Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1837-05-19
is FARMING PROFITABLE?

very desirable to do It in such manner
that, SO far as regards temporal matters,
competency may at least be secured; and
the way in which this can be done the most
easily, efftc,uay, and with the least probo-
blity of rcvcrses, becomes an inquiry OF
considerable interest. We speak now Of
the ordinary means of obtaining good
living, Of the regular prosecution of pro.
fessional business, Of the usual results Of
trade, of money a, the legal rates Of inter.
est, and farming as it has been on the
average for the last five ycars.-Now in
some respects the times arc out of jointly
all the cus'o mary modes Of doing business
seem TO be broken up; men arc in haste
to be rich and the opportunities forspecn
lation, and the success which in some in
stances has attended il, appear 10 have had
their influence every whcrc-Icss per-
hops among farmers than any other class of
citizens, though even for them it will not
do to plead entire exemption. Many have
cold their farms, aud after spending months
in looking for others, hive come home
again and consented to pay roundly for
the privilege of getting on The "oIG place
again. Other farmers have sold out, and
without personal Investigation, have at
once started for hat earthly paradise, the
far west. Disappointed they have returned,
and after baving lost most Of their proper
~ in the expenses Of removal, are content
to again commence a gradual accumulation
Of property. But n great majority are
still working on, sowing and rcaping, aud
it is question which should be solved,
whether such are not on the whole making
money as fast as they probably would with
the same capital in any other legitimate
business. What we mean is, can a man
with five or ten thousand dollars, realize
Us much from it by investing it in n farm,
as he could by oaning it at the legal rate
Of interest; and will it support himself or
his family as handsomely in the first way
as the last' To contribute our mite to
wards answering these questions is the
great object of this paper.
Tic man who expects TO get rich al once
by farming must expect TO be disappointed;
but in this matter he is no worse of than
he who has only the same moderate CAPT,
tai in cash, and uses it in legal way. In
both cases the addition to the capital stock
can consist only Of wha, remains of the
income after all demands upon it are met.
We will attempt to illustrate this. Two
men, a. and b., arc about TO commence
life with the same capital, say five thou
sand dollars in cash each ; and their per-
eonal expenses are also the same. 4. in
vests the whole Of his in farm and stock
and goes to work upon it. i. is apprc-
his cash in stock which yields him seven
per cent. and determines to do enough to
pay his way, SO that the interest shall be
clear. now which Of the two are the most
likely to possess competence if not actual
wealth, at the end of ten years. Perhaps
majority at first thought would say, b
certainly; but we think differently. and
Imagine that the chances are altogether in
favor Of A., and these are some Of the rca
sons ior this opinion.
In the first place his occupation is favor
able to health. The life Of former is ono
of labor, 1t is true, but labor unless car.
ricd TO excess, is far from being prcjudi
cal to the body or mind, Vigorous cxer
else, such is the law of our nature. is ne
ccssary to the full development of eithc
our bodily or our mental powers, and un
less this necessity is forced upon US in part
we are apt to cvadc it, and we suffer tn,
consequence. The maxim that erery ma,
aaturaHy is as idle as he can be, we do no
dispute; acquired habits induced by TIT
necessity Of exertion, are sufficient to &C
count for any seeming exceptions to thi
rule. Hence the probability is that A.
having before his eyes the necessity of Ia
Dor on his farm, will perform the labor, an
reap double the benefit in his health an
in his purse; while b., who cannot expec
10 feel that necessity, will of course be les
active and industrious, will become les
and less inclined to labor, and will evcntu
ally feel the effects of this disinclination il
diminished health and Decreasing profits
Another reason why the prospects G
A. are better than those of b. is to b
found in the habits that personal industr