WAGES AND SALES. 121 



I paid one man, for instance, during several years, three 

 dollars per day, and furnished him dinners from about the 

 first of April to Thanksgiving time. I pay less now, of 

 course. 



I would say that I have been criticised for paying such 

 high wages. One man, I remember, asked me how I could 

 paj my bills, and pay higher wages than others in the neigh- 

 borhood. I have been entirely satisfied, because the results 

 have been satisfactory to me. I endeavor to make my men 

 take an interest in the business. I have never said a word 

 to them to the effect that their pay would depend upon my 

 sales ; but it seems to be tacitly understood all round that 

 the amount of wages will depend on the amount of my sales 

 and profits. It will not answer in all cases. I have had 

 men whom I did not want more than a day, if I could get 

 rid of them. But the men I employ regularly, I really make 

 take an interest in my success, and that seems to be a solu- 

 tion of the vexed labor-question. 



I have stated that I endeavored to raise that which would 

 be salable. I will now say, that at different times, as the 

 demand seemed to warrant, I have made different products 

 my principal crop. At first it was hay, then potatoes, next 

 onions, and still later strawberries. In at least one instance 

 I changed to my loss. A person should change from one 

 branch of farming to another with caution. If he has at- 

 tained to some skill in the cultivation of any crop, he 

 should hesitate before abandoning that to try something 

 about which he knows little or nothing. 



Besides the above-named crops, I have raised corn, rye, 

 oats, barley, squashes, turnips, asparagus, pears, grapes, cab- 

 bages, currants, and raspberries, all, of course, in a small way. 

 The seasons that don't suit some of them must be remarka- 

 ble. Although I raise several kinds in small quantities, yet 

 1 find it easier to dispose of a load of three or four different 

 products in market than if it consisted of a single kind. 



I find by looking at my books, that my aggregate sales 

 amounted 



In 1871, to $5,513.42 



1872, " 5,189.15 



1873, " 5,071.79 



1874, " 5,948.83 



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