Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1867-08-23
farm, Gatlen \ 4ollsehpla.
AGRIcrLTERAL cAPITAI..

From he Germaatosra telegraph
What in the hands of the farmer constitutes
capital? With the merchant, cash is eapitali
with the land speculator, land is capital; with
the farmer, cash, land and stock are capital.
nor do these constitute all farmers capital
many other items, too often overlooked,
also form capital, such as implements, ma
nure, aud, most Of all labor.
Capital is either productive or non-produe-
tive; million Of dollars ia gold or silver, or
one thousand acres of unproductive land may
be capital, but while it remains in this state
it produces nothing, and the owner may pc
actually growing poorer.
Increase in wealth does not depend SO much
upon the amount Of capital as upon the use
made of it and in nothing is this more plainly
shown than in farming
There is many farmer who commenced
on fifty acres; on this he annually expended
twenty per cent in manure, labor, &c. &c,
and the produce was perhaps forty per cent
Encouraged by this success, he adds fifty
acres more, but does not proportionally IN
crease his actire capital, and the profits are
lessened iu proportion Still he has not land
enough, and buys more, still adding very little
or nothing to his active capital. The eouse-
qGence is that while on fifty acres he made
forty per cent, on five hundred he would
realize nothing. He has converted his pro
ductiye into non-productive capital.
There is nothing more true than that the
;nordiuate desire for large farms has been the
ruin Of thousands.
It is true that a large farm may be made as
productive as a small one; but to do this
there must be expended on it an amount of
active capital, in the shape Of manure, labor,
&C., in proportion-a thing rarely done.
Let no one undertake to have or hold more
land than he has capital to manage well.
We hear a certain class Of fsrmers( so cal
led say they are too poor to buy lime, too
poor to buy cattle, to make manure, These
are the kind who have too much land. Such
farmer, holding one hundred acres, would
find 1t more profitable to dispose Of fifty, and
expend the proceeds as active capital on the
remaining hall.
What is the use Of capital if il is not to ex-
pend it so that it may increase?
If a farmer has surplus capital, the best
manner in which he can invest IL is in lime or
manure for his farm. If he cannot get six
per cent, from it in this way he does not de-
serve the name Of farmer.
If a farmer has fifty acres, with soil only
six or eight inches deep, instead of buying
more let him double what he has, by doub-
ling the depth Of the soil
Draining makes good, permanent and safe
investment for surplus capital. Such invest
ments not only pay an interest as they 60
along, but also increase the capital by increas-
ing the value of the farm
a western writer has said that large farms
are the curse of the West;" nor does this ap-
ply to the West alone, but also to the East.
By increasing the depth Of his soil, the far
mer increases his crops, without increasing
his number Of acres, and with little or no
extra expense in labor.
In this way a farm Of fifty acres may pro-
duce more than many Of one hundred now
yield; such at least is the opinion and expe.
rience Of
SARsFIELD.