436 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



First — We should grow those crops which are best suited to our tastes, be- 

 cause, other things being equal, we shall succeed best with such croj)S. Xo 

 one can succeed in an undertaking in which he has no interest, or in a work 

 for which he has no love. It is not the farmer who is constantly talking about 

 farming not ixujing, or of the hard life of a farmer, who succeeds; but the one 

 who goes at his work enthusiastically, and delights in doing it. A grumbling, 

 dissatisfied spirit is far more often the cause than the effect of non-success. 



Second — We should grow those crops which our climate and soil Avill produce 

 in unusual or greatest perfection ; and which, from the formation of the sur- 

 face or other causes, we are enabled to grow cheapest, as compared with other 

 localities. There is always a market at good prices for the best produce, even 

 when medium cannot be sold at any price. If, then, our soil and climate will 

 produce a very superior article of any kind, we shall find it more profitable to 

 cultivate that article than those from which we can produce only a medium 

 quality. 



Third — Other things being equal, that crop will prove most profitable of 

 "which, by the least combination, we can control the largest share of the mar- 

 ket. On this principle let us consider some of the staple articles of produce. 

 First, — Wheat. Our wheat is certainly of extra good quality, and the yield 

 per acre is good ; but our farms are all small and we can find but few con- 

 tiguous acres which are level and smooth enough to permit of the profitable 

 use of the labor-saving machines which in some localities are so advantageously 

 employed. Suppose we only have a rise of 50 feet across a square field of IGQ 

 acres; this will, by calculation of the amount considered, give from eight to 

 sixteen minutes of horse labor per acre (equal to one horse power) extra, for 

 the simple matter of cutting with a reaper. Again, our maximum production 

 of wheat would be but l-125th part of the product of this State, and l-1900th 

 part of that of the whole country, an amount so small that it would give us 

 little or no power in securing jirices. Corn we cannot grow in so large 

 quantities, or so good quality, or so cheaply as it can be grown in Illinois 

 and other sections. I may say the same of oats, while potatoes grown here 

 are fully equal in quality to any grown in America, and can be produced as 

 cheap or cheaper than elsewhere; and our maximum production would give 

 us l-120th part of the crop of this State, and l-SOOth part of that of the 

 United States, "which would be a sufiiciently large proportion to enable us 

 to do much towards affecting the market. In these remarks I have omitted 

 the mention of. fruit, because I believe that we all agree that this is our best 

 staple, and that we have now under consideration "what farm crops it is most 

 profitable for us to grow until our fruit trees come into full bearing. I would 

 add in conclusion that the rules given are not to be taken singly, but each 

 "with many others, such as a proper rotation and diversity of crops, the effect 

 of those crops upon the soil, a proper succession of labor, etc. All of which 

 must be taken into consideration in making our decision as to which are the 

 best crops for us to grow next year. 



Mr. Avery. — I w^ould suggest white Swede turnijDs as a profitable crop to 

 grow next year. While I was at Milwaukee last year they were selling at sixty 

 cents per bushel. A gentleman then told me that he had raised 2,000 bushels, 

 all of which he had sold readily at that price. At Buff'alo they sell at fifty to 

 sixty cents ; and at Detroit they bring readily potato price. Fruit men at the 

 places mentioned inform me that they can dispose of any quantity at these 

 prices. With regard to specialties, I would say that they are good in theory 



