Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1869-08-13

THE CAPACITY OF AN ACRE-Pre.
vioust to the building of the Camden
and Amboy Railroad through New
Jersey, over thirty years ago, there were
tracts Of land within .wo miles of Bur-
lington, N. j., which were sold at IS
TO $40 an acre. The reason for these
low prices was tho simplest one imagi-
nable-tbey did not produce the inter-
est of the money they cost. Now some
Of this very land is selling at 500 per
acre, and without Buildings. The cause
of this advance in prices is equally plain
the land now produces much more
than interest on its cost.
In any location where land can be
made to produce the interest Of 81 900
per acre it-would seem safe to purchase
II at $500. Though many acres around
burlington have produced and are still
producing such returns, yet all are
not. Some are very far exceeding it,
while others are falling below, according
to the crops cultivated aud the skill aud
industry applied. 1t is to be observed,
in this connection, that the best returns
are realized by perseverance, continuing
at the business for a torn of years, until
fruits, il fruit culture be adopted, have
come into full bearing A trial of
single year amounts to nothing if then
abandoned, as the first yesr, on even an
old farm, is generally one of mere
preparation for the second. The first
may pay profit, but not often.
Long experience 10 q thousand pla-
ces hiss shown that an acre of land can
be made to pay the interest on large
sum. Mr.. Leonard, Of Monmouth, OBJ
tanned from asparagus the interest of
$4,000, and from grapes the interest Of
VI 900 per acie. But these may be re-
garded as standard crops not liable to
casualty, especially asparagus. Ir our
neighborhood some remarkable results
have been secured from standard fruit
crops. There is an acre of blackberrios
on the farm Of Mr.. Duty which has
producedIthe interest of ever $1,000
gross-no doubt of 81, 900 not.
The owner of three-acre field of pur-
pie cane raspberries told nc that his
sales in one season produced him the
interest Of s25, 900 gross. Large fields
OF even peiisl able strawberries have
been made to pay the net interest of
$4,000 per acre. There is field of
two aud a half acres of blackber
near me, containing twenty six hun lrcd
plants, which last year produced the
interest Of very nearly $4,000 net.
There can be no mistake about this
last crop. But il was altogether excep.
tional, not likely ever to be- repeated,
as berries we've .hen high, and while
other growers had few or none, this Il |
bore abundantly,
The value of land is 10 be measured
BY its produetiveness, not by its price.
All the paying returns above secitcd
were obtained by good ordinary cultiva
ton, not by forcing nor oxtravagant out,
lay. Had these been restored TO the
return would have undoubtedly exceed
cd the extra cost. But the owners
planted, cultivated. aud waited until
sno. PlauuhSs came into bearing.
Such walllng is sometimes inconvenien,
to men Of moderate means, but mcn
wait longer for logacies which are much
loss valuable. Thus grapes, asparagus
aud the canc-producing berries are seen
TO yield a larger interest for money in.
vested in them, e-ss on high.priced
land, than eau possible DO realized on
low.priced land where no such markets
as ours are within reach. The land a,
$500 per acre ia such market is
cheaper than that Of $40 without the
market The one acre pays Interest
on the cost Of ten acres, while the
other pays interest only on its owl
cost. But timo aud patience ara no.
qaired 10 realize such ren rus. II is
no whc endurss to the end that succeeds !;
no. v who plants aud immediately quit.