Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1869-08-10
FIELD AND F1REsIDE.
win You Ever Get Your Money Back,

or all the sneers which beSet the path OF
an improving farmer the commouest and
mcanest is: "Will you ever get your money
back %
Let him build large and commodious barn,
large enough to accommodate not only all the
stock and store he has now, but all he hopes
to have in years to come, aud with shelter
for all the manure he will make during the
season. too, with every convenience for scon-
omizjng labor and With such general arrange
ments as he feels sure cannot tail TO make
his work profitable some carping neighbor
will throw cold water on his hopes by sug-
gestiug that he probably ''doSen't ever expect
to get his money back"
Let him deeply plow and subsoil one Of his
fields at an obvious cost OF S25 an Scre-this
same comment will greet his improvement.
Let him thoroughly uuderdrain ten acres Of
his heavy, cold land, at an outside cost Of
81 goo, fud fancy that he sees his account,
in doing the vork-the same question will
jar upon his ears.
For a moment this view Of the ease may
shake his hopes, but it is not at all a fair view
to take of any permanent agricultural im~
provement We do not build barns for the
purrose of getting back the money they cost,
nor can we always count on an extre sos an
acre from the crop that we raise after expen
s:vc cultivation. 1t is too much to expect
that $1,000 invested in draining would come
back with the first year after the work was
done.
Who cares that it should come back at all
We cant have our cake aud eat it too
man does not buy farm to get his money
back he buys it to get the farm. and having
it he tries to make it worth to him more than
the money
If barn costs Sc 900, it ought to add $500
year to the income Of the farm in lighter
work, better manure, better kept fodder and
more thriving stock.
The money spent in deep and thorough
cultivation ought to let the roots of our crops
so far into the ground, and give them 50
much wider feeding surface that their yield
will be worth permanently two or three more
dollars per acre. Generally the result will
be much better.
The thousand dollars expended in draining
brings easier cultivation; the ability to do
work that ought to be done, a more complete
mastery over weeds a greater independence
of wet and dry seasons; and partly because
of these things. aud partly tor the increased
productiveuc>s of the land, the crops ought
to be very much better than before the work
was done II they are ten dollars an aero
better, our Investment has been good one
agricuIturaIly considered, remarkably good.
Any man whose Investments on his farm
will one year after another, bring him a re-
turn Of ten per cent may rest satisfied This
allows six per cent. for his skill in placing it
judiciously
Let no one then be deferred from improving
his farm to the highest point of which it is
capable, and which his means can compass.
To be II successful farmer, he must give hia
time aud attention to his business.
The more capital he prudenty invests on
the real improvements, the better scope ho
will have for the exercise of his talents and
the better chance for being amply repaid.
American Agricuiturtst.