Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, W.T. [i.e. Wis.]) 1843-1844, 1843-05-06


II has'been nearly worked out ond ,.,ao,.a
no longer capable of making dine ,s,unu e 80,
his trouble, the contractor leaves !, ~ ~
the.wide range ofthe States, seeks and rs,dI.
hnds another lot to be ploughed and cron, and
Impoverished in it's turn. P' '"u
That this system is an improvident ono :.
very obvious, and it is eqnaly so that the q.
VII consequences inseparable from it, nigh, be
aVer'ed by an arrangement of the land into
proper sized farms, of from 200 TO 400 acres.
according to the means of tenants. .erec,iuc
upon then, suitable buildings both for the ac
commodation OF the tenants and for housing
their stock---and granting leases for term Of
years suthcient Tor ensnring return Of the cap.
iial which the tenants might lay out in the i'm
provenent of the soil.
/ had the satisfaction in one instance, of con.
vlnclng an extensive landowner, Mr.. Henry
Barclay near Red Hook, OF the advantage TO be
derived from granting leases: and hope to
hear that he has carried his purpose ofadop,.
ing that system into execution. The encour-
agement which his locality temptingly holds
out to enterprlsing farmers, have already ex-
planned
But although succeeded in making but ono
convert among the land propre,ors, had an
opportunity Of ascertaining that the sort of ten
antry have described. are themselves quite
sensible Of the advantage of their presen, ten
ure, and would be found ready TO embrace q
system ofleases Recommend.
1t 10 to such a system that in Scotland 10
mainly owing those improvements which in
the last sixty years have raised il to eminenco
in scientific agriculture, and il cannot be doubt.
ed that its adoption would increase the value
OF land and advance the character Of ngricul-
ture in America.
Besides, an important benefit arising from
the granting of leases 10 that farms are for tho
greater part tenanted by men reared from in
fancy TO agriculture who study il as profess
sion, and pursue il with the skill and energy
necessary TO success. Britain thus possesses
numerous race who for agricultural knowl-
edge. patriotic feeling, aud moral conduct. are
nowhere surpassed are the pride and glo.
ny and decidedly the bos. bulwarks Of their
country.
Under this system of lensing British farmers
would flock TO the States. and by the spplica-
Of their skill and capital. not only enrich Them
selves, but set an example that would dissem-
inmate i'se'f md eventually prove valuable 10
the,coun'ry. And do not hesitate to give II
an my decided opinion, tina, il the landed pro.
prielors Of the States could be induced TO adopt
H.
would do better 10 become their tenants, than
IN The first Instance TO purchase land
Where, however. the British farmer is nos.
sessed Of capital sufficient for the purchase,
and also the stocking and cuhipaiing, of farm,
he might certainly find his account in making
a purchase 10 the States. From the general.
y moderate price Of land and the opportunity
he would have of retaining fertil soil, or
by his superior skill, rendering that which 10
already reclaimed greatly moro fruitful, no
might assure himself ofsnch return for capt.
tai as l believe Is not to be had from agricul.
ture 10 sny other county equally Astounding a.
the States are IN all tho comforts of life
But need hardly observe, that in making
purchase OF farm. he must take care to 70.
tain su'hclency OF capital for stocking and cul-
tiva'ing 1t, because were no 10 expend his all
IN the purchase, he must from obvious causes,
60 to work here with great and peculiar disad.
vantage--he might draw from the land sub.
sistence Tor bis family, butin all probability no.
,hlng more, and that with toll and difficulty. II
Is the danger Of this Inconvenience, that india.
ces me TO think renting land is ia the first iu-
stance safer and more advisable.
II is generally supposed tina. the high price
Of labor 10 America, operates az drawback in
the business OF farming---but there are compen-
saiing clrcumsian- es which, in the considera-
lion OF this matter, ought TO be KEEP, in view.
Although the nominal price Of days labor
IS greater IN America than in Britain, the guam
ium OF labor purchased by il is also greater.
Thus, at Genosee, ! found a laborer's
wages 10 be 3s. per diem, with board and lod-
ging. but, then, lot IL be considered what he
gives in return: he works from sunrise to sun.
set, with shor, Intervals for breakfast, and din
ner.-or he ploughs two acres a-day--or 10 a
day he mows between two and three acres Of
clover-.-and one man takes charge Of rs many
as 1000 sheep, in all things but the shearing
Of them. which 10 done by contract. The in-
dividual ! found 10 charge OF flock Of that
number was an English shepherd. and the on
ly complaint he seemed 10 have, was that
there was occasionally superadded 10 his task,
call 10 assist at farm work.
In this way the real price OF labor in America,
is brought nearer its price in Britain, than at
frs, sight appears; and accordingly, by the in.
iormaiinn ] obtained, the expense OF rnising an
acre Of whea, in the free States. 10 no more
than abont 43 OF our money, which 10 consid.
eraby less than the same expense, exclusive
Of rent, 10 any pan Of Britain.
| Its also TO be considered thai 10 the price
b. pays for labor, the British farmer has TO add
taxes, and rates far exceeding any imposts
directly or indirectly affecting land in "A mercs,
and greatly on,balsncing any advantage he
can have from any difference 10 the rate Of
wagss.'
There is one circumstance which renders
cultivation in America an agreeable task, when
we look 10 the obstacles TO IL which often oo-
eur in Britain. and that is the absence OF land
springs. did not observe in dhe State sin:
gle field in which drain. had been formed or
:. ..,tb excentiona mi uorfh