Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-08-08
whereas a fair yield of good tobacco


returns a profit.
In this study the price received
er pound h sabeen used as a meas
ure of the quality of the tobacco, 1t
being assumed that a higher price
is paid for the better grades. This
assumption is nc entirely correct,
because prices of tobacco of the
same grade fluctuate during the sea-
son.
The relation of yield per acre and
price received per pound to receipts
per acre is shown in table IL. The
average yield for the group whose
receipts were more than $500 per
acre was 991 pounds, while the price
they received per pound was 1913
cents. The group whose receipts
per acre were the lowest had the
lowest average yield and received
the lowest price per pound. In every
group, receipts per acre were in d.
rect proportion to both yield and
price.
That more labor put out on the
crop does not necessaril result in
larger returns, T. shown by the fact
that in the first group having lowest
receipts per acre, more labor was
expended than in the second group
having somewhat larger returns.
Likewise, more labor was put o. the
crop by the farmers in the third
group having receipts of from $751;
to $500 than was spent by the farm
ers in the next two higher groups
whose returns were from $201 to
1901 per acre. The higher yields,
however, require somewhat more Ia
Dor IN harvesting and preparing for
market.
Fertilizers are essential to good
tobacco production, but they are not
always used efficiently. This is
shown by the fact that farmers of
all groups spent about the same
amount on fertil.- rs. In fact, those
who received less than $500 per acre
for their crop lai out 40 cents more
per acre for fertilizer than those
whose receipts re over $500 per
acre. Where fertilizers were used
efficiently on land adapted to the
crop they were highly profitable, but
the unwise use Of fertilizer often re-
suited in producing tobacco of poor
quality, thereby actually reducing
the returns per acre.
The two groups having the lowest
returns per acre averaged "a acres
per farm. The other groups ranged
from "A acres to 6.7 acres. Tobacco
being a relatively new crop in Geor-
gia, the laborers are unfamiliar with
it. They must be taught all of the
details and be closely supervised to
insure the various operations being
properly performed. After the la
borers learn to do their work with
OF such close supervision it is prob
able that larger acreages can be
handled profitably.
The total cost per acre for each
group has been averaged to show
that that it is possible to spend more
on a crop of tbacco than is received
from it. Out of the TIA farms stud
led, SO got less than cost of produc-
ton for their crop. This is more
than one-ti-ird Of the farms. The "A
farmers in the group receiving less
than $500 per acre spent an average
Of $129.S5 per acre. On the other
hand, fair profits were obtained by
those who got good yields and good
prices.
Since 1920, the prices of labor,
feed and fertilizer have declined con-
siderably. In fact, for all of these
items there is some fuctuation from
year to year. Moreover, yields will
vary on the same farm as a result
of seasonal differences.
The following simple method of
computing the cost Of production
for any season is based on the basic
factors obtained in this survey with
the substitution of current prices of
labor, fertilizer, feed, rent, etc.
Cost of Man Labor-An average
aP An II 81 IL =
in the production of an acre of to-
bacco. To get the man labor cost
for an acre, multiply 40.3 by the
wages paid per, day.
Cost of Mule Labor-The mule Ia
Dor cost in 1920 was one-third of the
man labor cost. In order to simplify
the calculation, divide the man labor
cost by three, which will give the
approximate mule labor cost.
Cost of Fertilizer-Divide the
pounds of fertilizer used per acre
by 1000 and multiply by the price
per ton.
Land Rent-Charge rent at the
rate that similar land brings in the
community rented out for cash. Or,
If none is rented for cash, use 10 per
cent of the actual value Of the land.
Demonstrator-If a demonstrators
is employed by the acre, make the
charge direct. If a percentage of the
gross profits is given for the dem
onstrator, use last years receipts as
a basis for the calculation If no
demonstration is employed, disregard
this item.
Machinery Cost-Charge 1925 per
acre, which was the average cost
for 1920.
Other Costs-Charge $3.44 per