320 , [Senate 



milar duties, this objection loses most of its importance; and when 

 the advantages resulting from the practice, become fully understood 

 and appreciated, it vanishes entirely. But there must be such pro- 

 vision, and there must be method in the execution. 



By the aid of these I have found no difficulty in carrying this mea- 

 sure into practical effect, with very little loss of time to any other 

 department of my business; and this loss is fully made up in the in- 

 creased attention which the practice naturally excites. By adopting 

 a convenient method of keeping the books, and by appropriating to 

 this purpose, one quarter or one half an hour systematically at the 

 close of each day, I find the process both simple and convenient, and 

 the practice highly useful and entertaining. It should also be ob- 

 served that in the same connection, after reviewing my farming ope- 

 rations during the day, and noting my errors in management, or 

 whatever may have been particularly successful, my plans for opera- 

 tion during the succeeding day are to be made out. The result is, 

 that labor is much more economically applied, and to much better 

 effect. 



Such are some of the more prominent features of the system I have 

 adopted. That it possesses some defects is highly probable; and 

 they may be numerous. Of its comparative merits, however, I must 

 be allowed to say, that I entertain no doubt; but of the faithfulness 

 with which its leading principles have been carried out in practice, 

 it becomes me not to speak. Its results as developed in my farming 

 operations during the season past, are partially exhibited in the sy- 

 nopsis and accompanying remarks, given on the opposite page. 



It should be remarked that in this synopsis, the statement 

 of expenses with each crop, includes rent or use of the land, taxes, 

 plaster and every other kind of manure, seed and cultivation, and 

 in short, every item of expense incurred in raising the crop. The 

 statement of receipts, exhibits the total market value of the crop at 

 the time of harvest. A detailed statement of the several items of 

 expenses^ and the amount as well as the value of the crop, were sub- 

 mitted to the Society. But as these are suppressed in the publica- 

 tion, it should be stated here, that in estimating the value of labor, 

 five shillings were allowed per day for a man, during the latter part 

 of autumn and the early part of spring; six shillings during the latter 

 part of spring, or until haying, and during the early part of autumn; 

 and eight shillings in haying and harvest. Six shillings a day were 

 allowed for a two horse team at fall plowing, and eight shillings at 

 " spring's work," and in haying and harvest; board in all cases in- 

 cluded. Manure was valued at from two to four shillings a load, 

 according to the quality, — expense of getting out included; and a 

 common waggon box full, which holds about 30 bushels, was called 

 a load. For the use of the land, I allowed the interest of from fifty 

 to one hundred dollars an acre, according to the quality and condi- 

 tion of the soil. In estimating the amount of hay, ample allowance 

 was intended to be made for shrinkage in the mow. The amount 

 was not ascertained by weighing it; but was estimated by sight, as 

 each load left the field, and immediately entered in my pocket memo- 



