Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1866-06-29
farm, Gaeilea 4 Anlseh0ld,
From tic qermaatolon Telegraph.
MY WHEAT CROP.


P. r. F'REAs REsPEcrED FRtESD-Some
time since I promised to give you the two
sides Of the account Of my wheat crop, which
| was led to keep by seeing similar ones IL
The agricultural department Of the Telegraph,
and if my account when published, should
prove the means Of melting Others to keep
similar ones, I shall be amply repaid.
What would be thought of the merchant
who depended upon the amount of cash in
hand to tell how mlieh profit his years oper-
alton had yielded him? How few farmers
can tell, when asked, on what particular crop
or crops they made their pro6t2 They know
there was profit because they have at the end
Of the year more money than when they com
menced, but where this money came from
they are puzzled to tell.
More than one farmer to whom | have
broached the matter has excused himself
upon the plea that he has not the time to
keepa regular set of books, and it viii not
pay to hire a clerk. We by no means need a
regular set of book" Though if the incli-
nation and time of the accountant will allow
it, would more than repay the trouble,) for
the whole business may be carried on with
one book or at most two. All farmers are
able to keep a regular account with the
hands which they hire. Let an account be
kept with each field woods, meadow and all)
the same as with hired man; charge it with
all work done on the crops cultivated therein
and credit It with all crops received from IL
even to the oven wood from repaired fences.
This with a common cash book for the entry
Of receipts and expenditures is all that is
needed.
In a future article l may perhaps enlarge
upon this important point and give sample,
in order to more fully explain my meaning;
but at present / must fulfill my promise to
you and give the two sides of my wheat crop
for 1864
First let me state that in sending the ae-
count have no intention of boasting, as will
probably be shown by the result, for have
near neighbors who can raise fully one third
more than do, and can do it as cheaply, but
do it in order to show what the operation
costs not only in the total but in each separ-
ate item of the work.
As soon as possible after the oats was Of,
the field was well and carefully plowed, har
rowed and rolled. After marking out The
manure was hauled out in the usual manner,
and put on at the rate of about twelve two
horse loads per acre. The manure was first
quality from grain fed cattle, and mostly
made and kept under shelter About one
fourth of it was made in the open yard, but
was thrown under shelter.in March. and we'll
tramped down before the cattle We're turned
out to pasture in the spring, in fact the man
nre was as good as it could well be, or at
least as good as have ever had it before or
since
As fast as hauled out the manure was
spread, and as soon as all spread was well
rolled with heavy roller This rolling
consider of great Importance to the crop, or
at least to the appearance of the field when
done, for Ii enables the plowman to effectual-
ly cover all the manure which is not always
done ifthe operation is omitted, as it usually
is. As soon as plo,ged the field was well har-
rowed and rolled, and the seed drilled in at
the rate of one bushel and peck per acre,
and again well rolled
As the after treatment Of the crop was the
same as is usually praeiced, it viii not be
necessary for me farther to notice it than
win be shown by the account itself, which is
as follows: