Garden
VOL. I.XTX
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INDIANAPOLIS, MAY 16, 1914
<   *
V
NO. 20
The Cost of Producing a Corn Crop
Last summer we determined to find
out what it would cost to produce a
crop of corn In a certain field, to ascertain the exact profit. The particular field on which we conducted this
experiment was in a creek bottom. It
would be considered a good prospect
for a crop by any corn grower, as there
was a stood crop of mammoth (lover
on the .ground left from the previous
season, and we let it grow np nearly
knee high before plowing it unler. This
field never had been plowed over six
Inches deep and we were quite sure
it would be necessary to plow deeper,
so we plowed nine to ten inches. We
did this for three purposes; to get the
organic matter deeper down where the
decay   would   be  quicker,   to	
get it down deep enough so
that it would not cause the
soil to dry nut, and ln the
end, to produce a deeper soil
on which to grow succeeding
crops.
The weather was warm
and dry and plowing with
three horse plows at this
depth, was slow. We followed the plows with a drag
each few rounds. In this
manner, it took eight days
to put 6.8S acres ln good
condition, but the soil was
fine, and compacting seemed to be about the only necessary operation before
planting. This we did with
a spike harrow, and the
drag again—then followed
immediately with the planter. This work of preparing
the seed bed and planting
consumed  two  days.
Keeping the Corn Growing.
A shower came about the
time the corn began to come
through and crusted the soil
to the extent that it was
necessary to break the crust
with the spike harrow. Another shower came and
crusted the soil a few days
later and we ran the roller ■
ahead of the cultivators, as this makes
much finer soil to sift in around the
young corn plants, and to cover the
young weeds and grass that is starting.
The corn grew very fast and we cultivated again when it was about waist
high. This cultivation together with
previous cultivations after the planting
was done consumed 3 "4 days. In a couple of weeks we ran the one-horse cultivator through the field once, being
very careful to cultivate shallow and
not close to the corn. It required one
and one-half days to do this.
Owing to the fact that the former
owner had let a great many morning
glories and cockle burrs go to seed, it
was necessary to hoe the field,
though the corn was beginning to tassel. It took eight and three-quarter
days to do this. We had been very
careful all along to give shallow cultivation and conserve our moisture, and
Keep  Account of All Expenses and Tell What
Profit is Made
By. O. R. Abraham
the effect was easily seen, for across
Ihe fence the neighbors' corn was fir-
Ing, but ours was green and thrifty.
Kxpense of liaising the Crop.
About the middle of August we sowed
rye with a one-horse drill. This constituted another cultivation, but we did
not charge this to the corn crop, but to
the rye crop.
which we gauged in the cribs after
January 1. We found the yield to be
405 bushels or about 59 bushels per
acre, though neighbors estimated the
yield at 70 bushels per acre. Consequently we believe most farmers .guess
the yield of their corn crops too high.
You may be able to plow that number of acres cheaper than we did, or
in less days.    You may also have clean
Frequent and Shallow Cultivation is Important in the Early Stages of the Corn's Growth.
In figuring the cost of operations, we
consider the worth of a three horse
team, man and tools, about $3 per day,
which would make the plowing and
dragging which followed, cost $24,
further preparation and planting $6,
main cultivations with two horse
teams, man and tools at $3 per day
$9.75. One horse cultivation, I charged
at $1.75 per day, making $2.75 for this
operation.
The hoeing was figured at $1 per
day making the cost $8.75 for this
work, making a total cost to produce
the crop, $51.25. However it is necessary to add -the cost of harvesting to
the cost of production, and in our case
the cost of harvesting seems to be high.
As it was, it took the hand, team, and
wagon, to husk, sort and put in the
cribs 9% days which we considered
worth $2.50 per day, or $23.75 for this
operation,  making a total cost of $75
fer the corn grown on the 6.88 acres,
ground that will not need hoeing,
thereby cutting out that part of the expense, and you may be able to put
your corn In the crib for less money
than we did. However we may be
figming wages at less than you can get
the work done, but our experience will
s.ve you an Idea how to figure. We
were surprised to find the low cost of
preparing the seed bed and later cultivations, though we might not be able
to do the work with the same amount
of labor another season.
The Cost Per Bushel.
We find that it cost 18.5 cents per
bushel for the labor consumed in producing and harvesting the whole crop
therefore had we been renters and got
one-half in the crib, we would have got
202 bushels for $75.00 or a cost of 35
cents per bushel or a profit of 25 cents
per bushel figuring corn at 60 cents per
bushel.
Suppose we had rented the land and
got half in the crib, then we would figure six per cent interest on the valuation of $100.00  per acre,  which would
be   $39.96,  or  19.7     cents     per  bushel.
This  would   leave   a   good   profit   from
which   to   keep   up   improvements  arid
pay taxes.       In  our rotations to  make
the soil better all the time  other crops
do not bring nearly as much  proflt as
corn, except In certain instances. Some
crops  barely  pay  expenses   of production, much  less the interest. Therefore
in   the  average   the   profits   would     be
much   less,   and   the   profits   shown   in
this corn crop would  be misleading to
__________  those who    could    not take
into consideration the fact
that the corn crop is the
money crop in the three
year rotation.
Corn and Clover.
We think we will run a
two year rotation, letting
the ground grow clover one
year and corn the next.
Unless we can raise the
yield of corn to 75 bushels or over per acre, at
the present price, we figure
we will make but two to
three per cent, after figuring taxes and the six per
cent which is always necessary to  figure.
To   arrive   at   a  summary
of the whole experiment, we
feel  that    with     $100   land,
one  must secure  a yield  of
not less than 80 bushels per
acre,  with  a  three year rotation,   or a  two  year  rotation   for   that   matter,   and
at   the   same   time   improve
the soil instead of impoverishing  it.     Close   figures  on
the  cost  of  production   will
show us that  it is necessary
for  us  to  do  better  farming
than  we  have done  heretofore.       With    this in    mind
■-——----—-  we are going to aim at the
100  bushel mark, for it is always well
to aim high.
Morgan Co.
EeAItUY CTJIflTVATION  OP CORN.
Methods of caring for the corn field
after lt has been planted must be
adapted to the season and to the soil
conditions. A system of cultivation
that gives excellent results one year
may fail the next because of the weather conditions. In some instances the
corn field may be harrowed several
times after it is planted before it is
necessary to get out the cultivators.
When this can be done millions of
weeds are destroyed before they have
a chance to get well started. In fact
the harrow is one of the best tools for
cultivating the corn field at first. To
put the soil in the very best condition
for harrowing go over the field with
Continued on page 5.