Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1850-03-11
AGRICULTURAL,
From the Southern Planter.
PROFITS OF FARMING IN VIRGINIA

Mr.. Editor:--I am among those who believe
that farming. conducted with care and attention
combined with moderate share of skill, NAV be
made as profitable in Virginia as elsewhere In
support OF this opinion will give you my expe-
renee, In the way Of expenses and profits for The
last three years. In the latter part of 1871 pur-
chased 2O7 acres of land about l45 of which was
arabic and the balance in wood began by a.
DOPING the system then mostly practiced in my
nelghborhood, viz: lst corn I'd wheat; Sd pas.
ture. will here remark, that when commenc-
ed this rotation my stock, except my mules, and
few mich cows, were kept on my wood land ,
which is low and moist, and of sparse growth of
trees, produced grass sufficient for them during
the summer. After pursuing this rotation three
years, remodeled my fields, making four in
stead: LIST wheat on fallow; I'd corn; Sd wheat
4th pasture Both Of the above rotations are So
we're on land, nor would advise any one to pur-
sue either, unless he give one entire field each
year good dressing of some kind of manure
am now about entering on five field rotation,
with which clover and plaster will be literally
used, having heretofore been prevented, except
very partially, from their use, in consequence of
not having sufficient number of fields, to profit
BY those fertilizing agents. My fields as they
now stand contain &c. 49, 40, 40 acres The ma
nure raised the place is nearly all that the land
has received to improve it. Having each year
two fields in wheat and one in corn, the growth
of which is generally heavy, gives a vast amount
OF material to be converted into manure. This.
together with everything else that can be scraped
UP, is added to the heap and by the month of Au-
gust we have on hand large quantity (for 30
small farm) Of that indispensable article 1t is
put on the field that is fallowed for wheat after
the land has been we'll ploughed. At seeding
time it is put under with shallow furrow: the
harrow is then passed over to smooth it, the wheat
sowed about one bushe to the acre, and is put in
with cutivators, and the harrow again goes over
and finishes. Below give you my expenses 70,
outfit:
2o7 acres of land, at $25 per acre, $5,l75
Improvements in buildings, &c. about 300
Labor men between 80 and as years
old, at $500 each, 1000
2women, IS and SO years at $50
each one boy, 10 years at $500, 800
mules 6 of them aged) at $50 EACH 200
yoke Of oxen, at $40 per yoke, SOL
Wheat th.esher $3.50, wheat fan $50,
corn shelter S28, o0s
Wagon and OK cart, made at hsme,
except wheels and smiths work, 1901
Plough, harness. &C., for mules, ISL
Hand utensils for hands, Isl
Cattle, sheep and hogs, 1901
Expense, for ls47. is48. 1919 1915
Taxes on land, Sc.
&c., about $500 $500 1900
Doctors BILL visit
to field hand, 800 600 Ooo
Two bush. clover seed
bought at 5 1000 900 600
8 bbls. plaster at 81 500 900 OOOI
Groceries SC. for seven
field hands, sup
posed, COCO 5000 6O.OOl
Decrease in value
of mules at 10
per cent on cost,
200, 2o,oe 1000 e0ooI
Wear Of machines at
10 per cent on cost,
sos, 1880 2o,so e0sOf
Wear Of ploughs,
harness, hand
implements, at
one-thrd of their
cost each year, $50 1866 1866 1856
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$l46,46 9l25,46 $l25,46