The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-12-24
Farm Profits and Cheap Labor.

We carelessly picked up few DAYS ago
areport of the National Agricultural De-
partment, not of very recent date, in
which is statement in regard to cheap
labor and the profits of the farm that at
tracted our attention, and reference to
which we think will interest many of our
agricultural readers. This statement
embraces the relative cost of machine
and hand labor in the different parts
of the country. The figures show that
the larger the farm and CORRESPONDENCE
the larger the capital that can be ju-
diciously- employed in expensive ma
chinery, the lower is the cost in the la
Dor per acre. This would seem strong
argument in favor of large farms; and
yet we know that more money is made
that is, the pro rata profits of capital
are greater on a moderate-sized farm,
than on the mammoth concerns where
machinery that will thrash out one or
two thousand bushels of wheat a-day
are employed. It,shows that there are
other factors to enter into the question
of profits beyond that of the mere labor
question alone.
Yet machinery of some sort is fast
superseding all kinds of. hand-labor.
The article we refer to shows that in
the matter of threshing the old fail will
soon be as much OF curiosity as the
earthern pots, or the woven cloth of the
ancient mound-builders. Most of the
crops are threshed by horsepower. In
most States, however, steam-threshers
have been Introduces; indeed we be-
lieve in all but South Carolina. AS we
have said, the average cost of threshing
is no guide to profits in farming, and
yet the figures have great value. 1t
seems from the researches of the De-
partment that the lowest cost is in
California where the largest farms
on the average prevail. This cost
is put at five and eight-tenths cents
per bushel. The greatest cost is in
South Carolina where the wheat costs
nineteen and two-tenths cents; re-
markable difference in cost. Pennsyl-
vania manages to get its wheat threshed
for seven and seven-tenths; while New
Jersey has to pay ten and five-tenths.
Maryland manages to get her threshing
done little less than Pennsylvania, be-
ing rated at six and eight-teEths. The
whole list of figures show that wherev-
er there are the largest tracts of land
under individual culture and conse-
quently chance to use machinery of a
powerful character, where from a
thousand to two thousand bushels of
wheat per day can be cleared out, the
cost is the lowest. In some of the
States East, where farms are not so
very large, however, much is being,
done by cooperation in the use of ex-
pensive machinery. A set of neighbors
will often club together and get ma
chine which can be used by all of them
in turn. This of course is not very
satisfactory except where the barns are
large, and the work can be done under
cover regardless of wind or weather.
In the West the crop has to be threshed
on the field, and it is well to choose
ones own time to do it. On the COM
munity plan the one has the certainty
of fine weather, while the others have
to leave good chance 60 by at the
risk of loss. In the East however,
many own absolutely the machines and
hire them out successfully to the neigh
bors. All of this tends to cheaper the
cost, if it does not add TO the profits.
-GernlGntoa0n Telegraph.