SECRETARY'S REPORT. 99 



the land is now in better condition than when I commenced. 

 The reason for the deterioration of our lands is, that we sell 

 hay, grain and milk ; if we do this, we must buy manure ; but if 

 we consume our hay and grain on the farm, and make our milk 

 into butter and cheese, and sell this with the beef and pork 

 that our hay, grain, grass and milk will make, our farms will 

 be kept good, the atmosphere furnishing to the land food for 

 vegetation equal to the loss by this course of farming. 



" In the estimate above, I have adopted this course of crop- 

 ping, because it is the one generally pursued by farmers in this 

 neighborhood ; but if roots were substituted for wheat, the 

 profits would probably be one hundred dollars more, annually ; 

 besides, the additional manure furnished by the roots, would 

 add, in a few years, half a ton an acre, annually, to the hay 

 crop." 



The same conclusion may be drawn from the estimates of 

 the comparative expenses and profits of the different crops, 

 often made by intelligent, practical men, fully capable of form- 

 ing and stating a correct conclusion. 



Compare with the above reliable statement, the following 

 account of the effects of a different system in one of the most 

 important towns of Norfolk County, within twelve or fifteen 

 miles of the market of the metropolis : — 



" From the above statement of facts, you will see. Sir, that 

 the profits of farming are very small ; very many of the farmers 

 say that they are not over one per cent., but I have ventured 

 to say as high as two or three, — perhaps my estimate is too 

 high. The selling of milk, has been, and perhaps is now, the 

 source of the greatest income to the farmer; but the high 

 price at which labor now is, and hay and grain, will make it 

 almost ruinous for the farmer to continue to sell at the old 

 price ; during the past year it has been money out of pocket 

 on our farm ; but still, we must keep cows, if we have a farm, 

 for the manure ; and if we have milk we must sell it at some 

 rate. 



" In the State of Ohio, milk sells at the same price that it 

 does with us, and the cost of raising it there is probably not 

 one-half what it is here. In the State of Illinois, it sells for 



