33 Ls Tas lace he Tt a ae a eee 7 WSO OE TANG 52 FO. oat ea SS oa sc tape 35 Costs and practicesin 1919 on specificfarms. -. 9 Machinery « -...5-..<% -<43 -£-:.-.->---.aee- 35 Labor and material used per acre. .......---- 12 Overhende. ce ter tee es ee 36 MMR PROUSMAACMS Su oe F220 So oe esac 13 OUNEY Costs Ss 2295s shea pene See ee 36 Variation in cost per acre. --...-...-.5.-..---- STE og ad ay ev Enh opt ede A Os Be Pi ak ea eg 37 Variationin cost per bushel. ....-..-.......-- 15 | Relation of costs and prices, 1913-1921......... 37 INTRODUCTION. This bulletin presents data on costs and farm practices in the pro- duction of potatoes in nine surplus-producing areas in Maine, New York, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota; the relation of produc- tion in these areas to the production of the entire country; and the trends of production, prices, and costs for the past quarter century. Over a series of years, considerable variations exist in acreage, yield, prices, and production costs, and a knowledge of the variations which have occurred in these factors and trends at the time the investigation was made should enable the individual grower to apply more intelligently the information contained herein to his own con- ditions. Good business management on the part of the producer involves not only a thorough understanding of production costs and practices, but also an understanding of the forces and conditions governing the market. 56856°—24——1 2 BULLETIN 1188, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION OF POTATO PRODUCTION. ACREAGE. The potato crop is widely distributed throughout the United States. The larger part of the commercial crop, however, is con- fined to relatively limited areas particularly suited to its production. The leading potato States in order of acreage are New Fon, Mich- igan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Pennsylvania,and Maine. (See Tablel1.). The major portion of the crop is grown north of a line running through Washington, D. C., and Chicago. (See fig. 1.) POTATOES Acreage —/9/9 ue * .* . Rese aes : 5 De ae . oon Pi,” * 8 008s » : -**, os £ach Dot Fepresents 1,000 Acres | Fic. 1.—Potatoes are grown throughout the United States, but mainly in the northern tier of States. Elsewhere the areas of heavy production are small and widely scattered. A relatively small proportion of the improved land in farms, for the four leading potato States, was in potatoes—only about 1.5 per cent. It is thus fairly easy to increase or decrease the potato acreage appreciably in these States. Table 1 shows that in individual States this variation does take place. In New York, for instance, the acreage in 1917 was one-fourth greater than in 1916. A large increase will also be noticed in Maine for 1917. The variation in total acreage for the United States is not so marked for successive years, indicating that the forces causing changes in acreages do not have the same effect in all States in any one year. (See fig. 2.) ACREAGE YIELD PER ACRE. AND PRODUCTION OF POTATOES UNITED STATES 1896-192! COSTS AND FARM PRACTICES IN PRODUCING POTATOES. 3 |__|] MILLIONS OF | BU. ACRES em aces TOTAL PRODUCTION (BUSHELS) ewe TOTAL ACREAGE esesese= YIELD PER ACRE (BUSHELS) | 400 Fic. 2.—The acreage of potatoes reached a maximum in 1917, while total production has varied greatly under the influence of the yields per acre. TABLE 1.—Acreage, yield, and production of potatoes for the six leading potato-producing States and for the United States,! 1913 to 1921, inclusive. Year. Acreage. Yield per acre, bushels. Minnesota. Produc- | tion, bushels. 30, 250, 000 30, 780, 000 30, 210, 000 16, 800, 000 33, 600, 000 32, 760, 000 26, 100, 000 28° 025, 006 27, 525, 000 —<—$—$<—$—$—$—$—$——<—————————— | _— _f —__ _ __ Wisconsin. Yield Produc- Acreage. | per acre, tion, bushels. | bushels. 295, 000 109 | 32,155,000 304, 000 124 | 37,696, 000 298, 000 87 | 25,926, 000 290, 000 47 | 13,630,000 307, 000 114 | 34,998,000 295, 000 1 Mt 33, 040, 000 300, 000 94 | 28, 200, 000 308, 000 108 | 33, 264, 000 315, 000 68 | 21,420,000 103 | 30,631,000 1 Yearbook United States Department of Agriculture. + BULLETIN 1188, U. 5S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. TaBLE 1.—Acreage, yield, and production of potatoes for the six leading potato-producing | States and for the United States, 1913 to 1921, inclusive—Continued. Michigan. Pennsylvania. Year. Yield. Produc- Yield. Produc- Acreage. | per acre, tion, Acreage | per acre, tion, bushels. | bushels. bushels. | bushels. Boies ee te ee ene eee once 350, 000 96 | 33, 600, 000 265, 000 88 | 23,320,000 | TYE Sos 2 Siar SOR pei Cnnteeate. oie 364, 000 121 | 44,044, 000 268, 000 105 | 28,140, 000 1 COLE epee aan It 2a en ol So 355, 000 59 | 20,945, 000 280, 000 72 | 20,160,000 HONG a- 5 dao te costae cans meee ican 320, 000 48 | 15, 360, 000 272, 000 70 | 19,040,000 [1 A ER ANE eae eT 378, 000 95 | 35,910, 000 321, 000 92| 29,532,000 Mest ce es rg ee 340, 000 84 | 28,560, 000 305, 000 80 | 24, 400, 000 PIG eee ree 3 326, 000 88 | 28, 688, 000 254, 000 100 | 25, 400, 000 {| 1) Rae SOS OE ile se ee ean eye hy 340, 000 105 | 35, 700, 000 317, 000 115 | 36,455, 000 15 SO © Se a EY ye it 340, 000 80 | 27, 200, 000 251, 000 86 | 21,586, 000 10-year average 1911-1920........... 345, 000 90 | 31, 058, 000 282, 000 89 | 25,055,000 New York. Maine. United States. Vener Yield Yield Yield 5 per Produc- per Produc- per Produc- Acreage.| acre, tion, Acreage.} acre, tion, Acreage. | acre, tion bush-| bushels. bush-| bushels. bush-} bushels. els. els. els. 112) Be a 360, 000 74 | 26,640,000 | 128,000 220 | 28, 160,000 | 3,668,000} 90.4 | 331,525,000 IO) te eS eee 145 | 53,215,000 | 130, 000 260 | 33, 800,000 | 3,711,000 | 110.5 | 409,921, 000 MOLDS tes. o8 355, 000 62 | 22,010,000 | 142, 000 155 | 22,010,000 | 3,734,000 | 96.3 | 359, 721, 000 Mie ot or é 70 | 22,400,060 | 125,000} 204 | 25,500, 000 | 3,565,000 | 80.5 | 286, 953, 000 i a ee 400, 000 95 | 38,000, 000 | 150, 000 135 | 20, 250,000 | 4,384,000 | 100. 8 | 442, 108, 000 MGs oes 380, 000 92 | 34,960, 000 | 112,000 | 200 | 22, 400, 000 | 4,295,000 | 95.9 | 411,860, 000 LLG SPS eta ; 109 | 89, 567, 000 | 102, 000 240 | 24, 480, 000 | 3,952,000 | 90.0 | 355,773, 000 eee 125 | 46, 250,000 | 123,000} 180 | 22, 140, 000 | 3,929, 000 | 109.6 | 430, 458, 000 i eile 330,000} 103 | 33,990,000 | 129,000 | 288 | 37,152,000 | 3,815,000 | 90.9 | 346, 823, 000 | 10-year aver- age 1911-1928.) 365, 000 96 | 34,895,000 | 125,000 199 | 24,315,000 | 3,857, 000 97 | 374, 170, 000 PRODUCTION. The six leading potato-producing States harvest nearly half the total crop of the country. No direct tendency toward increased production has been observed in these States during the nine years 1913 to 1921, inclusive. The acreage increased in Wisconsin and Minnesota, but lower yields held down the total production. _Produc- tion has increased in a few of the Southern States, notably Virginia. Centers of production, however, have not changed materially during the past nine years. YIELDS PER ACRE. Maine regularly leads in yield per acre, a result of climate and soils" admirably adapted to potato production and the use of large quan- tities of commercial fertilizers. The average yields of New York, Wisconsin, and Minnesota were practically the same during the nine- year period. Yields were somewhat higher in New Jersey than in the States just mentioned, while those of Pennsylvania and the Central Western States were appreciably lower. In the extreme Western States, where the crop is raised mainly under irrigation, high yields are obtained. Idaho leads these Western States with a nine-year average yield of 162 bushels per acre, which is considerably below Maine’s average of 204 bushels. . x * COSTS AND FARM PRACTICES IN PRODUCING POTATOES. 5 _ PRODUCTION AND PRICE TRENDS. The production of potatoes has more than kept pace with the population.?. The average annual production per capita from 1869 i to 1895 was 3 bushels and from 1896 to 1921 it was 3.5 bushels. This is significant. The increasing demand is being met by production in this country. Our imports of potatoes are relatively unimportant. The largest imports for any one year occurred in 1911, when the imports exceeded the exports by 12,500,000 bushels, amounting to about 4 per cent of the total number of bushels consumed. In short crop years the imports usually vary from 1 to 2 per cent of domestic production. The lines of secular trend in Figure 3 indicate that total production has increased more rapidly than acreage and that both have increased more rapidly than population. The average yield per acre has been increasing as well as the production per capita. The variation in production of potatoes from year to year has been marked, as indicated in Figures 2 and 3. Yields per acre have fluctuated more widely than acreages and production tends to follow yields more closely than acreage. An increase of 25 per cent in yield per acre over that of the previous year has not been uncommon, while a 10 per cent increase in acreage has been unusual. The average yields for the United States seem to fluctuate in a series of cycles requiring two or three years for the completion of each cycle. The first cycle in Figure 2, for instance, is from 1896 to 1899, irom the first high pomt to the succeeding high point in the peldper-acre curve. The next cycle also required three years, the ollowing high point not being reached until 1902. The range from the high to the low points of the cycles varies, but the regularity with which they occur is of more than passing interest. The striking thing is that the production varies consistently with the yield per acre and practically as widely. The acreage varies from year to year, but not as markedly as the yield per acre. In 75 per cent of the variations the yield moves in the same direction as the acreage, indicating that the factors which induce increase in acreage also influence the grower to work for a better yield. The yields per acre in individual States (fig. 2) do not always move in the same direction as the United States yields. In 1919, for instance, when the United States yield was 93 per cent of the 10-year average, the Maine yield was 121 per cent, and in 1917, when the United States yield was 104 per cent, the Maine yield was 68 per cent. Similar variations may be noted in other States. The farm price * per bushel varies inversely with the total produc- tion (see fig. 4) with few exceptions. The big variation in produc- tion for different years has been pointed out. When the production is relatively high the average price is relatively low and vice versa. It is the total production of the country that determines the price and not the production of any one State. Years of high potato prices 2 The relations that have existed in the past between population, potato production, acreage, yields per acre, and price per bushelare shownin Figures2,3,and4. 13.94) 87, 9 92. 7 | 51239: 7 1223 |, A | 67 10.4 Wenulizers 22 «<<. Jods ne ode 8e oungSs.4). ste oso = a8 500 es 2 DAG: Re > oe 06 387 1, 980 Seed: oa: 0o 8) ee ushels..| 12.3 9.5} 11.6} 10.6 7 1453.) 11.2"), 1352 15.4 Acre yield; 1919-. —: 2. -.50- bushels. .} 103 104 152 123 109 124 141 110 278 Acre yield, normal. -......-.- bushels. -| 100 111 146 134 117 132 134 153 256 Average potato acres per farm. ...... 50 16 8 12 10 10 11 11 28 Potato-landiacre <2 3:.....!.22 value../$140 |$199 |$179 j|$161 $124 /$117 $80 {$192 $182 County yields: 2 LO ee ee 88 93 126 116 93 102 114 90 252 Th Ge Sass 2 le ONS SEC ke et 91 117 136 121 106 111 107 138 231 1 Picking time was not included, largely contract. 2 Bureau of the Census, Department of Commerce. vot ert 5 8 Quantity of manure and fertilizer is the average only for the acres to which it is applied. COSTS AND FARM PRACTICES IN PRODUCING POTATOES. 13 COST OF PRODUCTION. A summary of the important items of cost in the production of an acre of potatoes for the areas studied is found in Table 8. The items of cost were charged at the rates prevailing during the year 1919. The yields used in computation were those obtained that year in each section. « TaBLE 8.—Average cost per acre and per bushel of potatoes, 1919, 461 farms, 8,161.5 acres. ere sts Minnesofa. | Wisconsin.| Michigan. | New York.| \iaine. | Pose f= fe | ___ baat doops ree | } Clay |420-| Bar- | Wau-|Mont- Ss Steu-| Mon-| Aroos- cy | ka | ron | paca| calm | “3. | ben | roe | took * | Co. | Co. | Co. | Co. | GG | Co. | Co. | Co. SL Se es Bs Saeed ee es | oS eee | Sl 547 x0 49 52] 50} 50} 58 Total acres planted ................-..------ 2,558, 870,381) 614) 508,497. 5! 560. 5| 539.5) 1,633 Total production..............-..- bushels. . 260, 302 90, 012/57, 790/75, 419|55, 216 61, 298|79, 046/59, 245)414, 332 Average yield per acre harvested . . bushels. . 103, 104) a] 123) 109, 124; 141) 110 278 Labor: MAE SE ee oe ne cc cec oe senene dee se= $19. 93 $22. os's31. 90 $24. 52/$23.85 $27. 60'$26. 30 $27.62) $41.83 Lay tp TLS apd a ae See Es ee 15.05. 16.85, 19.99) 15.26; 16.91 15.44) 23.67, 27.34) 25.44 Material costs: (UE hte eh ee ee 3.93) 8.62) 13. 80} 12.28) 13.31) 11.81) 11.25] 14.87) 4.72 ee ee ee eee 12. 55) 11.21) 12.22; 12.26) 7.62) 11.91) 11.18] 13.89} 21.86 se Cr ee ee ees ee | oi) eee By! Ree 1.81} 1.68) 79.90 yO Eee eee -47| 3.06) 1.99} 1.95) 1.73) 1.31) 1.00) 4.57 Oe ee ee eee ' 2S ). naees : 04) aeeenn 7) ON Moctoneraeee se. t= = S225. -48] 8.06) 6.29) 7.11] 6.17) 7.85) 9.40) 9.10 i Se "95| 10.72) 9.67} 7.44 7.04] 4.79] 11.54| 10.93 OE SY al 3. . 4.87) 3.98) 3.83) 4.11) 6.05) 6.92) 14.27 Other costs: | i a ae a it oeiaie . 1.71) 1.26) 150) 1.49) .95) 1.31] L82 (Mo a = 12 .12 17] 51600 oes ~24 LOIS LS eee eee 14 132) .29 = £23) 63! 50] _.63) - 2°70 Storage— | i | 4 | Sl ee ee ee Obie Baler 15] .01 71 2 ee eee a 4 ees aes [on | Use potato building................ -13; 05) ..23} . 16). 06 38; 1.00 ap ee ee ee Shc) ak |!) eee ee Sa! be aye eee er | -18 Loss on abandoned acreage.............-.-- 19. .-2: Se , ee eee — ——= Total cost per acre.................--- 27/107.60) 88. 08} 84. 34 89. 85| 96. 14/116. 85) 219.60 Total-cost per bushel... .... -.<.<..<. 8 ait. 42> 78 72} .63] 1.06 -79 Not including a land charge: | Tp: a) 2 ee ae Se eee 96. 88} 78.41) 76.90) 82.81) 91.35105.31) 208. 67 Sy ee ee ee 64, . 64 70) 67, .65 ms =45 j Man and horse labor was the most important item of cost in all areas with the exception of Aroostook County, Me. In the Maine _ area the fertilizer cost was greater than the combined costs of man _and horse labor. The cost per acre for each item was computed by dividing the total cost for that item on the farms studied by the total number of _ acres, thus obtaining a weighted average for the region. This method resulted in a relatively low regional cost per acre for items that did not occur on the entire acreage. In the areas of Clay County, Minn.., and Aroostook County, Me., for instance, manure was applied on only about one-third of the acreage planted to potatoes, resulting in a low charge for manure per acre when distributed over the total potato acreage. ‘The costs of fertilizer per acre are low for the Barron and Montcalm areas for the reason that only one farmer in each area used fertilizer on his potato land. ___ A wide range will be noticed in the average costs per acre for the _ different regions studied. There is, however, a relatively slight range at r | ' 14 BULLETIN 1188, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. in the average costs per bushel. The difference in yields tends to reduce the variation in cost per bushel. The high cost per bushel for the Monroe County, N. Y., area is due mainly to the low yield in 1919. The normal yield for this region is about 150 bushels per acre, but in 1919 the average yield obtained was only 110 bushels. With a normal yield the cost per bushel would compare favorably with the other sectionsstudied. Many of the farmers in this region were within driving distance of Rochester, enabling them to realize higher prices for their potatoes than the farmers who had to ship. It is to be expected that the cost of producing potatoes in the important pro- ducing centers would not vary greatly when the transportation charges are the same. VARIATION IN COST PER ACRE. In Table 9 the farms have been grouped according to the cost per acre. The farms of Aroostook County, Me., are in a class by them- selves. The extensive use of fertilizer and the high yields increasing the labor requirements result in high costs per acre. The variations in cost per acre in the other areas are more similar. Slightly more than one-third of the farmers produced the crop at a cost between $80 and $100 per acre, and about one-fourth of the farmers produced the crops at less than $80 an acre. TABLE 9.— Variation in costs per acre (461 farms, 1919)—Potatoes. Number of farms. Per acre Minnesota. Wisconsin. Michigan. New York. Maine. cost groups. ee se | ————————E—E—E——————eEe Wau- | Mont- | Grand “Aroos- paca calm {Traverse piteive a took. County. | County. | County. | VOU2*Y- Y-| County. Clay Anoka | Barron County. | County. | County. Less than 60 dollars... 3 ‘ EA) beat art bean 60 to 69 dollars... 10 Dal ete Asis 70 to 79 doulars... 14 11 3 80 to 89 dollars... 16 18 5 90 to 99 dollars... 3 10 P 1 7 ee Oe ae 100t0109 dollars. 2 110t0119 dollars. 1 1 1 — RCO 100 STH _ oO —_ 120 to 129 dollars. 130t0139 dollars. HAOtGO049 dollars.|.c2cs.0-u)ood. sce tHiGoOUoo dollars:|...::.¢.-lecee coe ee 160t0169 dollars.|......... 1 HAUOMWO COLLIS #|: oe ee Seba ae Pica) coe chic o eenlee contac se locehiae Been macite aoel ee aera 2 180t0189 dollars.|......... peo Se ee Vette hes hs eevee ee. ride ea see i ts ey re ee 5 AON to OO dollanszh. ce. acclecccseen Fe RS RE ee ee ee ee Bs BRS eae 8 DOO TaZosidollars 3}. ...<% Wo seo * SAL AES Bee adet Se Se |e en oe a eae a See 8 210 TO219 dollarss|. 4-~ news see 1 2 il RES ole 6tons eee hel 10.0 EA Sos a ee Sec eee eee | -52 96 823 95 1-4 | 3.3acres...| 11] 3.6 11.9 HOM PTACLOL .2 5-54-05 --22=55-% | 2 4 47 5 1 6.54cres.<.-| 0) 3° 6 |s-25ee arrow: | Slices. ee ae el 48 89 784 90 1-3 | 22.3acres..| 1.6 .9 2.5 prin 6 St oc =. See eae 9 17 126 14 Tein cacresec-|"" 1S) roost 6.5 Wishes ee ash a ee | 29 54 368. 5 42 1-3 | 6.9acres...} 1.4] 25 7.8 HOISeCractOles SaLOUSE 5). S225 22s 2 4 47 5 1-311 acreés:.-.| 5.5), 459 14.7 Spike POOUN Ee te ONS cee 53 98 850 98 1-2 | 21.2acres:-| 2.2] -1.1 3.0 Wreeder:.<2-90. 5524. SSiaee eae 18 33 354 41 1-2 | 15.1 acres... Fa ml ees Tia ier 16 oS eee pats See ae 14 26 193 22 1 2.Vaeres ec) “ASO bataG tsacee ee Lio 9) 9 MRR Ee tepals 54} 100 870 100 1-2 | 16.6acres..| 3.1] 2.3 3.4 Digging: iMaAGhIne 5. <= 2 2.55.28 oc 52 96 820 95 1-4 | 3.8 acres...-|.-.-. 52 Bell 1125 iaintser ns See o aaete caer 1 2 8 iT ee ee Pip Gn: MPR bah Ss AQ 5 ea PRRAGEON..- Sin. 0 noc cee boetioneee 1 2 35 ee ink, Dacress- 55. |. sone 7A UY becca ckapipe ee Soe. So oo eee ee 54 100 863 100 1 ASV ACES: 22 |. en oc = 1556 |eacetaoe Sort and grade ne 12 22 |19,176 10 1 288 bushels}... .-- fo] SON Se cmere Efamsaoann 2a. 22 8 ee ee 54 100 | 126,505 29 1-2 | 448 bushels}....... 320) 6.0 Haulto market, 3.7 miles. ......... 49 91 |170,482 78 1-2 |} 158 bushels|....... 8.3 15. 8 Haul to market, truck, 6.4miles-.. 5 | 9 |16, 685 8 1 151 bushels|....... OcE IP sean 1 Bushels. in fae 8 ae oe Rate per day (once over). 2.4 acres... Se acTes= = 22 16.8 acres... 9.4 acres... S Paeres 16 acres... 14.2 acres. . 78 bushels. 20 bushels. 4.7 acres... 1.7 acres... 4.8 acres... acres. __ 16.4 acres... 1.7 acres... 12.4 acres... 2.9 acres... 4.6 acres... 3.1 acres... Bey nt et 2.1 acres... 281 bushels 116 bushels) NS AIO PE DOD NW OO BEER Rete ee OOOH ee OT COSTS AND FARM PRACTICES IN ‘PRODUCIN G POTATOES. Hours per acres, Men. | Horse. 14.9 24.3 4.5 11.7 Eh Se 1.3 2.9 2.0}. 6.0 3.3 10.9 -6 L3 Ls 2. 5° 2. Bite ce Gadget tae 2.5 4.5 Gb Woke 7.8 7.8 7.8 15.7 1.6 3.8 i Be ot Sees 2.4 4.4 LF Gis 2s3 GAG hs epee 4.4 15.6 39.0.2: y 4 fie Seapets 8 13.6 14.7 ED Acres. Operation. Per- cent- Covered. | age of total. _ Ss oe 300} 79 Plow: RERME 54_--7---52------------ 348] 91 os er eee 33 9 Harrow: 23 Se 337 88 eee eee eee - e222 - + eee - eee 102 27 2322234 ae 322 85 4. SSS 19| 5 Bees 118 31 mreninee seed. --__-- .: 2_--.----++ 88 23 | Tia ee See ee eee 381 | 100 ce ee eee 262 69 Planar ty hand. -:-~..------->-- 118 31 ivating: i ee ee 200 53 =. 22! ee ee eee 320 84 . a) a 349 92 i. 4-1 See 92 24 2 os ere 202 53 } Spraymg by hand ...-........-... 85 22 Dostang by Nand: -..._......-2.-- 104 27 on ee 342} 90 Spear by hand: -.-:.2.-------.: 15 S eee ee 380 100 Hager to barn -=:* 2. --| 47 | 100} 215,798 27 Pie Fomarket. =). <2 >... 47| 100} 248, 536 S4 . teres on one farnit were dug by contract and on another with a digger drawn by tractor. } if IR TP TET ERECT Te va i» a 1 19 Sis 14.—Cultural cee on 47 2 leet in Barron County, Wis.—Potatoes, 1919. oe 20 BULLETIN 1188, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, TABLE 15.—Cultural practices on 50 farms in Waupaca County, W1s.—Potatoes, 1919. Hours per Farms. Acres. abreast Most Rate per P Operation. Per- Per- | ©°™- | day (once | Times mon : over. Naan cent- cent- aw Over). ber. | 28° Covered. | age : Men. | Horse. = OF of total total Mamuresserc t,o. 2 seca ce 49 98 534 &7 1-2 | 16.9 tons. i 10. 8 18.6 LEVON Pe = 2a Sle aC pe ae 48 96 590 96 1-2| 1.9aeres...| 1 Sad 11.8 Blow Atlactor.. «522. eres kh 2 4 24 4 1 TW ACTESE Sea) be 4 eer Harrow: SSMUKONS chic cece eka Soccer te 41 82 516 84 1-2 | 14.9acres..} 1.6] 1.2 2.5 Spike and disk tractor........ 1 2 4 1 1 8 acres... 1 Lea2hfese sine SPMIN PS Laos caac cece e eee oe 23 46 261 43 1-3 | 7.6 acres. . eS HeS).|) aber 4.5 Sprang tractor ...... 260s. 224-4 1 2 20 3 1 20 acres. . 2s 1.0 |. 2 seer LOS 7 Sar eae ee a ee LET 23 46 274 45 1-3|5.5acres...| 1. Zak 6 124) iT ete Ang eae See eee greet eee ae 1 2 9 1 1-2 | 15 acres. . ile ae 1 JD) Fos (3 8 Se Sao ee) bie La Re 2 4 34 6 1-2 | 20 acres. . (5 -5 1 MPABEAM ETO: oh:. owe awe See ee 38 76 455 74 1-2| 14.4acres..| 1.5| 1.1 1 SpLowlune Seed... 1.0.2.2 TEM Sar 2 4 38 6 1 30 bushels.| 1 A. Sy hseeaeee Wiurtting Seed... 2s eT te 50 | 100 614 | 100 1 20 poreeey 1 5.4; exces ZINE ee ashe ce co Saw 5 ones et 15 30 184 30 1-2 | 4.2,.acres. 1 2.6 4.8 Planting, hand’. ..........% F Seaed as 36 72 430 70 1 1.6 acres.. 1 Gada ee ree Cultivating: iirow,.l horse. ..5.22t2¢ $28.2 40 80 436 71 1-1 | 4.5 acres.. Eyal eGR: 11.6 1 row, A110) cl aap eee an a 15 30 243 40 1-2 | 6.6 acres.. 4.6] 81 16.2 Spike MEOOLEE So: ete AS 43 86 551 90 1-2| 15.4acres..| 2.2] 1.5 Sie Spike tooth, tractor..........- 1 2 20 3 1 30 acres. 1 cA cence Spring tooth. 2 ces at 9 18 97 16 1-2 | 9 acres... Lp fal Ie LS 2. WIGCOOR, 275. n Ses cee 4 8 46 zt 1-1] 8.9acres..-} 1.5] 1.5 ie Ls) 9 OS ee Pee A ae 18 36 209 34 ] 2.3 acres. . 1,1) 62.92) ace ee MPEAVING eo ckton dol ee Se ESF 5 10 68 BI 1-1 | 19.2acres..| 2.67 1.2 1.6 Spraying by hand . ..2.22-¢....... 19 38 190 aut 1 5.3 acres... 128:|.c0-dlal aaa MSIE Se otk Sie ES 1 2 25 4 1-1 | 20.acres. # 1.5 1.5 Dusting by hand... 20... ........-: 20} 40 232 38 1 9.6 acres... 21 $--3.-5-lsceaes MDE Oe ois 9 Tera Seer a ea ee os 35 70 481 78 1-2 | 2.4 acres.. 1 4.9 14.1 Dicome by hand es. 3.f ess. 16 32 133 22 1 0.6 acre . 1 207Dd|sceesee PIG RANO es 2 So Sc. coe ee eee 50 | 100 614 | 100 1 l.lacres.. 1 1 aro Oe 8 Sorting ail Praging = ok... sis. 28 6 12 15,370 i 1 243 bushels| 1 878: Beeaes Mawline- Go Darn: -:2272....5-..-4- 49 98 | 136, 163 48 1-2 | 393 bushels} 1 aya 9. Hauling GO Market s.2-. SOF of | total.| total. 0 Soest Se ie 49 98 418 75 1-2} 12.5tons..| 1 12.6 24 ee 2 a 29 it ee ee Su tORS = 2 flood ae 5.8 yrange serialver 2358S es 8! 16 78.5 14 1=2. |) 9322 acres: =[e. s. oe 12t 2.3 plyine sertHizer....2:-2-222--2. 10 20 118. 5 21 1-2 |Z aeres: --}e52 62 3 1.5 2.5 2 LS iS ea ee 49 98 546.5 98 1-3 | Lacres:..| 1 5.8 1552 lawitie (tractor). ..2------ =... 2 14 Ft fe Pivcd ad eil (apehe ae en eey Am Len BST (1) (4) Harrowing (spring tooth)......... 47 94 515.5 92 13) "9:9 Beres:2 |" 225i] oe 7.8 Harrowing (spike tooth).....-..--- 5 10 69 12 1-2 7 11-2acres.-| 1.8] 1:5 4.1 “Th EA 2 ee a ee ee 5 10 52. 9 1-2 | 15.4 acres... 1 .6 1.3 Wiesner ee eo 1 | 2 17 3 1-2 | 15 acres... 1 .6 pee Lo LT a ee 38 | ~ °76 364 65 1—2 | 10.5 acres.-| 1.2] 1.1 1.8 meremisge sped <3 2-255)... +. 1 2 12 Ap CE le 60 bushels.}| 1 eee oS Lh Se: ee a 7 14 101 18 | 1 | 98 bushels. if ty Geer cee rit isieseed ot 22s 50 | 100 560.5 | 100 1 | 22 bushels.}....... i eee ne 3 ee ee LS. 19 38 261 47| 1-2) 3-6acres...| 1 3.9 5.8 = Planting (by hand).-............. 32 64) 299.5 53 1 | 2.7acres...| 1 iy Sl ee Cultivating: 2 SL > 1. 35 TOT: Sa 67 1-1 | 4.3acres...| 4.6 | 10.4 10.4 + PEGWy 2 GESe <2 552-2 5. e5- 49 98 554.5 99 1-2 | 5.2acres..-| 3.4] 6.7 13.4 “ SRR VOCUS 22 3 9 18 111 20 1-2 | 12:l-acres..| 1.3) 1.1 2 OL ee see ee 15 30 143 26 1-2|15.9acres..| 1 oT 1.4 4 UST LE > Se le eee 23 46 282 50 1-1 | 12.5 acres 1 (td if! eG ae See 15 30 215 38 1-2 | 12.2 acres 2. Pe 4.1 Spraying by hand ........-.....-- 17| 34 171.5 31 1 | 4.6 acres 1.6.) 424e eee = Dusting by hand -....:.....-..-.-- 6 12 56 10 1 | 7 acres 2 Fee eos gg ee eee 1 2 | 4.5 1 1|1.5acres...| 1 5. Ste eee on ese 2) eee 39 78 | 435.5 78 $2, "2 OaCreSe2 loos eee 7 i325 1 Digeine by hand .....----.---.--.- 13 26 125 22 O27 Sere ore 19:52 eee a URI Lt hae = eae ee epeneaeen 50; 100 560.5 | 100 2 | 3-2 agrese ts. 22252 Pj ie So eee » Sortingand grading.-..........-.- 8 16 | 27,045 9 1 | 196 bushels|.,..... 10: Se 4 BO 50 | 100 |? 79,046 100 1-2 | 410 bushels}....... 6.3 9.5 Hauling to market..............-- 30 | 100 |266,105 84 1-2 | 112 bushels}....... 13.6 26.8 13 1 Contract. 2 Bushels. 24 BULLETIN 1188, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. TaBLE 19.—Cultural practices on 50 farms in Monroe County, N. Y.—Potatoes, 1919. Farms. Acres. Hours per acre. Most Rate per Operation. Per- Per- | ©°™" | day (oe S mon Over. Num-| ce2t- cent-| crew over). lag age Covered. agp 5 Man. | Horse. “| oO 0 total. total. ISTO T(E Se eee eae ae aa oe 49 98 487 90 2-3 | 19.4 ttonss:||i22e 2. 14.6 23.9 Paimilienilizer: 2 2s2-4- 22. Sete 12 24 96 18 1-2 | 14.8 acres..|....... 9 i esr Haul fertilizer (truck). ..-..22.¢5- if 2 6 1 i | S6.acres: 2 hoe Reso See, Apply ROVUUIUZELe = I 11 2.2. PRT eCAT SCCO eee web = ale eh anion nie Bee 5 10 7055 13 1 | 106 bushels}.....-. bags ieee ae Mittiseetena sk. 82, SUR os ee ee hese 50} 100 539.5 | 100 1 | 18 bushels |....... i eS TM ESTOS SS 6 ne 49 98 5azD 99 1-2 | 3.8acres...| 1 3.8 5.6 IPE oF O21) 0X0 aay aaa 1 2 7 1 1 | Ss acres: <2) GE 6 a ji ees Cultivate: Mir Gwist-NOTSCl.. so. -<--6- etn - 25 50 260 48 1-1 | 4:.Qacres..i} 2.87}. 7 7 lrow, peta lk ee ok 43 86 484 90 1-2 | 4.6 acres 4.9] 11.4 22.9 TET Tae US Sata 2 ea ee a 2 4 20 Acad ete 5 14acres...| 1 ait 1.8 IGA Sac e ee cbt n ohio Sarees 1 2 8 Ti een ae 8 acres..... if 1.2 2.4 TRG asf <2 ee ie eS eg 14 28 136 25 1-2 | 11.8acres..} 1 ats 1.8 Cultivate, spike topth | Bo eeecees tas 7 14 81 15 1-2 | 16.lacres..| 1.7] 1.1 2.5 Cultivate, Spring tooth - 2-2. Gs- 1 2 (ie 1 1-2 | 8 acres..... 1 1.3 2.6 MERU Saas ol a pices Gaeer eg pat 36 72 413.5 (2) 1-2 | 14:3 acres.-| 1.6 | 1.2 1.9 TPO) 5 2 Se es eee eee 23 46 238. 5 44 1 | 3.1 acres...| 1 60 eos RS OPEV iS a oto, 5 of So ae meet ie pe 19 38 232.5 43 1-2 | 13.8 acres..} 2.4] 2.2 4.1 Spray Pyahane so 2 fobs cease 9 18 65 12 1 | 3 acres 1.7 C8 6ien ase Be chart oc ns orien oe en pone eS 1 2 10 2 1 | 10 acres 1 .8 1.6 Dust yea oso chee ee se 1 2 4 1 1-2 | 1.3 acres 1 aD Nea acies LOM OEE Soke ws creams eet epee eos-| » 501 100 539.5 | 100 1-41] 2:9 ackes:2-|caseses 6.8 22.2 RICK Up iss qce- =~ ~ es tye Sere 50 | 100 539.5 | 100 1 O26 sere 5s). 2s 5. | Ole teen moGwanG grade... -...g..40- ee exe 16 32 |112,104 20 2 | 360 bushels}....... kip aie ses 2 HL OIDATION A... oc star sc tees eso 50} 100 }! 59,245 100 1-2 | 399 bushels}....... 4.6 too Maul tomarket.. 2... 225 son seees 50 | 100 |}! 46,930 79 1-2 | 200 bushels|....... 10.7 19.8 1 Bushels. COSTS AND FARM PRACTICES IN PRODUCING POTATOES. 25 Tasie 20.—Cultural practices on 58 farms, Aroostook County, Me.—Potatoes, 1919. \ Farms. Operation. Per- Ninsat cent- I ber. | ree . 4] ‘ _ total | 3 SeEicking StONES. ...5......--6...-- 14 24 CUTTS 2 eee Be eee ee 53 | 91 a Hauling fertilizer.-............... 57] 98 = Applying fertilizer-............... 57 98 : Sn ae eee: es 54 93 = Plowing (tractor)../.............- 4 7 Harrowing: SS oo 51 88 PpIMmitssy uracLor-.- oo... -..2.2- 7 12 LTR) ee a ee 2 ee eens See 32 55 DISK PPaelOEss ess Soh. ot 5 9 CETL EE eS a ae 5 9 SUG ee reas 58 | 100 ETT STETS or ae eee See 58 | 100 Cultivating: | # Panan, 2 N@Mses: 2.2.5: 2.2. 23! 58 | 100 . oie re ROLE”... Fo) nc cases 10 17 . oS | a ae 1 2 LS Be eee ee | AL re! STE Ta Sei Se ee | 58] 100 LSS See ee Ane = | 58] 100 7 A i Ba ae | 581] 100 Hanting-jo barn<|2-2-=-. 22... sc. 57 98 Hauling to barn, tractor........-- | 1 ze Sorting and grading. ............. 36 62 Hranline fo market: =... ...-- 2-2 57 98 Hauling to market, truck......... 1 2 1 Included in planting. Acres. | Per- cent- Covered. | age of total. 459 28 606 37 1,621 99 1,621 99 1,478 91 155 9 1, 183 72 450 28 596 36 117 7 90 6 1,633 | 100 1,633 | 100 1,633 | 100 287 18 ES 1 1,015 62 1,633 | 100 1,633 | 100 1,633 | 100 292,676 56 21, 800 1 2 54, 390 33 2142, 469 86 2 3,600 2 2 Barrels. Hours per acres. Rate per . day (once ae 5 over). or Man. |Horse. 1Oiaerestso ie 3.9 4.9 PALS GONSS 3) ose 14.1 18. 0 eS AClOS= 7 =| eee 2.-1 4.0 Ree Se eee ee are (1) (?) 1.5 acres... Ova wok: 14.3 5H. 2aCTOS: 2. acess 250-seeeeee 8.8 acres... 1-97 2.3 4.7 19 acres... 225 1 Ue: 2 he 7.6 acres... PTA Brak (6s i5iacres:.-..2 13 BW pe eee 17.8 acres.. 1.0 .6 1.2 S bi bDISe 155 4cce)) 60s eae 3.7 acres... 10] 4.3 Dao 6.4 acres... 1eO Wloeo 26.6 4.6 acres... PAO) 922: Daw 5 acres $50 in 230 | 2.0 2.3 acres 2 |e ere ee 11.9 acres.. An) | AL tends ot ACTOS ft. ale ces tre 6.6 tae is acres... -| 5 ee Pe) Valle samee 2 PAO DISS sa | See 5.7 i Ul bee Se | eee ee eer (3) (3) 98 barrels -|....... yA aT il ee) 96 bls... Piet Tk ee 28.3 240 bbls... : Sele oteveia 3 Contract. The differences in practices on individual farms affect the hours of labor used in raising the crop. Tables 21 to 34 show the range in hours per acre for the different operations, indicating the number of growers who fall above and below the average hours per acre devoted to the different operations in the areas. TABLE 21.—Range in man hours per acre—Potatoes, 1919 (manuring). , 2 hours or less. 3 to 4 hours. 5 to 6 hours. 7 hours and over. Aver- County. | | age Num- |Percent-| Num- |Percent-| Num- |Percent-| Num- |Percent-| hours. ber. age. ber. age. ber. age. ber. age. | | Tn Le 29 70.7 8 19.5 2 4.9 2 4.9 1.8 apf a ee i Se 9 17.0 13 24. 5 14 26. 4 17 a | 6.0 at, ea ee ee 6 | 14. 3 12 28. 6 6 14.3 18 42.8 5.8 OS oe ee aS rte 14.3 23 46.9 11 22.15 8 16.3 4.5 MmGnLCaltie 5-5... .2 2%... 13 | Zh 12 25. 0 15 31.2 8 16.7 Denk Grand-Traverse.........- 15 | 29. 4 20 39. 2 10 19.6 6 11.8 4.1 orp Sa, Sega 6 | 12,2 16 32.1 18 36. 7 9 18. 4 4.5 2b ee ee 5 10:52 5 10. 2 22 44.9 17 34. 7 6.3 MOOSCOOK «0c = 00 3-2-2: 31 58. 5 12 22.6 4 7.6 6 Tides 235 26 BULLETIN 1188, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. TABLE 22.—Range in man hours per acre—Potatoes, 1919 (preparation). 4hours orless.| 5toS8hours. | 9to12hours. | 1° haute and County. ~ - 4 er- er- er . Per- ees cent- ally cent- ohne cent- ae cent- age age. : age : age lA e ae oe ac! fo sto de wicecs 5 41 93. 2 1 ie 2 EL fal (en DE | RO oh LTO SS ae aes Re 22 42.3 20 382.0 8 15. 4 2 3.8 TEAST C0) 0 ee pe ee Po 1 2.3 20 46.5 17 29.6 5 11.6 Mepacar Aft tot eee 2 4.1 32 66.7 13 27.1 1 2. Mion tealn..42 0.) 2." 4. sas 1 2.4 22 Doonk: 14 34. 1 4 9.8 Gran EraviGrse.« 2.2 4- sess scltsn osha lees eee 9 16.7 32 59. 2 13 24. 1 meewmpeni. ©. *. 0. 2 foo 32. aie 2 4.1 30 61.2 16 SPs / 1 2.0 Monroe. 6.9.5 4... Jct. eee ed Nee ial 23.9 23 50. 0 12 26.1 PROUMEOOK oe i. = oni dew ceed «foes ance | ee eee | 8 16.7 | 24| 50.0 16) 33.3 | TABLE 23.—Range in man hours per acre—Potatoes, 1919 (planting). Aver- age hours. — — a bee Gale GR oak Se SUSY. CO Or He Or > Or Or 1 1 to 6 hours. 7to9hours. | 10to12hours, | 13 boursand | over. County. s = | $ - er- er- | er- er- Bei cent- ae. cent- pes cent- Nam: cent- age. age ¢ age : age ee i a Se as seg (ES (0) Eins Se Sate See ee et eta 3¥/ 84. 1 i R559). donee TES SSE 2 ote eel eee BAMA O kates mere hm ern bis RO 25 46.3 16 29. 6 9 16.7 4 7.4 atTON sta otk ee 6 12.8 18 38. 3 9 19.1 14 29.8 Wratipacay-o els ietn tesco. 2 4.0 14 28. 0 22 44.0 12 24.0 Montcalm. 5.2) 22st acieme 7 14.3 19 38. 8 | 18 36. 7 5 10. 2 Grand’ Traverse: 2... - smo 3 5.7 2 Sod 19 35.8 29 54.7 SUITE Oo 0 I Se taal ae 6 12.0 13 26. 0 a Wf 34. 0 14 28. 0 REOTIROG 62) cas ok oe bo wns 1 2.0 14 28. 6 | 20 40.8 14 28.6 PAIOORCOOK yo F's canine

Mil aa 33] 64.7 15| 29.4 3 5 ee k Se 10.1 J a Sh eae ee 19 30.3 12 36.4 7 21.2 + 12.1 13.3 =a SS aan | 40] 23.8 8| 19.0 12] 28.6 12} 28.6] 16.8 I ee 15| 39.5 i ae 8} 21.0 7 18.4 15.3 oe |e as eee eeeeee 8} 25.8 4 12.9 4 12.9 15| 48.4 17.8 Grand Traverse 29 74.3 3 7 (ay 1 2.6 6 15. 4 8.6 Gienten. 13992530552 ts. 123 il 315 9 22.5 7 17.5 13 32.5 19.2 Jy Se ee eee ee 2 4.5 5 11.1 9; 20.0 29 64.4 24. 2 eee eee 11 19.3 10} 17.6 17; 29.8 19° {*"-s3i2 16.5 i | | TABLE 34.—Range in horse hours per acre—Potatoes, 1919 (marketing). 1to 8 hours. | 9to16 hours. | 17 to 24 hours. | Over 24 hours. : Aver- County. ~ Per Per - | Per aoe 5 ag cent- cent- phe -cent- | Bours. E age. age. " -|. age J” eS eee 22 44.0 52.0 2.0 Se 9.5 pS ieee 19 41.3 23.9 yA Be 6 13.1 13.3 i it Bd of ee oan 2 4.3 23.9 28.3 20 43.5 22.0 Mirenea ee 10 20 0 42.0 26.0 6 12.0 15.6 | ee eee 9 19.1 51.1 23.4 3) 6i4 12.9 Grand Traverse.....--..-...- 9] 17.7 54.9 13.7 7| 13.7|. 15.0 i a a 3 6.3 25.0 33.3 17; 35.4 20.8 iii) ee SSS ee eee 13 35. 2 21.6 21.6 8] 21.6 15.3 ape oS a ae ae 5.6 18.9 32.1 23 43.4 22.4 Manuring.—Manure usually was hauled from the barn to the field in manure spreaders, either during the winter as available or in the spring from the winter’s accumulation. Occasionally a grower hauled the manure out during the winter with a wagon or sled and formed large piles, which were spread in the spring with a spreader. In the area of Clay County, Minn., only 33 per cent of the acres planted to potatoes were manured and in the area of Aroostook County Me., only 37 percent. In all the other areas more than 75 per cent of the acres were manured. Nearly all the manure applied was produced on the farm, 30 BULLETIN 1188, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. Preparation.—Preparation included the operations of plowing, harrowing, rolling, and floating, or, in other words, getting the land in condition for planting. Plowing was the most important indi- vidual operation in preparing the land; 63 per cent of the man labor and 57 per cent of the horse labor in preparation were required for ae The average depth of plowing was 6.6 inches, varying rom 4 to 10 inches. In the Minnesota and Wisconsin areas nearly half the harrowing was done with the disk, the remainder being done with the spike and spring-tooth harrow. In the Michigan, New York, and Maine areas about three-fourths was done with the spring- tooth harrow and the rest with the disk harrow. The spike-tooth harrow was used very little in preparation in these States. Planting.—Planting included the operations of cutting, sprouting, and treating seed, marking of rows, applying fertilizer, and planting. The cutting of seed was done by hand. Fertilizer is usually applied at time of planting with potato planter. Not much seed wastreated for skin disease. In hand planting the rows are marked off both ways with a horse marker and the pototoes are planted at the inter- sections of the marks with a hand planter. Hand planting was a common practice in a number of the areas. In order to point out the differences in labor used, and results ob- tained between hand planting and machine planting, Table 35 is shown. In hand planting the spacing in the rows is usually wide enough to permit cultivating both ways. Thus less seed is used in hand planting than in machine planting. It is significant that the yield of potatoes is less and the cost of production greater on farms where planting is done by hand than on those planting with machine. This difference in yield and cost is probably due mainly to the differ- ence in quantity of seed used (spacing is a factor in this) ,increased seeding usually resulting in increased yields, other things being equal. TABLE 35.—Hand planting vs. machine planting as affecting rate of planting, time re- quired, yield and cost in growing potatoes (252 farms, 1919). | Acres | Dis- | oe Bush-| Aver-| A ver- sa Method |Num-| pota- | tance, Spac- P §- | els | age | age . ae Area. of plant- |ber of} toes | be jing in) ____—__—__| seed | yield | cost an ing. |farms| per |tween| rows. per | per | per Pests ; farm. | rows. Man. |Horse. | 4cre. | acre. | acre. | ~ 4) aed aes ee OT eT Oe Cece reese et In. | In. : Bush lfHand...| 21| 135| 37] 351103! 2 8| 90| $91 | $1.0i Anoka County, Minn...... Natechine 33/ 17-8) 38| 16] 65| 40) 10) 110/ 86] 78 Hand...| 15 "ol, 35/5 321126] 24]. 8| 138] 1064ecua7 Barron County, Wis. ....-- {Machine a2| 82) 36] 16/105) 44) 13) 158} 108| 68 nis _ Hand-..|--36) 11.91 ¢341~-344 12:37 “1-6 |~-t0 19 +8 74 Waupaca County, Wis..---') Machine 15| 123) 33} 18) 97) 51) 12) 133) 90) 67 : Hand) ..|.,. 42. |, 20.6 | 35+} 9 935;1,,10. Lobe edd 10 3 178 Montcalm County, Mich... {Machine 7| 8.7] 35} 20| 87) 4.5| 10| 118| 92| -78 Hand...| 32| 9.4] 34| 29/113] 5.6] 10] 134] 92] J69 Steuben County, N. Y...-- {Machine | 19| 13.7| 35| 21| 9.7| 2.7| 12] 149] 101| .68 Cultivation.—Great variations exist in the methods of cultivation in the different areas studied. The first operation following hand planting is usually ‘‘recovering,”’ or cultivating a ridge over the row, which is later harrowed level. This ridge covers seed which may not have been properly covered when planted and assists in controlling young weeds in the row. ‘The size of crew varied from COSTS AND FARM PRACTICES IN PRODUCING POTATOES. 31 one-row one-horse to two-row four-horse cultivators. The size of the outfit materially affects the man hours required per acre. The spike-tooth harrow and weeder are used to kill the young sprouts of weed seeds before and just as the potato plants appear above the ground. Considerable hoeing was done in a few of the areas. Spraying.—Insecticides and fungicides were applied in the form of spray or dust. In the areas of Clay County, Minn., and Barron and Waupaca, Wis., considerable dusting was done. Spraying was the most common form of application in the other areas. For all areas about one-third of the spraying and half of the dusting were done by hand. In the areas of Waupaca, Wis., and Grand Traverse, Mich., most of the spraying and dusting was done by hand. In the area of Steuben County, N. Y., over half was done by hand. Of the 461 farmers visited, 410 sprayed or dusted their potato fields. The least spraying and dusting was done in the area of Steuben and Monroe Counties, N. Y. Only 38 out of 50 farmers in the former district and only 30 out of 50 in the latter district did such work. Harvesting.—The harvesting of the crop required more man labor than any other operation connected with the growing of potatoes. Harvesting includes the digging, picking, and hauling to the barn. High yields increase the labor per acre, but reduce the labor per bushel over that required when yields are low. Hand digging is a common practice in Grand Traverse County, Mich., and Waupaca County, Wis. The difference in man labor per acre involved in hand digging and machine digging is strikingly shown in the labor practice tables. Potato picking by contract is the most usual practice in the areas of Clay County, Minn., and Aroostook County,Me. Theaverage rate paid for picking in 1919 was 84 cents a bushel in the former area and 43 cents a bushel in the latter area.‘ After picking, the potatoes were hauled directly to the shipping station, to storage place, which was usually the barn or the house, or were pitted temporarily in the field. The pitting and hauling to storage were considered a part of harvesting. Pitting was most common in the Wisconsin and Michigan areas. Marketing—About 11 per cent of the man labor and 18 per cent of the horse labor in producing potatoes are devoted to marketing. This includes the work of sorting and grading and hauling to market. Part of the crop is hauled directly from the field to market and part from storage to market. Table 36 shows how the crop is disposed of in the areas studied. A few of the growers in the areas of Anoka County, Minn., and Monroe County, N. Y., hauled their crops directly to the city market, but most of the potatoes were hauled to the shipping station and sold on the cars. ‘In the Maine area the unit of potato measure is the barrel. iy Rar 32 BULLETIN 1188, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. TABLE 36.—Disposition of potato crop (461 farms), 1919. Total Sold— crop Saved County. State. bushel l for oe ee per In fall. | From seed. ae i ge farm. storage. Per cent. | Per cent. | Per cent.| Per cent. | Per cent. lay: Geet rss ERY eee Minnesota... 5, 104 58.3 27.6 9.4 11 3.6 AMOK AEE 5. ge OR hd gabon. Se GOA. Se 1, 667 69. 4 16.7 10.0 2.6 zg ANON ree A aco acto ce Wisconsin 1, 230 59:5 24. 6 8.7 3.0 4.2 Wriuipacats. Oos< 2s. Sete See doi. 32. 1, 508 51.8 35.9 8.3 We 1.8 Montcalm... 235. .28% £8: Michigan 1,127 54. 4 33.0 7.8 3.1 EZ Grand Eraverses {2 = $72}22 4% dott. 1,179 40.6 | 45.6 10.0 4 1.4 Steubeniet foes is: cocks ee ee New York... 1,581 24.7 59.0 9.3 2.8 4.2 1,41(0) £10 ee eran AE papa main ee” Oe doOma-25 - 1,185 25.4 57.2 11.6 3.6 2189. AT oostook. £4. 2.2 ee. Maine....... 10, 391 40.3 47.8 | 6.2 ao 5.2 SEASONAL DISTRIBUTION OF OPERATIONS IN POTATO PRODUCTION A. ta ca ef | PLOW 3) PROM: f 25] CULTIVATE Fon Hone aaa a | = Prayt| MINNESOTA CLAY CO. MINNESOTA ANOKA CO. WISCONSIN WAUPACA CO. MICHIGAN MONTCALM CO. MICHIGAN GRAND TRAVERSE CO. NEW YORK STEUBEN CO. MAINE AROOSTOOK CO. Fig. 7.—May, June, July, and October are the busiest months in the northern potatoareas. The sev- eral preharvest operations overlap to some extent from farm to farm as well as from season to season, and in Anoka County, Minn., digging the early potatoes may be in progress before the main crop islaid by. Fall plowing is practiced by some growers. Seasons for various operations. —The months in which the important operations in potato production are generally performed in the differ- ent regions are shown in Figure 7. Fall plowing was not generally COSTS AND FARM PRACTICES IN PRODUCING POTATOES. a practiced outside.the Minnesota and Maine areas. In the Anoka area a considerable quantity of potatoes is raised for the early local market, which accounts for the spread of the periods of operations. _ On the whole, the time for performing the different operations is very _ similar for all the areas. The major portions of the crops of these _ regions are available for the market at about the same time. The busiest months in growing potatoes are May, June, July, and October. MATERIALS. The items of production costs included under “ Materials”’ are: Manure, seed, fertilizer, spray material, and seed-treatment material. Manure.—An estimate was secured from each grower as to the number of tons of manure applied to the potato acreage and of the value of the manure at the barn. Manure was commonly applied _ with a manure spreader of standard size and it was thus not very difficult for the farmer to estimate the quantity applied. Manure was usually applied to the potato crop. ‘The applications were light in the areas of Clay County, Minn., and Aroostook County, Me., because of the limited supply for the large acreages grown in these areas. However, the application per acre was liberal for the acres covered. r Dairying was an important enterprise in all the areas excepting the Maine area and a large proportion of the manure used was produced on the farm. The value of the manure as given in Table 37 is the value per ton at the barn. There were a few instances where rye or some other cover crop was sowed in the autumn to be plowed under the following spring as a green manure crop. In these cases the cost of seed and cost of labor of putting in the crop were charged against the potato crop. The plant food and humus value of sod plowed under for potatoes was not charged against the crop. Its value to the potato crop would be difficult to determine with any degree of accuracy, but the im- portance of a clover sod in the rotation is appreciated by all good farmers. 7 TABLE 37:—Quantity and price of manure and fertilizer applied potatoes (1919), 461 farms. Minnesota. Wisconsin. | Michigan. | New York. | Maine. SS ee a) eae ee ee See ee ee as i Grand Clay | Anoka | Barron ete ee Trav- Steu- | Monroe ee, ; County.|County.|Counity. C ounty. County. |¢ oe County. County. County. ty. Manure: $ Tons per acre. .22 2-2... 4.6 12.0 14.1 11.0 9 9.0 14.2 3.9 Price per ton...-........ $1.75} $1.42} $1.96 | $2.22 | $2.37] $2.23 | $2.44) $2.10 $2.44 Per cent acres manured. . 33 87 79 87 | 81 75 37 r= Pounds per acre........- 0 0 9 0 | 0 | 128 114] 1,965 Price per ton...........- 0 0 $33 0| $26] 0 $28 $38 $81 Per cent acres fertilized. 0 ) (@) 0 | >> x1 0 | 21 | 29 99 1 One grower in this area used commercial fertilizer. Fertilizer—The purchase price, plus freight paid, was used as the cost of fertilizer. The individual grower has little difficulty in recalling the quantity of fertilizer applied per acre. The hauling was included in the labor charge. Sy 34 BULLETIN 1188, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. The use of commercial fertilizer was practically limited to the New York and Maine areas. One grower in Barron County, Wis., and one in Montcalm County, Mich., were the only exceptions. In the Maine area a heavy application was used, a ton to the acre being the common rate. A high-grade fertilizer was used in this area as will be noted by the price in Table 37. The usual grade used was ed In the other areas acid phosphate was more commonly used. Seed.—Only a small proportion of the seed used was purchased, as the common practice was to save the seed from the previous year’s crop. The value of home-grown seed for purpose of these computa- tions was the market price of seed on the farm at the time of planting. The charge for seed constitutes from 10 to 16 per cent of the total cost, with an average for all areas of about 12 per cent. The average quantity of seed used per acre was 11.4 bushels for all areas. The jarge variation in some areas, indicated in Table 38, between the five growers using the least seed and the five using the most seed, per acre, was due mainly to the fact that both hand and machine planting were practiced in these areas, the hand planters using less seed. TABLE 38.—Quantity of seed used per acre—Potatoes, 1919 crop, 461 farms. | Minnesota. | Wisconsin, Michigan. New York. | Maine. | Cla | Anema d Rasen Wau- | Mont- scat Steu- |yy Aroos- y paca | calm 4 Ono? |, #opic e County.,|County./County. County.|County. — County. County. County. eR Meter 7th srs x appt be | 12.3 9.5] 11.6! 10.6 eT Aer Aeon bed 4d 15.4 Piipnesttives 4. 146| 12.9} 16.2| 146] 11.8| 15.0] 15.2] 16.0 18. 4 Lowest five..................| 10.8 6.6 Té4 7.4 5.7 8.5 8.1| 10.7 12.1 Average price planting ime et Cee 02] $1.19] $1.05} $1.16] $.99| $1.05] $1.00 | $1.05 | $1.43 \ Many different varieties of potatoes were grown. Many farmers grew more than one variety. Early Ohio and Cobbler were the most common varieties in the area of Clay County, Minn., and early Ohio and Triumph in the area of Anoka County, Minn. Rural New Yorker and Petosky were the important varieties in Barron and Waupaca Counties, Wis., and Montcalm and Grand Traverse Counties, Mich. The Green Mountain was also grown considerably in the Bar- ron County area. The greatest number of varieties grown were in the area of Monroe and Steuben Counties, N. Y., though the leading varieties were Peerless Jr.,S. W. Raleigh, and Carman. Cobbler and Green Mountain were the common varieties grown in Aroostook County, Me. Spray and seed treatment materials.—Aside from the areas of Aroostook County, Me., and Monroe County, N. Y., the spraying was practically limited to poison sprays, Paris green, and other arsenic compounds. In the two areas mentioned Bordeaux mixture was used occasionally. Two and one-half times constituted the average 5 That is, 4 per cent nitrogen, 8 per cent phosphoric acid, and 4 per cent potash, the order in which plant food formulas are quoted in many sections. COSTS AND FARM PRACTICES IN PRODUCING POTATOES. 85 number of sprayings varying from four and one-half times in the Maine area to less than two times in the Clay County, Minn.,area. The quantity of posion spray material used per acre varied considerably, ranging from 1 to 3 pounds per acre per spraying. About 2 per cent of the total cost of production was for spray material. As a very small proportion of the growers visited treated the seed for scab or other skin diseases, this represents a negligible item of cost. USE OF LAND. The charge for use of land was determined by obtaining the sale value of the potato land and multiplying it by the prevailing rate of interest on farm mortgages. The charge was determined in this manner, whether the potato land was operated by the owner or rented on the cash or share crop basis, to put the individual farms on the same basis. This item does not include taxes, overhead expenses, and the consumption of fertility. It is the interest charge on land value and thus does not fully represent what might be termed the cash-rent charge. If one prefers not to include the use of land as a cost the charge may be readily eliminated. The value of the potato land varied considerably on different farms due tolocation of farm, quality of land, and general improvement on the farm. The average acre-value of the potato land 1s given in Table 39 with the average for the highest five and the lowest five. In all areas the yields were higher on the higher priced land. TaBLE 39.—Value per acre of potato land (461 farms), 1919. Minnesota. | Wisconsin. | Michigan. | New York. Maine. | | | _ z . or ts | | = i iran = Clay | Anoka (Barron Wau-’| Mont- | Trav- | S'U- |yfonroe | ATOOS- County. County.|County.|,P3° |c@lm | “arse |, Pe" County. | took. | | y- *\County. County. |ogunty County. | *\County. | | J) 3 eee $140 | $199 | $179; $161} $124] $117 $80 | $192 $182 Bienestfiivers ass: 5 i552 - <2 200 335 249 216 184 176 114 230 266 BOWSER BVO 2120 foo 5 Secnns ie 82 96 115 95 76 67 | 48 147 100 se = MACHINERY. The use of farm machinery on the potato crop was charged at 8 cents per horse hour. This rate was based on the results obtained on detailed cost accounting records on potato farms in different sections of the country and probably represents a fair charge for this item. It includes repairs, depreciatiou, and interest on the inventory value of the machinery chargeable to the potato crop. It includes all machinery used on the crop. The most common special potato machinery consisted of a one-row two-horse planter, a potato sprayer or duster, and one elevator digger. Where soil and topographic conditions permit, the modern commercial potato grower has these special implements. Ten acres or more of potatoes undoubtedly justify the investment in these implements. Occasionally two or more small growers own a planter or sprayer in partnership. 36 BULLETIN 1188, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. OVERHEAD. In addition to items of expense which may be charged directly to the potato crop, there are certain general farm expenses of which the _ potato crop has to bear its proportionate share. These general expenses include such items as maintenance of buildings, lots, fences, - roads, etc.; interest on the value of same; and miscellaneous cash expenses which can not be charged to any one enterprise on the farm. Detailed cost accounting records have established rates for this item and show it as a percentage of the combined labor and material costs. The rates apphed in this study were 5 per cent for the Minnesota areas, 6 per cent for the Wisconsin and Michigan areas, and 8 per cent for the New York and Maine areas. OTHER COSTS. Taxes and insurance.—The tax and fire insurance charge against the potato crop represents the proportion of the total farm expenses for these items that the potato land capital was of the total farm capital: The estimated total farm capital was obtained for each farm, as were also the total taxes and fire insurance paid, and the potato crop’s share was thus readily determined. few of the erowers carried hail insurance and the actual cash cost of this insur- ance was used as the charge for crop insurance. ‘Taxes and insurance constituted shghtly less than 14 per cent of the total costs. Bags and barrels —Containers were needed to carry the crop from field to storage and to market. Potatoes were very seldom shipped in containers. Bags and barrels bought during the year to handle the crops constituted the charge for this item of expense. A few of the erowers shipped in bags in the area of Clay County, Minn., resulting in a relatively high charge for bags in this area. Storage charges—Some growers had separate potato-storage buildings, and when used wholly for stormg potatoes the mainte- nance of the building was charged to storage. Any purchased fuel used was charged at cost, and if it was wood from the farm it was charged at the prevailing price of cut wood on the farm. Hired storage was charged at actual cost. Many growers store part of the crop in the dwelling or other farm buildings. No separate storage charge was made in such cases, as the overhead expense covered this item. Few potato-storage houses were found outside Clay County, Minn., and Aroostook County, Me. In these two areas, however, about half the growers visited had separate storage houses. Loss on abandoned potato acreage-—On some farms part of the potato acreage was not harvested because of excessively wet weather, hail, insects, or fungous diseases, or other causes may have made digging not worth while. This charge, then, consists of the expenses on the abandoned acres, including labor, seed, manure, fertilizer, use of land, and other costs. The total cost of all abandoned acre- age in a region, divided by the acreage harvested, is the average abandoned acreage cost per acre harvested. No instances were found where crop-insurance payments covered the item of loss on abandoned acreage. COSTS AND FARM PRACTICES IN PRODUCING POTATOES. 37 TENURE. Of the 461 farmers visited, 345, or 75 per cent, owned all of the land they were operating; 63 rented some land in addition to the farms they owned; 45 rented the farms, including the potato land on shares; and 8 rented the farms for cash. In regions where the tenant and landlord owned the machinery and livestock jointly it was customary for the tenant to furnish the feed and labor and receive half the crop. Where the landlord furnished only the land and seed it was not uncommon for the tenant to receive two-thirds of the crop. The most common sharing of the otato crop was half to landlord and half to tenant. There was, owever, a great variation in sharing of expenses, depending upon the arrangement with respect to the other crops grown, the acreage in potatoes, and the quality of the land. n studying the equitability of any share-rent arrangement in the growing of potatoes, Table 40 should be of assistance. It shows what proportion the cost of each important item is of the total cost. These proportions will vary somewhat from year to year, for indi- vidual items, because of variation in value. Adjustments, however, may be made when of sufficient importance to affect results. On individual farms the practices may be considerably different from that shown as an average for the region, With quantities and values given in other tables on which the data given in Table 40 are based, adjustments can be made readily For individual farmers, then, this table should serve as a guide and not as a definite standard for all conditions. ; TasBLe 40.—Distribution of the important items of cost in potato production (461 farms), 217. | Minnesota. | Wisconsin. | Michigan. New York: | Maine. ; | Grand Clay Hci slate Wau- Te Trav- Steuben! Monroe Ava County.|County.|County. POC -| ath erse. County.|\County. ie County.|County.| ~ "Cou. ounty. ae pamela | wad bt hol. hace abi sedi eon Per ct.| Per ct.| Per ct.| Per ct.| Per ct. | Per ct.| Per ct.| Per ct.| Per ct. 26 25 28 28 27 24 19 30 a ep heldll iea 19 19 19 17 20 17 25 23 12 es hes Sess: tse 5 10 13 14 16 13 12 13 2 BSE ee eee 16 13 il 14 9 13 12 12 10 Mistmizerit irish eh et [seca Cpon.i.. aR... 2 1 36 Spray material.............. 2 3 3 2 3 2 1 1 2 se ofmachinery-....-.-...- 7 8 7 T 8 7 8 8 4 Band renters 9 <5; 252% oie 13 15 12 i3 ii 10 6 li 6 peyprledd 2 eet | yes eae 3 3 iF 5 5 4 6 6 7 Bags and barrels............. 5 Z (4) (1) ea ee) 1 1 1 1 Es ee See 3 Pe. 5) (1) 3 a 2 (1) 1 Other costs--.-......2.....-. 1 oe Me aed Bak oe | (ate 1} (@) (1) () | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100! 100 1 Less than half of 1 per cent. 2 Land rent includes 6 per cent interest on estimated real estate value of the potato land and the propor- tional share of the taxes and fire insurance. RELATIONS OF COSTS AND PRICES 1913-1921. The previous discussions have shown the marked variations from _ year to year in yields and prices received by farmers for potatoes. _ With the basic data of production requirements available for 1919, 38 BULLETIN 1188, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. as well as the cost per unit of labor and materials for different years, it is possible to determine the general trend of costs and prices for different years. Table 41 has been constructed on this basis. The items which do not vary with yield, such as cultural labor, seed, fertilizer, and overhead, are assumed to be the same from year to year, varying only with the cost per unit. Harvesting and market- ing labor and containers were increased or decreased according to the yields. ‘The prices applied to these data were average prices for the State as reported by the Bureau of Crop Estimates, as were also the yields and prices received per bushel. The data in Table 41 should, therefore, not be taken as absolute costs but as trends of costs. TABLE 41.—Trend of cost per acre, cost per bushel, and price per bushel received, 1913- 1921. Minnesota. Wisconsin. Michigan. New York. Maine. Cost. Cost. Cost. Cost. Cost. Year. : : ; : ———_———_| Price |——-—_ | Price |_| Price | Price |_| Price r Tr pe per per Per | Per |bush.} Per | Per |bush.| Per | Per | bush.| Per | Per | bush.| Per | Per | bush acre. | bus acre. | bush acre. | bush. acre. | bus acre. | bush 1921._...| $52 |$0.58 |$1.02 | $67 /$0.68 e 22} $61 |$0.60 |$1.19 $82 |$0. 72 |$1. 24 | $186 |$0.61 | $0.97 192022.-| 149 | 1.32 78 155 - 98 . 84 129 94 . 78 152 | 1.08 92 284 | 1.50 - 84 1919! 83a) - 3804 ola 98 72 | 1.99 87 74 | 2.04] 107 Wel 2: OF |< 220 79 | 1.86 1918 72 58 79 86 54 87 74 68 | 1.04 94 86 | 1.28 194 92 1.16 1917 102 76 82 107 65 80 92 74 92 94 90 } 1.19 194 | 1.47 1. 26 1916 52 C2 Vase 58 85 |-t. 70 55 89 | 1.84 70 90 } 1.92 141 65 fete 1915 47 37 51 51 40 | 58 44 58 67 53 77 89 106 56 . 80 1914 48 36 37 56 3 37 51 33 36 67 41 48 117 43 ee 1913 43 33 50 51 32 53 46 38 55 56 67 82 107 46 BS) 1 For 1919 cost per acre and per bushel as obtained in this investigation, see Table 8. Probably the most striking thing shown by this table is the marked variation in costs for successive years. The costs are usu- ally high when the price received is low, and vice versa. Tables 42 and 43 are shown to point out the variation in two of the important contributing costs—seed and labor. The years with outstanding high seed-potato prices were 1914, 1917, and 1920, as shown in Table 42. By referring to Table 41 it will be observed that these were the years when the price received for the crop was relatively low per bushel. Similarly, in years when the seed cost was rela- tively low the margin between the cost of production and the price received was greatest. The grower who contemplates changing his acreage materially when seed prices are relatively high or low should carefully study acreage, yields, and prices in previous years when similar conditions prevailed, to see what normally may be expected before making his decision. 4 eet Oe? tee 4 ee 1 COSTS AND FARM PRACTICES IN PRODUCING POTATOES. 39 TABLE 42.—Seed potatoes, May 1, farm price per bushel. | 1913 | 1914 1915 | 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 ere ewe = onic sicin's $0.26 | $0.51] $0.41 | $0.68) $2.51] $0.48] $0.86) $3.84 $0. 42 33a Se soe 28 -52 34 ae 2.79 49 1. 04 3. 82 40 ee 32 57 sit 83 2.82 57 1.05 3. 60 29 » 8-2 ss ee 59 . 82 36 1.10 3. 05 84 1. 21 3. 51 41 -h-¢ + - 322 eee 40 64 a) 96 2. 65 90 1.00 3.35 46 Aa ae $28.90 | $28.70 = eA $33. 00 | $39.00 | $47.10 | $53.70 | $67.00 | $37.00 Pie pyc eas = OE SEALY 28.10} 28.00] 28. 31.00} 36.00] 43.50] 48.70] 62.00 39. 20 23s eee 24.90; 24.70] 25. 10 28.40} 34.00} 37.50] 42.00] 53.00 34. 30 eee as. c «.« 25.50} 25.40] 25.40] 29.40} 35.00] 40.00] 43.30} 54.40 40. 00 SS ee ee ee 25.50 | 26.30] 26.50] 29.00] 36.00} 46.50] 49.40] 56.60 40. 00 ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. February 27, 1924. RCerPUGrT OF AGTICILURS. ye Anew png dhtes ace Henry C. WALLACE. Asmstant Secretartp. +05 22. 1 O08. | GLAS. LOE SR. Howarp M. Gore. Pizectar,o7, Scventafic WOnk- < i0-:- -\-c3- 0% - + be Ss E. D. Bat. Difectorof Regulatory’ Work. 2 2s. OSS. WaLTeR G. CAMPBELL. Director Of TawAsion WOTk....-4-.--.2-a2cses< C. W. WARBURTON. PR INT io ain Ps EO Ce RES R. W. Wiru1aAMs. Ricrmnen Tomine lth oA Ce a ee pe CHARLES F. Marvin, Chief. Bureau of Agricultural Economics. .......-... Henry C. Taytor, Chief. Burcan-of Animal Industry... 5.22. 22.0-4.2>- Joun R. Mouter, Chief. aurea Of Slant Industry. © 5... <.s 4anc ease WitiiaM A. Taytor, Chief. Mimree, SOTHCES 2... snk oe ele = oe tO piie gedad a See W. B. GREELEY, Chief. Bureau of Chemistry......-.- oo ae a) ee Me C. A. BRowne, Chief. Breen UnOs SOUS = 2.6.0 ke os 394 ees -sPcwct Mitton Wuitney, Chief. Bureau of Entomology....... anes Br seo L. O. Howarp, Chief. ure of Biological Surtey-..)...2.9. 2222224. E. W. Netson, Chief. Beurca 0; Publ toads © ss. 2. esse 32k Tuomas H. MacDonatp, Chief. Burcau.of Home Econ0maes. ois