The Kansas herald of freedom., 1855-03-03

e'D''O htSi piiSS, ssito nav HOoShe iiiVt
nation from experienced farmers whose
statements we could rely upon. The
result of our calculation is as follows:
The cost of breaking up prairie is Sd
IN acre. The additional cost of seeding
with corn, by those who break the turf,
is fifty cents an acre. This labor may be
done any time after the grass begins to
grow, usually about the 1st of April,
until the 10th of June, after which i. is
too late to insure good crop of corn.
No further labor. save the fencing of
the field, is required until the time of
harvest. Indeed, We are assured that
any labor on new lands thus planted is
esteemed injurious. The product ranges
from twenty to fifty bushels an acre
Twenty bushels of shelled corn is
the estimated product as a general thing
for the first crop; and it is very rare
that it falls below this amount, but often
greatly exceeds it.
With the heavy emigration setting to-
wards the Territory, it is safe to place the
value of the next corn crop at fifty cents
a bushcl although along the borders of
Missouri we are informed the price is sell
dom above twenty cents bushel,
notwithstanding at the present time it
commands from eighty-tiye cents to a
dollar. Should it be worth fifty cents,
and the crop not fall below twenty-five
bushels to the acre, then, aside from
the expense of fencing, the farmer will
realize as payment for harvesting eight
dollars for every acre of land he cult
Yates.
A common laborer can put up from
three to four rods of turf fence day
To fence a quarter of section, or 160
acres, willrequireabout one ehundredday's
labor. Allowing labor to continue as
high as it is at present, this will cost, in
cluding board, $3.50. The plowingand
planting of 100 acres will amount to
S720: aggregate for expense, aside from
harvesting, $3.50. product, attwen-
ty-fve bushels an acre, is four thousand
bushels, and atfifty centsabushel, amounts
to two thousand dollars. Deducting the
expense of preparing the ground, and we
have the snug little sum of 81, ,13o to pay
the cost of harvesting, and for the inter-
est on our cash investment in the spring
Besides this, we have 100 acres of land
under fence, which will last, with a trifie
Iof repairs, three years, or until good
hedge can be grown. We have also this
land under high state of cultivation,
with no annoyance whatever from weeds
or grass, for the coming year; and ready
to be turned over with single span of
horses, with half the fatigue incident to
such labor on old farms in the East, and
prepared for growing seventy ty-five BUSH
els of corn annually. The land in this
condition has increased in value from 81
25 an acre to $40 Or $50 an acre and as
soon as the title is secured from govern
ment it will bring these prices, or even
higher.
AS we said before, our figures are
drawn from data furnished by intelligent
farmers who have had experience on the
subject. and We believe are strictly relia-
bic. With such prospects as these. what
farmer having means to invest in agricul-
tural pursuits will hesitateto invest them
in Kansas? Or who is there who has
son he desires to settle down for life, who
will not seek the rich prairies of the West,
and give him home where he can real
ize an ample reward for his toll :!
The farmer who has from one to two
thousand dollars to invest in lands and
improvements viii realize the greatest re-
ward in the shortest period for his invest
ment. Those who have not capital, other
than their own labor, viii suffer incon-
veniences, and greater time win be re-
quired to realize competence; but with
industry and perseverance, it is none the
less certain in the end
OF course the poor man must sustain
his family, and for awhile it requires all
his ingenuity to make both ends meet;
nevertheless, his lands are daily inereas-
ing in value. and are constantly becom-
ing more easy of cultivation. and approx
mating to the condition of his more
wealthy neighbor.
We have only spoken of arabic lands.
and have based our calculations on H,on-
ey-making wholly from the products of
CuitltdecQ iiciuS.- 1uc SuCceSStut ldTlHcf
is fully conscious that another AZ anae
opens astill richer reward for investments.
We allude to the growing of horses and
cattle Until the completion of the Great
Pacific Railsay. they win command an
enormous price. as they are used for the
transportation of innumera5le articles Of
commerce from this region to Santa Fe,
Utah. Californis, Oregon, DC.
Again, the article of fruit, which is
but little grown in the southern States.
commands high price there. and those
who see ft to engage at once in its cul-
tuse may rest assured of ample eampsn-
sation. The growing of grain, cattle,
horses. and fruit may sn be carried on
in connection, and neither serve As a
drawback upon the ether. The coarse,
and otherwise worthless product Of the