The Monmouth inquirer., 1925-10-08

OF this sum only about % per cent
was paid out in cash. The remainder
was furnished by the farm, not in the
form of money but in those things for
which the money would have been ex-
changed. The extent to which a farm
can thus be made self-sustaining, made
to supply the wants Of the family that
lives upon 1t without resorting to buy.
ing and selling, is indicated by condi-
lions in the particular area OF North
Carolina included in the investigation.
The investigators found that in this
area the average annual value of the
food, fuel, oil and shelter enjoyed by
the farm family vas $505. OF this sum
the farm furnished directly $429, leav-
ing only s76 to be bought.
Food was, of course, the principal
item. This amounted to $401.93, of
which S330.65, or 1928 per cent was
raised on the farm. If it had not been,
indeed, for such articles as tea, coffee,
g salt and other groceries which
it was impossible to produce at home
these farms might be called actually
self-sustaining. OF the animal pro-
ducts consumed-meat, poultry, milk,
eggs, cheese, etc.-97.3 per cent were
home grown; of the fruits SO per cent
and Of the vegetables 96.1 per cent.
OF the other articles consumed, how
ever, and classed together as groceries,
only "a per cnet was raised on the
farm. The grocery bill was therefore
the largest item in the cash expendi-
ture.
This was even more apparent in
other sections where the farms were
less nearly s~elf-sustaining than in this
particular area Of North Carolina. The
bulk of the groceries was always
bought but the total quantity consum-
ed depended to q great extent upon
the quantity of animal products and
vegetables raised on the farm. Where
these abounded tAe consumption of
groceries diminished. From this 1t
would seer that an obvious way to
effect an important saving in expenses
Is to raise more vegetables and animal
products on the farm. Whether 1t is
better to cut down expenses IN this
way or to increase receipts by concen-
trating attention on cash crops Is one
of the great problems in farm manage
ment, the answer to which in each in
dividual case depends upon local con-
ditions. In the past, however, many
farmers have not realized the exist
ence Of the alternative. The two other
important items in the cost of main
tenance are house rent and labor.
Both Of these it Is a common error to
overlook in estimating the farmers
income. Since the house usually goes
with the farm and the labor is per.
formed by members of the family, both
are taken for granted. This, however,
is obviously unfair. In the recent In
vestigation, for example, the investiga'
tors found that $125 was a fair rental
charge for the average farmhouse, in
GLIDING interest, depreciation and re-
pairs. The fact that the farmer does
not have to pay out this sum is equiya.
lent to adding $125 to his income
With labor it is much the same. The
members of the family secure by their
work comfort which they would other
wise have to buy; or to put 1t another
way, If they did the work for somebody
else they would be paid. AS it is they
pay themselves.
It is obvious, therefore, that what
the farm furnishes directly In food, in
fuel. in shelter, and in rent is an i'm
portant part Of the farm family's In
come. On the other hand it must be
remembered that the farmer has CAPT
tai invested in his business, the inter
est on which must be earned before
heNcan truly be said to be making
money. In the proper relation of the
three factors-interest on the invest
ment, cash receipts andh direct income
from the farm-lies the secret of sue,
cegsful farming.