194 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



We find that we must produce 3,000 pounds of corn per acre in 

 order to make it a fair business at two cents per pound ; we find 

 that it costs about thirt^'-five to forty dollars to produce it ; (of 

 course the cost will vary somewhat on account of different soil, but 

 not much upon an avei-age ;) we find that those very few, and we 

 might say fortunate farmers who receive one hundred dollars per 

 acre for corn are few and far between. 



It is only the best results we read of in the papers ; the others 

 seldom reaches the printing office. The average of the State will 

 not exceed forty-five dollars per acre, leaving only the fodder for 

 the farmers on an average. I find that it has been the custom of 

 the proprietors of the factories to set the price they will pay for 

 corn. I know well that I have traded that way for nine years. 



Now I simply wish to ask one question : Would there be an}'- 

 thing unfair or unjust if the farmers should set the price they will 

 plant for the next year? Would it be unreasonable for the farmers 

 to have a voice in the matter one year in two? I say frankly that 

 taking all things into consideration in regard to growing this crop 

 that $2.50 per hundred pounds of cut corn is as low as it can be 

 profitably raised. As far as the proprietors are concerned it has 

 been claimed that they run the risk of the market, that they have a 

 large amount of money invested in buildings and machinery, etc. 

 That is all verj' true but I claim that if there is any money made in 

 this business they have made it. The farms on an average in the 

 State have not got their share of the profits in the business yet. 



The beef growing interest has been sadly depressed for the last 

 three or four years, and the depression still exists. There is no 

 reason presents itself to me why it will not continue, how long no 

 one can tell. But this is a business I have always taken a deep 

 interest in and have given my close attention and observation. 

 Twice within the last four years I have visited the West in order to 

 inform myself in relation to the future prospects of this industry, 

 and I can freely and unhesitatingly give my opinion. You have 

 read of the three territories that have recently been taken into the 

 union as states, representing 372,000 square miles of territory, or 

 equal in area to the New England and Middle States together with 

 Maryland, Virginia, West Virgina, Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. 

 Now the four states taken in represent only one million population, 

 while the other states mentioned represent nearly one-half of the 

 population of this country, proving the fact that these new states are 



