The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-10-17
Cost and Profit Of Farming In Eng.
land.

The London Times Of September Goth
contains letter from Its special reporter
engaged in the investigation Of affairs in
the agricultural districts. In this let
ter he gives minute details OF the ex-
pCnse Of working two representative
Iarms, one Of $50 acres, Of which 39 are
wood, 20 pasture, and 722 arabic, and the
other 200 acres, Of which 8 acres are pas.
ture and the remainder arabic. Five per
cent Of arabic Of the large farm Is waste
and about seven per cent Of the email
farm. The rent Of the large farm was
$500, tiIhes and rates 1850. The
working Of the farm during the past year
required an expenditure Of $l,075 Tor
manure over and above that produced Oh
the farm. The expenditures for seed and
feed for stock amounted TO 1920, the
labor bill to $1,000, and other expenses to
$2525, making total outlay Of about
500, $40, which is fraction over thirty
four dollars per acre. No figures are
given Of the amount realized from the
proceeds Of the farm.
The email farm o! two hundred acres
was OF mixed soil. The rent and tithes
last year amounted TO $1,000. The
amount paid for labor was $2,l30 or
about $40 G5 per acre. Besides men and
boys, eight horses we're required 10 work
the two hundred acres. For feeding
purposes and artificial manure the expen.
diture was $9,242 so. The farmer had
allowed his books TO be examined by IN
dependent persons from 1862 to 1871 in
elusive, for the purpose Of estimating
profits, and during these ten years the
profits amounted to $685., or an aver
age oil 81 1856 for interest on capital Of
SIP 800, aud also as the return for no
common skill and for constant care and
oversight. The years 1928 were more
profitable owing to the very high price
OF meat and the good prices realized for
wheat aud barley. But in 1874 there has
been serious loss on stock feeding, and
even II farmer grows six bushels more
wheat an acre than he grew last year, the
lall in value makes his crop worth lees 10
him than the shorter crop Of 1878. Since
1871 weekly wages have arisen seventy
five cents, and this Is equal on the farm in
question 10 an increase Of $50. At pres.
ent prices there Is no corresponding in
crease Of receipts, and the yearly profit is
thus reduced 10 $S25. The farmer asks
II, with only that profit to repay him in
terest on 81, 500 capital and remunerate
him Tor his own skill and oversight, it can
be expected Of him to still further in
crease tho pay Of his laborers.
On this farm the wages-without per.
quisites-paid to ordinary laborers were
$S 20 for five weeks In the year, SO 90
for torty-three weeks, and the higher
harvest wages, which make the average
wages for the year 81 25 per week in
cash. The horse keeper and the stock
man receive each fifty cents week extra,
On the large farm the pay OF the laborer
was differently arranged, part being cash,
part In beer, part In allowances on the
rent Of his cottage and garden, and other
perquisites. The nominal wages the pres
emit year are IS 25 per week for day work
The record for the past twelve months Of
an average laborer showed that the earn,
ings from day wages, piece.work, and
harvest work, averaged little over "a a
per week. When 10 this were added the
years allowance on rent of 80 80, the
beer perquisite OF SO 90, fagots, coal, and
Christmas gift, 50 rs, the total years in
come was 1851 rs, or about "a 81 per
week; not quite eighty'one cents pei
working day.