The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1847-04-10
Farming, Nc.
Massachusetts Legislative Ag-
ricultural Meeting.
DISCUSSION OF THE PROFITS OF
EARMING CONrINIIEn

proceeding evenings.
Mr. Ceary of Conway, made the following
statement with regard TO lie amount of corn
produced on an acre ofand. The statement
is contained in the report ofthe committee on
crops, Of the Conway Town Agricultural So
cety. The committee estimated the product
per acre by measuring that of two square
rods, taken nj random. The folIowing is the
product per acre on ten different fields. No.
l, ia bushels peck quarts; No. ., l32
bushels pecks quarts; No.3, 10 bushels
2prcks; No. 4, III bushels; No. 3, no bush
els peck 2 quarts; No g. 95 bushels pecks
7 quarts; No. 7, 90 bushels peck 3 quarts;
No. 8, so bushels: No. 10, rs bushels . pecks
3 quarts. These crops We're raised upon
land not considered particularly good. The
great yields We're the result of the pains tn
ken with the crop, and was attributable in
some measure to the beneficial influence
which the formation ola Town Agricultural
society has had on the farmers in the town.
The farmers who raised these crops nre in
the habit of wintcrlug great numbers OF sheep
and their manure was generally applied in the
fIll. Besides this, horse or other manure
was applied TO the land, and poughed in
Generally from thirty to forty cart loads of
mnnure was applied to the acre, hesides ash
eS.
Major Wheeler of FrAminghan, as an H.
Ilstratlon of his assertion at previous meet
Tugs, that farming is profitable, mentioned
the case ofone of his neighhors who bought
n farm it, North Framingham, Il few years IL
so, for 50, $50. The farm contained seventy
four acres. Two years after he sold ten IL
ores Of the land, and the proceeds olthis sale
together with that of some wood also sold, II
amounted to 81 900, leaving the sum Of s $50
as the cost ofthe remaining siXty-tour acres
This land he worked last year, with no other
assistance than IL boy, except ei@ht days labor
which he hired. and hesides supplying his
tanaily, he sold 500 worth of producc. This
man was worth comparatively nothing
when he bought the farm, hut is now clear
of debt.
The agricultural census affords baSis to
estimate the profits of farming. In 1870 the
agricultural products of the United States
were estimated mt S900,000000. Taking out
one halfoftkis for the expense of production
IN labor, exclusive ofnanuring, &c. and it
leaves $450000,000. Estimating the amount
invested in agriculture, including land, build
ngs, stock, &c. &c, at $4,000, 100000, and
we have 4 ~ per cent MS the yield on the
investment, from which I-2 10 2 per cent.
shonld he deducted for manure, seed, SC,
which will leave an interest of . l-2 or3 per
cent OH the whole investment after paying
well for the labor. This. Mr. Merriam
thought handsome profit, because the labor
is well paid, and the investment safe!
Mr. Cleary, stated tina. one ofthe farmers in
his vicinity, now fifty years of age, who had
carried on farm since he was twentv-on
stated to him that, besides supporting hand
somely Il large fiRliIy, he had laid up about
500 per year.
The Rev. Mr. Leonard, of Marshficld, said
he knew of no class who were so able 10 pay
their debts as farmers. There is too preva-
lent disposition among lads to neglect farm
ing, and rush to the city. Ofthose who go
30 the city, very few succeed. bur the grcat
MAJORITY do not do so well as those who re-
amin at home. The farmer, too, will be not
only more healthy. bur longer lived than the
merchant or mechanic by statistics from
actual investigation, it appears that the lon
gevty of farmers is GA years: of merchants, So
0fprotcssiunal men, 46; ofmechanics 10
The farmer enjoys more happiness, and is
free from the troubles and anXietes attendant
upon mercantile or mechanical business.
Mr. Cleary in answer to inquiries, stated
that the Button corn was generally grown in
the filds mentioned in his previous remarks
ofwllich the product was given. 1t was
planted in hills about three or three and IL
half feet apart, and generally about four
stalks grew in a hill. The farmers in his
town had not.as yet,practscd Subsoi plough
IiSs bil h'I ca pCii'1CiN WIS w NC IllulIt lIls
year. The corn mentioned in his prcvions
remarks was gathered and measured in Octo-
her, and some allowance should be made for
shrinking. Forty or fifty bushels Of corn to
the acre, in his town, is considered good
crop.
Mr. Buckminster, editor of the Ploughnan,
pointed ont an error frequently made in es-
timating the product ofan acre, from thar OF a
given number of square rods. He thought
one hundred bushels might possibly he
grown on an acre.
The Rev. Mr. Sanger of Dover, thought
that in order to make farming profitable, the
sous offhrners should not remain idle. He
did not think it good policy, however to call
ON the daughters to assist in out door labors,
as they have a sphere of usefulness else
where. If the erimprOves all his means
and his tine then farming will be profitable.
Mr. Sanger related some instances where
statements had been published, accompanied
with the figures, showing that farming is
profitable.
Mr. Parker of Sudbury said there was as
much profit in farming as in any other bust
ness. He had tried mercantile and manu-
featuring business,and farming. After thirty
Years spent in the former employnents, he
like many others, was obliged by impaired
health to return in part to farming. He
noWSht, Sotne years ago, IarH, COntnlulNS
one hundred acres, of miserable, worn our
land. 1t would hardly produce two tons of
hay 10 the acre, and that was of so poor a
quality, that a COW would shed tears to look
mt it, ifshe thought she would have to eat it,
The sheriff was sometimes seen walking over
the land. The first year Mr. Parker said he
kept COW and horse on the farm. The
horse was SO poor that when he laid down he
required assistance TO get up. This promis-
ing farm, Mr. Parker said he had carried on
ton Or t,tnlun Nanrr and IL nrndnced lnsI