Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1868-06-25
fnoa rnE ANERioAN douiNAL o. n"E1lcrL1rGF.
EIGHT DOLLARS AN ACRE
BY EDMUNp MORRIS, nrnLlNcroN, \. n,

BY EDMUND MORRIS, BURLINGTON, y. IL,
The contrast between successful horticul- |
ture and what is accepted as successful farm
ing seems to involve the most extraordinary
contradictions. Success may be regarded as
an arbitrary term sort Of indefinite guam
tity, certain measure Of which is in one
case accepted rs positive abundance, and in
another as an equally positive discourage
ment. 1t really means that annual gain
which may be sufficient to satisfy the ambi-
ton of both farmer and uit-grower, no
matter how many dollars it may in either
case amount 10. The former is educated to
be content with moderate profit from hun
bred acres; the latter is dissatisfied unless
he realizes thrice as much from tenth Of
the same area 1t is, moreover, relative
term. With the farmer, it is probably The
disposition to be satisfied with moderate
gains that really constitutes what he would
call success. Hence there are striking con
trasts between the two pursuits. Look
ing over recent agricultural paper came
upon the following paragraph from the pen
of Vermont farmer
"My farm consists OF hundred and
twenty-five acres, and had been let Tor
many years, and was generally considered
run out Sales of produce and stock
amounted to 81 G93.s1. The increase of
stock was enough to balance the sales. En-
penscs of all kinds, together with $500
which | charge for my own work. SjG7. 90
leaving balance for profit OF S732. 20
This, | think, is better than money at six
per cent, and answers the question as to
whether farming is profitable.
Now, doubt not there may he farmers in
New Jersey who scratch over the same
number of acres with no better success than
this; though, so far, they have escaped my
observation, having never gone in search o
such But here II gain of less than cgh
dollars an acre is quoted as settling the ques
ton that farming is profitable, and bette
than money Ut six per cent. A statcmen
like this will astonish all within tho fruit
producing sections Of this State. the pov
erty OF the return is as discouraging 70 us a
the cheerful compacency of the writer is dc
lightful He is not only contcnted, but ju
bilant,-jubiant over eight dollars I'm acre
But that modicum is to him success an,
seeing that his wants are so Circumsclibed
and his ambition so fully accomplished
would leave him alone in his glory"
This man may not live long enough TO di
rich; but, on the other hand, we may b
sure that he will never become insolvent
The moderation of his wants gives assurance
of pecuniary safety. Ills gains, thouul
small, are steady and certain; his aspiration
are few, and cheaply supplied; and he in
dulges in no extravagances Ills utinatut
is six per cent. The long catalogue of Amer
lean insolvents contains the names of fey
who are farmers. 1t is the men who gras
at two per cent month who lose all, an
fail. The thousands, who, in great finau
cial dislocations, come down from cond
ton OF luxury, have not been farmers. 1t
the merchants and manufacturers the spec
ulators and the adycnturers, who do 81
Every panic that convulscs the country bring
multitudes of them to grief, until bankrup
laws are found necessary to relieve then
Eight dollars per acre comes up in strang
contrast with a brown stone mansion at
rent of ten thousand u year but, when i
gay occupant has gone forth by invitation
the sheriff, how much greater does the COZ
trast become The picture, like all other
has two sides and the brown-stone mansic
with its luxurious appurtenances cannot
pronounced u success.