Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1847-04-29
Profits of Farming.


During the last winerand indeed during every winter
for yesrsthe members Of the Massachusetts, Legf
la,ure have held weekly Agricultural meetings. Some Of
their discussions where experienced farmers from all parts
Of the State thus and compared notes. very inter
estng We copy from the Boston Journal report Of
which occupied evenings. 1t upon the Profits d
farming:
Mr. Brooks, of Prir caon, made an elaborate
statement from actual experience. OF the cost and
val lie Of certain crops upon his farm. His syst,m
Of farming was Il common system where no mar
ket is handy. Nearly all the produce is consumed
on the farm. Mr. Brooks said that he adopted a
system Of rotation Of crops, follows: Isl crop,
potatoes; I'd, corn 3d. wheat, and then grass
The land is valued at $50 per acre. The whole
cost OF raising the FIRST CROP potatoes, including in
ierest on the value Of the land, is 1920. The
produce is worth, on an average, at low estimate.
e35-beng a profit of 80. The next year,
planted with corn, the whole cost Of the crop is
s3l ,25. The average crop is about As bushels,
which at SIS cents per bushel, is worth $685. and
the slover $40 more-makng profit Of $l7-
The next year planted with wheat the cost includ-
ing grass seed sown with the wheat, is S29, Oil
Product, 90 bushels, which at shngs per bush
Ell is worth 1861 and the straw is worth sc more;
making in all 500 ,67-proft Of 1915. The Geld
will then produce two and half tons Of hay per
year, for the next two years-and in eight years
Ss4 Deduc; from this 90 per ton for making,
aud the profit is $50. The net profit TO the acre
for the years. is se7, OF about sirteen per cent
on the outlay.
In conclusion, Mr. Brooks said he thought farm
ing paid as great per cent on the outlay as any
other business. The reason farmers do not get
very rich is because they have comparatively little
capital invested. rt
MIR Clark OF Wapole, agreed with Mr. Brooks,
hat, f,tr viatdad hv far IL
rightly managed. He made some remarks in ex-
PLANTATION OF a statement which he made at the last
meeting, with regard 10 reclaming some bog land.
He had piece OF bog land which cost $40 per acre.
which was composed, not Of peat, but Of mud
One acre Of this, which he had reclaimed at cost
Of $50. would now bring. seeded. 800. Another
acre, which reclaimed at an expense Of 500.
would bring 5000. Good crops are invariably
secured from this land. The third year, the crops
paid 25 per cent on the original cost and outlay,
The cultivation Of fruit is a source Of much profit
to some farmers Some Of his neighbors who cul
tivate peaches, he was satisfied made 200 per cent
One OF them sold last year, 5000 worth Of peaches
| from an acre of ground. .
Mr. Brooks, said he had reclaimed twenty-five
acres of worn out pasture land, alta very heavy
expense but in FIVE years, he received enough from
the land to pay for the outlay. The land in ques
ton, had been long used as pasture, and the pas
ture in which mich cows are fed for many years ia
succession. became nearly destitute Of phosphate
OF lime whereby cows frequently become diseased
l. The Hon. Mr. Calhoun, President Of the meet
ing, was glad to see facts brought forward to con
tradict the impression, which is generally entertain
ed, that farming is not profitable. Mr. Calhoun
made some statements which had been ascertaines
by careful inquiry, with regard to the relative sue
cess of hose engaged in trade, and in farming. i
was stated al one OF the agricultural meetings thre
years ago, thai out Of one hundred merchants VIII
enter into business, only three become wealthy
Since that time particular inquiries have been mad
in relation to this subject, and the following ar
some Of the facts elected. or all the merchant
who have done business on certain wharf in thi
city, within forty years, only six per cent have be
come independent. The remainder failed or die
destitute OF property. or one thousand merchants
with whom accounts had been opened at one Of on
principal banks, within the last forty years, onl
six OF the number was ascertained 10 have becom
independent. Experience under the late bankruT
law, and under present nsovent law, also teaci
es that trading is precsrious business. On tn
} contrary. the great Of farmers, who have oil
binary system Of management, become Independent
and very few go behindhand. Some sound pras
teal men estimate The profits OF farming at froI
Is TO Is per cent ....t s ~.
!, Mr. Calhoun said he estimated farming pro6tabl,
in another and important point Of view, that is !
regad TO its healthiness He closed with fe
remarks in regard to the present system Of ednci
ton, which he though, should he brought TO bel
more directly on the interests OF farmers. The sol
Of farmers should receive practical education 4
the purposes Of farming.
Major Wheeler, of Pennington, said that b
5 brother, Ia Deputy Sherif,) had informed him th
ofthiriy.six cases Of bankruptcy which he had ha
under his charge, but one was farmer, and heps
one hundred cents on the dollar, and had had som
thing left
= Mr. Denny Of weslboro', said tina, from actu
investigation, il had been estimated tina, 10 eve
hundred trades, but seven succeed In acquiFiI
= wealth. He had examined the returns OF the nun
Der who have taken the benefit Of the insolvent Ia
3) in this State within II months. and Of lIl2 ban
rupts but fourteen we're farmers. OF this numbe
Mr. Denny had ascertained with regard to one ,h
he was lazy, and entirely unfit for farmer
h' Another was interested In line Of stages, and e
dorsed notes for his brothers and others, whit
= caused his failure The third was not in reality
farmer. but had once hired farmer. Il would
much better for young men 10 turn their atienti'
TO farming, than TO rush TO the city. Every four
young man in the stores Of Boston,, could be d
pensed with. PIT fs
Mr. Porter, Of Danyers, said that Of one hundf
farmers, whom he could recall 10 mind, he kns
Of none who hadI failed within forty years. He b
had ample experience in the troubles and anxeil
OF traders life, aud was satisfied that there "
much more eontentment and peace Of mind,
~ farming. y9ff hftHe
Z Mr. Porter said his farm. when he bought il, "
90 run out ltconianed nearly thousand fruit tre'
~ which, however, bore the fret year but about sew
ne barrels Of apples He turned The land over, pI
I'D at time, and applied about 800 worth Of manu-
en- per year. As fast as il was turned over he SOW
70 TO oats. This renovated that the third year ~