The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1890-04-26
HOW ONE FARM IS MADE TO PAY.

HOW ONE FARM IS MADE TO PAY.
To illustrate how the farm may be
made to pay for itself, let me give a
case IN point. Last summer, during
my absence from home, gentleman Wis
tied my farm, and paid my manager 5000
for two-year-o Signal COW. l men
ton the price since it wa about double
what he might hav. bought a srsey
for of the same age of ordinary breed
ing. The wisdom OF his action was
proved by subsequent offer Ey a
neighbor of SIoo for her calf if it proved
to be bull. He expressed regret that
he had not met me to have talk
about Jerseys. However, he subse-
quentE, called on me at my New York
residence when l learned his history,
and we had long and interesting talk
about himself, Jerseys and farming gen.
orally. He proved to be young man
about 80 years of age, an Intelligent,
energetic, practical farmer, living about
100 miles from my New York resi-
dence. | asked him to write to me the
details of his history and farming oper-
ations. He complied and l shall quote
| literally from his letter.
His family consists of himself, wife
and o2chlldren. In the Spring of
1884 he bought his farm of I27 acres,
all cleared Excepting six acres in tim
Der "a good deal run down from rent
ing for series OF years) for the sum of
$1,000, the whole purchase money Sc
cured by mortgage held by an oblig-
ing creditor. The farm was really
worth, judge, $4,000, but the owner,
who was near relative, let him have
it on assuming the mortgage of $1,000.
My friend was a builder and contractor
and had accumulated S7oo in cash and
a well bred mare, harness and wagon
which he had used in business. He
writes:
"With these l started farming, a bus
mess of which l knew nothing, not even
how to drive yoke of oxen, but as |
was very fond of animals of all kinds |
was not long in learning. As had to
pay about 5000 interest and taxes and
SI6o for man eight months, also sup
port my family Of four, board for man
included, l assure you l was on the
anxious seat, lest should make some
grave mistake which would prove disas
trous. took several farm papers and
studied them, talked with progressive
farmers, &C., until l was satisfied |
knew what to do myself, and even now
should not discard advice from either
source. In my first years sales and
expenditures, not including two horses
which l bought and sold in the meantime
making clear $500, the balance was on
the wrong side of about 500. This left
me to begin second year with $3.50
in money, COWS, horses, yoke of
oxen, 20 hens (from which l cleared
that year $50 4o), IS breeding, ewes,
I ram and breeding sows."
He then began to pay something on
the principal of the mortgage, and in
five years lie has paid off $4,000 of it.
To- day he owns brood mares, 2 colts,
yoke of oxen, COWS in milk, yearl-
ing heifer, Jerseys, calf 9 months old,
I bull, 49 breeding ewes, IS lambs, 200
Game fowls; besides mower, reaper,
roller with seeding attachment, hay
rakes, carts, wagons, sleighs, corn
shelter, and the small implements OF
the farm. To winter his stock he
starts with 900 bushels of corn, 200 OF
oats, ITS rye. 10 tons rye straw, so of
hay, corn fodder, SO bushels of turnips,
&C., with 5000 in bank. The orchard
pays him about SIPS annually. In the
meantime he has built stable for six
COWS with granary and corn house
about u by 26 feet; a hen house II
by ~ feet with concrete floor, doing
all the work himself. He has good
market for hay at SI4 ton, rye straw,
$40. His Jersey butter nets him 3oc.
a pound the year round. His lambs
ready tor market in January and Feb
ruarY, having ready sale at $40 to
SI2. Every chance he gets to put in
days work as carpenter he improves,
while he has some jobs at engraving on
gold, silver and plated ware. He
writes: "'ro make success of farming
one thing is needful, and that is good
farmers wife, which ! have in every
sense of the word except strength,
which is comparatively small loss if
she is good planner.' He adds:
ado not forget to mention the i'm
portance of keeping accounts in the
farming business. A well regulated set
of accounts has been OF the utmost
value to me in connection with pock-
ct diary, as | can turn to my accounts
and in short time figure up the amount
OF money taken In and paid out since
1 have been farming. l have only to
turn to my diaries to know all my trans
actions for the past five years."
He takes entire charge of the stock
and runs the farm with an eight months
hired man. beside extra help in hay and
harvest. The above pretty clearly dis
closes how the farm is paying for itself.
However, my friend inclnes to the be-
lief that there is more money in