justify. About the 20th of June, I finished planting three acres of white beans, two of corn, pumpkins and garden vegetables, and half an acre of potatoes; and later, say about the 1st of July, I sowed about two and a half acres of buckwheat. “In the autumn I harvested the following crops, worth, in the market at home, the prices annexed: 14 00 $150 00 Pumpkins, cabbages, tomatoes, melons, sweet potatoes, &c....... Total........ "This, it strikes me, was a tolerably fair result. I did not expect to do much, as the season was so far advanced when I commenced; yet I haye demonstrated to my own satisfaction, that with a good season next year, and fair prices in the fall, I can make my little farm of ten acres bring me $300— besides growing an indefinite number of young fruit trees; and that too without going beyond mere ordinary farm crops. H. H. Hendrick, Esq., of Batavia, Kane Co., calculates the value of a farm of 160 acres, as follows: "A small farm would be worth more per acre, with the same improvements, than a very large one. For example, take 160 acres, purchased at $10 per It is probably now worth $25 per acre, which will be........ Or, at $20 per acre, still leaves a balance of..................... ................ 4000 00 1,250 00 450 00 "It is probable that the fence may be built for a little less than $1 per rod; but as I have made no allowance for cross fences, yards, &c., and calculated only half of three sides, and one whole side for the road, I think the excess of price will not more than pay the expense of building the necessary fences inside. I have also left sixty acres for meadow and pasture. If the purchaser have means to make the necessary improvements, or most of them, I think he would do well to settle on such lands." The "Prairie Farmer," of February 14th, 1856, contains a very detailed account of the management of a farm, by Mr. Wm. P. West, of Blackberry, Kane Co. This account, which has but this present moment been published, was originally intended for the Agricultural Society, of Kane Co. The farm of Mr. West containing 240 acres, this account deserves particular notice, because of its comprising all the branches of rural economy. The account is herewith subjoined: 1852. 23 ACRES, DR. 66 June. To breaking 23 acres, 3 inches deep, at $1 50 per acre $34 50 16 00 34 50 2 00 12 00 34 50 55 20 13 80 $202 50 Aug. 20.-To sowing 14 days, at $1 per day....... 66 "35 bu. Soule's seed wheat, at 75c.......... Aug. 20.-To 4 days' work, man, horse and shovel plough, at $1 50 26 25 $150 per day.. 6 00 Sept.-To 5 days' ploughing, 8 inches deep, at $2........ DR. $10 00 8.00 10 00 60 00 $88 00 CR. $262 50 88 00 $174 50 $7 33 14 54 DR. $10 00 14 25 $25 00 14 75 10 25 $6.50 To carting the same to market, 2c Total cost. By 21 acres, 22 bu. and 7 qts. per acre, 50 bu. at 50 c................................ : To 1 day's work sowing same.............. To 1 day's work harrowing, at 2$ To harvesting 5 acres, at $1 50.............................................. Total cost 1853. By 5 acres, 33 bu. 3 qts. per acre, 180 bu., 40c.......... DR. $5.00 4 80 1.00 3.00 8 25 3 64 25 69 $40 25 CR. $72 90 40 25 32 55 $7 32 One half of this was fall ploughed, the balance timothy sod, broke May 1st, 1852, 7 inches deep. Cost of tending about the same as fall ploughing. Shelling and marketing 1710 bu. at 4c................................ ..................... Total cost....... 57 00 68 40 $216 27 CR. ONE HUNDRED AND THREE SHEEP. To cutting and stacking 25 tons hay, at $1.................... To feeding 30 bu. corn, 50c.... To feeding and salt To washing and shearing sheep, and marketing wool...................... Total cost...... By 103 fleeces, average 3 lbs. 10 oz. 373 lbs., at 46c......... DR. $25.00 15 00 10 00 10 00 $60 00 CR. $171 58 66 25 $237 83 Dr. To fatting one sow and four pigs, 80 bu. corn at 50c......... Net profit......... Cr. By 1500 lbs. pork, at 5c. per lb.. Net profit...... 25 bu. apples, $1............ $150 00 47 00 $103 00 40 00 75.00 $35 00 25.00 8.00 25 00 6 25 12 00 7 50 $83 75 |
