104 



EOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Storing a ton of haj grown on an acre and a quarter, in average sea- 

 sons, cannot be reckoned less than $2 50, (many farmers put it at 

 $3 or upwards,) at present prices of labor.* 



Two tons upon the same area can be cut, cured and stored, in 

 circumstances otherwise similar for $3.50 or an additional dollar 

 per acre, and probably for less — a saving of 75 cents per ton, which 

 upon the crop of the State, would amount to $750,000. It might 

 be said, and with truth, that the quality of hay grown at the rate 

 of a ton and a half or upwards, per acre, is not fully so good as 

 that grown at the rate of only a ton per acre ; but when we recol- 

 lect that by the supposed change, one-half the land now occupied as 

 meadow would be left for pasturage, we find here a gain far out- 



* I have found considerable difficulty in ascertaining with anything approaching 

 exactness, the usual cost of baying in the State at large. 



The following, from S. F. Perley, Esq., late President of the State Agricultural 

 Society, is much the most precise and definite reply I have received. 



" In answer to your question as to the cost of harvesting hay, I offer, in tabular form 

 figures, which I extract from my farm journal. It is proper to remark that the season 

 has been extraordinarily favorable for the hay harvest. No time has been lost, and no 

 work twice done; hay once spread was sure to be fit for the barn. 



You will perceive tliat my fields yield from 800 pounds to 3,000 pounds, per acre. 



The cost of harvesting being varied by the distmce from the buildings, I have given a 



column of distances. The labor employed was equal to 



Able bodied men's labor, 50 days, $1.50 per day, $75 00 



Machine labor, 3i " 5.00 « 17 50 



Horses " 11 " 75 " 8 25 



Ox " ik " 1.00 " 4 50 



42 tons, $105 25—32 51 average. 



The actual cost was somewhat below the above average, as part of my labor was hired 

 by the month, which comes lower than day labor. The per diem can be changed to 

 suit the locality. 



I cannot give the cost of harvesting an acre, bearing two tons, from actual trial, as 

 no one of my fields averaged that amount. But you will see that the greater the yield 

 the less per ton, and the more ptr acre, the cost, and vice versa." 



