Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1869-08-03
The eapaoity of an Aere.

Previous to the building of the Camden
and Amboy railroad through New jersey,
over thirty years ago, there we're tracts OF
+ land within two miles of Burlington, n j.,
which were sold at s5 to SO core, Tho
reason for these low prices was the simplest
one imaginable they did not produce the
interest of the money they cs'st. Now soma
of this very land is selling at oyer 800 per
acre. without, buildings. The cause of thjs
advance in prices is equally plaiu-the land
now produces much mUre than interest on Ito
cost.
In any location where land caa be made to
produce the interest of SisgOO per acre, it
would seem safe to purchase Il at S2uQ.-
Though many acres around Burlington have
produced and are still producing such returns;
vet all are not. Some arc very tar exceed
ing it, while others are falling below, accord
Ing to the crops cultivated aud the skill aud
Industry applied. Itis to Se observed, in this
connection that the hest returns are realized
by perseverance, continuing ut the business
f"r a term of years. until fruits, If fIuit cul>
ture be adopted, have come into full bearing.
\ trial of single year amounts to nothing
if then abandoned, us the Srss year on even
an old farm, is generally one Of mere prepara-
tion for the second. Tha first may pay %
profit, but not often.
Long experience in thousand places has
shown that uu acre of land can be made to
pay the interest on a very large sum. Mr..
Leonard, OF Moumouth, obtained from aspar-
ugus the interest of $4,000 and from grapes
the interest OF 81 900 per acre, Both these
m " be regarded us standard crops, not liabie
to cuS.aliry, especially asparagus. In our
neigEborhood sume remarkable results have
been secured from standard fruit crops
There is an aero of bhckherries on tho iarul
of Mr.. Duly which has produced the inter
est of over $500 gross-nO doubt OF 81 ,OOD
net.
The owaer Of three aero field Of purple
cane raspbcrrieS told me that his sales in ono
season produced him the interest Of S25,OOO
gross Large fields of even peTishable staw,
berries have been made to pay the net interest
of Si5UO er acre. There ia ield OF two
and half acres of black berriea near me. con-
tanning twenty six hundred pIauts, which lash
year produced tho interest of very nearly
$50, 600 net. There can be no mistake about
this last crop. But it was altogether cxcep"
tiona!, not likely ever to be repeated, as ber-
rie4 we're then high. and while other growers
had few OF none, this 6rld bore abundautly.
The value o! land is TO he measured by its
product, euess, not by its price. All the pay
ing returns above recItsd were obtaIned hY
good ordinary cultivation, and not by forcing
or extravanaut outlay. Had these been resort
ed to. the return would undoubtedly have
exceeded the extra cost. But tho owners
planted, cultivated, and. waited until their
paintings cnme into bearing. Such waiting
Is sometimes incuuvenient to men Of moderate
means bnt men. wait longer for legacies
which are much less valuable. Thus uspara-
gus, grapes, aud the caue.prodgcing berries
arc seen to Weld larger interest for money
invested in them. even on high-Priced land,
than can possibly be realized FROM l"w-priced
land where no such markets ours uTe within
reach. The land Vi $500 per acre in such
nlurket is cheaper than that 1t 80 without
The market The one acre pays interest on
the cost of ten ucres. while the other rnyn
interest only on its own cost. Bat time and
patience are required 10 realize such returns
II il he that endures to the end that succeeds
not he who plants and Immediately qnts.
RedTh and lime.