The Portland daily press., 1874-04-13


Profit on crop. SIT 40
Number of bushels sheled corn per acre. 1O9.
Cost per bushel go cents.
Editors comments: 1t will be noticed that
although the yield of corn in MIR. Davis's case
was larger than that in Mr.. Newhalps, the cost
per bushel was nearly twice as much. This re-
suit Mr. Newhall attributes to the use of labor
saving machinery-partcularly the horse noe,
whereby three acres were hoed at about half the
expense of hoeing one by hand. Mr. Davis as
will be seen by the statement, raised twenty
bushels more corn on his one acre than Mr..
Newhall did on each OF his, but at much great
er cost
So far very well. But now for a few re-
marks OF my own, for am not converted by
these specimen crops to the belief that corn is
the best, or even good crop to raise for profit
in New England. These are exceptional
cases. The crops are very large, even in pro-
portion to the amount of manure used. In
the first and most profitable crop the profit
does not quite equal the estimated value of
the corn fodder. The cost of crop, where the
labor is mostly performed by horse power, is
about $67 per acre. This would require about
torty-three bushels of good corn, beside the
$35 worth of fodder, to pay expenses. Very
few fields would produce that amount, even
VIXEN as literally manured as that was. In
the second place, where the manure is har-
1owed into the surface the crop should have
been charged with more than one-third of its
value. Two-thirds would have been nearer
the mark, which would have made the profits
mnch less. In the second case, of Mr.. Davis,
the manure is much more literally put on, be-
ing at the rate OF $31 per acre charged, while
Mr.. NewhalPs charge is less than $18 per acre.
Mr.. DAVIS charges more for furrowing and
planting, and also for culrivating and hoeing
his piece, than Mr.. Newhall does for his, al
though it is but little more than one-third as
large; also nearly as much for the plowing,
manuring and narrowing. At the cost of Mr..
Davis's crop he would require beside the fod-
der nearly Lightweight bushels of good corn to
pay expenses.
Now Is it best to devote our energies to
crops where such exceptionally good manur-
ing and good cultivation are necessary to get
crops good enough to pay expenses, when on
much Of the light land of New England and
in many seasons, it would not be likely to
give such crops even under such cultivation?
Can we not get crops that will pay better if
they do well, and that will be more sure of
payiog profit? If a corn crop raised at a
cost of $67 per acre would always yield pro-
fit Of $33 per acre, or one raised at a cUst of
$100 per acre would yield profit of SIS per
acre, THAT does not look very we'll for the ad-
vOcates of heavy manuring, does it?) then it
might do, but we all know the obstacles we
should have to encounter. Now is the time
to consider this question, for we should know
soon what we intend to plant, and we should
try TO put in such crops as will pay best No
use to stick to coin and potatoes just because
those were were the staple crops Of our ia
theirs. / have commented on these reports
because they are remarkably fair ones and
straightforward, labor and manure being
charged at fair rates. They show a
good profit in corn growing, and it is also en-
couraging to learn from the article which con-
tains them, that Mr.. Newhall is rapidly i'm
proving his farm, which was run down when
he bought it a few years. ago, and is also i'm
proving in health, as a result of taking up
farming as q daily occupation. Such artl-
cles have an interest not only for farmers, but
also for many poor clerk or mechanic who
feels that he might have better health and
live more pleasantly and independently il en-
gagged in tlling some little farm, but does not
dare to give up the occupation that supports
himself and family for one that may may not.
have had inquiries fiom such parties as to
the advisability of making such change. l
would almost as soon advise man what
ticket TO buy in lottery. l have no doubt
that man who has little knowledge OF the
practical labor of farm, and is willing to
learn from his neighbors or from books and
papers who is able and willing to work steadi-
ly, and live prudently, and who has capital
sufficient TO furnish himself with such stock,
tools, and other things, as may be necessary
to conduct his business properly, may be very
sure to make good living every year, and un-
der favorable circumstances may do something
more but whether A. who is in feeble health,
or B, who has but little money and wants a
large farm. or c, who is too lazy to work, can
do it or not, is quite doubtful question.
Farmers seldom make bad failures, that is, to
fail for large amounts (perhaps because their
credit is not good enough), but on the other
hand they get rich but slowly"