Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-03-11
Letter from LeeaburG.

correspondence vi tllc AItAauulia NuACtc' |
LEEsBURa, VA, March 9.-To show that
there is some profit 10 working land 10 L1uloun
county please take the following Instance -
There is family consisting OF widow, maiden
sister of her husband, four young girls and a
grown son on q farm Of ll5 acres, valued at
$7,O45. This farm is stocked evidently well
with COWS, some hogs, a few sheep, aud lew
horses and hens. The amount Of wheat used
for seed in dollars is $25 AZ; consumed 10 bread,
$43.75; beef for food, $3.50; pork consumed,
$50. 90; corn consumed in bread, TODD Tor cattle
and hogs, $40 90; total used at home, $265 CT.
The amount sold is wheat 1924. II; corn, $1,000;
toraaetain sold $250.74. Other articles sold
are as follows: Pork and pigs, $500; beet
and hide, SIS COWS and calVcs S1O.3S;
lambs and wool, $40. G22; onions and sweet poa:
to slips, SIS; dairy products, $SS.lG, and
poultry, $9l5S; total products sold, 1888,
which added to amount consumed at home,
namely, 1855 G., makes the gross products OF
this farm, $99925. The gross expenses, TO-
cuding fertilizers 500. 10; year hands, SlSl.OO;
day hands, $3l.00; horse hire, $50. 80; taxes.
1854; blacksmith, $50 81 store bill, Sis 43;
repairing carriages, $1,000; shoe bill, $780,
new implements and repairs TO old, $500; fire
insurance, $S.43; corn. fsh and salt, Sl2.47;
and other items. SIC. IS; total outlay, 1858. Gu,
which taken from gross earnings, 5000 leaves
clear proceeds of farm for increase Of estate,
$345 65, which divided by $40 IS, shows I 9 10
per cent earned by this land after supporting
this family almost all Of whom are women. In
addition four of the women arc wards and their
entire expenses for clothing, outside of the gen
eral store bills, arc $lS.72. You will perceive
that this family has carriage, and has some
of the luXuries of this life, and certainly its
comforts. 10 take away all chance for ca7l!ng
VIC will suppose their stock and furniture to be
worth $1,000. this would make the entire in.
vestment SIS, 04500, aud the nett per ccntagc
on the entire capital, aftcr supporting tho
family, would be SIT nearly. Now for a propo.
sitiou: Y on arc about to start an agricultural
society, and presume one of ita objects is 10
bring Virginia into prominence as sale and
profitable investment for money put toto lands.
Suppose they offer premiums for the best tract
Of twenty acres; the best of fifty acres, and
seventy. FIVE acres; one hundred acres; two hun.
dred acres; three hundred acres, and any farm
over three hundred acres of cleared land. he.
quire the competitors to keep strict accounts OF
the value Of all farm products solids, and oil all
consumed in the family counting those used in
the family at the same price as those sold, un-
lCSS Tue DeSC are SOU, WHICH uiu uol usC " w
the case with Virginia farmers. Then report
the cost of cultivatiug the land, fixing the cost
of ploughDg the land with three horse pillow, or
two horse, or one horse plough at the same per
diem. and also narrowing at the uniform price,
aud get at the whole cost Of production. Add
then the taxes paid. the interest on the land,
and on the stock and implements used in farm:
log, and deduct for deterioration in tho value OF
the stock from use, less any addition to the
value by increase of COWS, hogs, sheep. &C.
And let this be accompanied with the jud gmcnt
Of the competitor as to the best manure for each
article raised by him. Wheat is said to cost in
Loudoun one dollar aud twenty cents bushel,
including cost of fertilizer, but very much
doubt whether there is any farmer 10 Loudoun
that knows the exact cost by items of bushel
of wheat. 1t is, at best, only an Intelligent
guess, aud may be four or five cents out OF tho
true COST | know of renters who have made
money. hear this week of a farmer who was
offered $1,000 for piece Of land, and was do.
liberatiug whether 10 sell it. The buildings
with frewood and some other small privileges
brought him $50, and be pastured it to the ex.
tent $50 more; thus making q per cent on this
investment of same land, land how much do
not know on the side of the Blue Ridge Is
this q safe investment?