137 



will however make a general statement, (although I dislike guess work 

 in matters of this kind,) founded on the data of previous years, and es- 

 timates for the present and last, which will be nearly correct : 



The receipts for farm products annually sold, • $1,200 



The expenses of cultivation, wear and tare of tools, and expen- 

 ses of family, '- 650 



Leaving as profits, besides a li\ing, 550 



Not having been able to labor much myself, for some years past, 

 most of the farm labor has been hired. The present year much of the 

 labor has been done by myself, which will increase the profits for this 

 year. 



I have thus answered the questions in detail, as directed, and have 

 extended this paper to a great length, and will close by making a few 

 remarks. 



I purchased this fann, or the greater share of it, in 1825 ; it was then 

 new, heavily timbered, with a hard clayey soil, much infested with 

 stones, large boulders, and oak and hickory grubs. The timber was re- 

 moved with my own hands. Depending alone on the products of this 

 new farm for the support of myself and family, I then thought it ne- 

 cessary to crop yearly, all the land cleared. This continued cropping, in 

 a few years, rendered the land comparatively unproductive, crops un- 

 certain, and profits small. Some seventeen years ago, I changed my 

 method of farming to one more thorough and systematic, removing ob- 

 structions to the pLiw, tilling deeper, draining, &c., and have thus doubled 

 the amount grown per acre, rendered crops certain, profits greater, and 

 results altogether more satisfactory. But these improvements, and the 

 experiments which have led to them, have cost a large amount of both 

 time and money. Now, the main question is, will like improvements 

 pay ? Is it as well for the farmer to invest his money in his own hanlc, 

 where it will be returned with interest when called for, or to invest it in 

 something unproductive and perishable ? 



LINUS CONE. 



Troy, December 1, 1853. 



Note.— A plan of the firm will be found in 3d Volume of Transactions, page 176. 



18 



