Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1892-03-03
III IgaAeerSsStoek
What Farms Cost.
GFrom American Cultivator. ]


In estimating the value Of land, due
allowance should be made for fences,
buildings, drainage, fruit trees and other
improvements put upon 1t. If this was
done generally it would be found that
neighborhood of large cities, practically
costs anything, Men talk about aban-
doned farms in New England and other
eastern states. So far as land is con-
cerned, all the farms of the country may
be said to be valued only for what inn
provements have been added to them,
Usually, too, the more these improve
ments have cost the cheaper the land
will prove. We have known land so
poor that no one would work it for what
the crop would bring, excepting occa-
sionally after two or three years rest.
Such land is worth nothing. Other
land, naturally no better, but fertilized
and set with fruit in bearing condition,
win pay the interest yearly on $500 to
$1,000 per acre. Yet it is very rare that
this best land, unless set with fruit, will
bring anything like these figures. Plant
ing ] md with fruit trees, if done judi
ciously, is the cheapest way to make it
more valuable. 1t requires time to get
the trees or plants in bearing to get the
full benefit of this Improvement. Yet
with fruits that come quickly into bear
ing, every years growth counts, and the
fact that the trees are set and growing
gives value largely beyond the cost in
CURED. La grape-growing localities
land suited to this purpose often sells at
$500 or more per acre if planted. Bear
ing vineyards often bring $500 to $1,000
per acre, according to proved produc-
tiveness. The truth that the value of
land, like anything else. is what it will
pay intere. It on after deducting the eX
pense of working, shows in what direc
tions increased cost of farms may best
be expended. Many farmers make s.
houses or barns, and especially the
former, disproportioned to the produc-
tive capacity Of their farm to maintain.
If they run in debt, as is often done, a
heavier burden is imposed than the farm
can carry without exhaustion. Tn
debt is always on the land. What the
house furnishes is accommodation fol-
the owner and family and those en-
pioyed in working the farm. Farther
than this it is dead capital, except ia
the few places where extra house room
can be used to accommodate summer
boarders.
One of the expensive improvements OF
most land which is sure to pay is under
draining. If done as it should be the
drain will run forever, and every veal
pay large interest on it's original cost
When wheat was worth $1.40 to 81 81
per bushel it was usual to estimate tina
the gain from understanding piece Of
land would pay its cost in three crops
sometimes in two. All the extra yield i!
profit from the drain. 1t costs no more
except in harvesting, to grow large
crop than poor one. The cost of pillow
ing and preparing land for any crop il
less on drained land, for it can be worked
within twenty four hours after shower
while undrained land may often have t.
be idle in wet time, not drying up be
tween showers long enough to ALLOW
blowing or cultivation. Manure Away
pays if used judiciously, by which W
mean used SO that at least part of it
benefit goes to clover and grass crop
and is thus kept on the farm. With thi
precaution the high priced mineral fer
tilizer may be used with profit whereve
trial shows that they help the crops. |
mineral is deficient in the soil, it mus
be supplied. But there are other way
of doing this than by the purchase O
!
stock is good enough it will pay t
purchase grain feed, cotton and lir
seed meals and bran or middlings. AL
of these make manure rich in nitroge
and phosphate, the two scarcest an
dearest plant foods. But one way or al
other, no farmer can afford not to hav
his land con stantly growing richer. CaI
ital put into it in this way is sure to re
turn Even if prices of crops are ten
porarily below the cost of production
making the soil richer enables the farme
to grow them at less cost. This is be
ter in most cases than raising the prC
so that everybody can compete and ha
knock it dow again. Putting MOI
money in the farm, if in ways that max
it more productive, is the safest way
use surplus capital, and it is better to d
it by making the land richer than b
purchasing more land.