Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1853-03-10
[2RTCE ONE CENT.
n)ottester DaiIp 5pp.
Farm LobOr-rts misappIieatiom.


planning OF the small remuneration they receive
for their labor, when compared with hatreeeived
by others classes of society I have been led to
reflect upon the subject, and have come TO the
conclusion, thatifthese complaints are well found
ed it must be because our efforts are notput forth
Systematically; because they are not governed bv
intellect-in word, because, like Cyclops, we are
content to Ego it blind"
find that labor is the most expensive item in
the management OF farm, and l presume this
will be admitted by all practical men.
Now, whenever and wherever the amount of
manual labor can be lessened, either by more
Judielous application, or by the substitution of
machinery, the profit of the farm must be inereas-
ed We see the manufacturer continually upon
the alert to adopt means, whose ends shall be the
Saotng O. labor and consequently the increase of
his profits.
Now, farmers, cannot We proftably abridge
human labor, IN many of the operations of the
farm? Cannot we produce fifty bushels of corn on
acre, with an outlay of three-fourths of the la
Dor usually applied Cannot we harvest our hay
and grain, with one-fourth less expense (by the
substitution of machinery than we now Go? In
word, how many farms there in the State,
on which the same amount Of corps might be an
nually raised, at present, with three-forths of
the outlay of human labor?
How many thousand (might we notsay milli-
ons?) are annually lost to the State, by the nudi
cious application of the motive power! Let far
think of these things. Let them remember,
that if they would not always be like Issachar-"a
strong ass crouchng down between two burthens''
they must rouse up and use their nteJlects we'll
as their huge paws, and brawny shoulders,
That it is possible to make as great an advance
upon the present mode of agricultural practice,
as has been already effected in manufactures by
the substitution of the spinning frame and power
loom for the hand-oom and wheel Of "auld lang
syne," fully believe Judging from the testi.
mony which has been adduced, cannot but be-
lieve that the man who cuts forty or more tons of
hay, on a tolerablv smooth bottom, would find his
interests promoted by the of one OF the i'm
proved moving machines. The cost of one is
about one hundred and Ave dollars, as | learn
This will cut its ten twelve acres day-as
much as five or six men ordinarily NOV, at cost
Off many dollars, exclusive of board and the
latter item be reckoned at less than TWENTY-FIVE
cents each per day. Then we think it will be fair
to assume that the expense of moving ten acres
of good grass with the scythe will average in this
State twelve dollars and half.
Now, everybody knows that during the hay
harvest, labor Is scarce as well dear, and there
fore those who have considerable hay TO cut, be-
gin at least week before the grass has attain
ed the state most fitting; and they continue hay
my at least one week after This period has passed.
Perhaps itwill be safe calculation, if we assume
that those farmers who cut As ions of hay cut 10
of it at such season-ether before il has attain.
ed maturity after that period has passed-that
e-half of its nutrtve substance is lost. As
sumo that this ratio will hold good, with farmers
in this State, generally. and we have loss in the
hay CROP of SIKH, just because it Is cut out
of season.
i'll have assumed too large a per centage of
the crop being cut at an improper season, the
reader can readily perceive the error, and make
the proper estimate himself.
According to the above assumption, the farmer
who cuts forty-eght tons of hay, by lossof one
half of the nutriment in sixteen tons, actually
wastes eight tons-wastes it just as much as
though he pitched it into his barnyard instead of
into his hay-mow.
These eight tons would be WORTH ordinarily,
six dollars ton, to feed stock; amounting to for.
ty-eight dollars annually. Would it not be good
policy for the farmer to stop this Leak if it can be
done by employing machnery-which never
sweals, never tires, even though the sun peurs
forth its hottest rays. Some will be ready to an
swer in the affirmative, provided the machinery
will work well.
The statement was sent forth to the world,
that at the great trial of these machines in New
York, last year, some two or three OF them did
work well on rather rough bottom, and a light
crop (only about half ton TO The acre) of wire
grass, which every farmer knows TO be one oflhe
most difficult to cut.
| need not mention the saving effected by the
substitution of horse-labor for manual, in raking
hay, because the subject is familiar to all.
For four years past, we have raised annually
from seventy-hve to one hundred and thirty BUSH
els Of Indian corn, averaging about fifty bushels
to the acre, which has been produced without
manure in the hill, it being all spread upon the
land when first carted from the barn, and turned
under with the plough son eight inches. Some
times have re. ploughed the land in the Spring,
at others, not The land which have thus treat
ed, has been river interval, and light loans and
gravels.
Another great misappcation of labor is in cul-
tivatIng two ofland to produce the crop
which should be obtained from one. If we as
sumo that thirteen days labor are required in
poughing, planting, and hoeing an acre Of ground
in corn, it necessarily follows that if, for want of
proper manuring, we are obliged 10 plough, plant,
and hoe two acres TO raise fifty bushels of corn,
which might be raised one, we have thrown
away thirteen days labor-as effectuay mis-
spent it as if we had spent the thirteen days in
Transporting brick from the back door to the
pg-pen, and then back TO the door again.
How many farmers are there who prefer loan
ing money at interest," rather than apply it to the
culture of their farms!-who plod the cold
ways of the boy, who put stone in one end Of
the bag, to balance the grist in the other. five
would make farming good business, we must
economic our labor. JABEz d. HILL.
Maine Farmer.