-12-


Table 6.--Frequency
Buying and Selling,


Total cost per box

 (Cents)
 24 29.99
 30 35.99
 36 41.99
 42 47.99
 48 53.99
 54 59.99
 60 65.99
 66 71.99
 72 77.99
 78 83.99
 84 and over


Total number of firms


Average cost per box


Distribution of the Total Cost Per Box for
Picking, and Hauling Citrus, 1951-52 Season

 Citrus Dealers Only
 Oranges Grapefruit Tangerines

 Number of Firms
 4
 3
 6 3
 3 1
 2 1
 1


12


41.89X


12


33.97


4


66.62%


several firms appeared to have rather high capital investment in relation to the

total volume handled in 1951-52. This may make it possible to handle the peak

volume with owned equipment, but also means equipment is not fully utilized part

of the year, with high ownership costs. The book value of the total capital in

the business varied from $34.64 to $261.53 per thousand boxes handled.

 Total costs per box did not seem to fluctuate according to size of firm.

 Comparison of Costs With 1950-51

 Total picking and hauling costs for 1951-52 were about the same as those

found in 1950-51 (Table 7). This despite the fact that picker's rates increased,-

although part of the increased rate was reflected in 1950-51 costs. Grapefruit

picking costs were higher in 1951-52 due principally to higher picker's rates.

Tangerine picking costs were slightly lower, but picking rates for them vary

rather widely.

 The data for 1951-52 represent a much larger number of firms than were ob-

tained in the preceding season. With the wide variation that has been found be-