SOLON ROBINSON, 1842 345 



turn their attention too much to one object. At one 

 time it is wheat — again pork — and so on. And the grand 

 difficulty is the great want of capital. On this account 

 they are compelled to submit to forced sales. They are 

 unable to hold over a crop. In fact, if able, they have yet 

 to learn how wheat can be kept in stack, as at present 

 they are unable to find storage for the grain after thresh- 

 ing. Will you, Mr. A. B. A., 1 who has seen and can tell, 

 please to enlighten them upon the subject — yes, the sci- 

 ence of stacking grain as practiced in England. 2 



You hear complaints of the low price of beef. Do you 

 know how low it can be produced? I believe you are 

 advised that no finer beef was ever eaten than that made 

 upon prairie grass. Let me tell you the actual cost. I 

 can buy calves at $1 50 each. I have and can hire them 

 wintered until four years old, for $1 50, each winter. 

 Here, then, I can have the finest fat steers four and a 

 half years old, for $7 50 a head — cows, of course, at the 

 same cost, including a couple of calves. The cost of sheep 

 growing, Mr. Murray and myself have already stated. 3 

 As you are whole hog men, I will give you a few items, 

 and leave it to you to "cypher out" the actual cost of 

 western pork. In the first place, pigs are a spontaneous 

 production. Corn on the farm, the present year, and 

 perhaps it is about an average, within fifty or sixty miles 

 of Chicago, is not worth over 121/2 cents a bushel. Oats 

 8 to 10 cents, and potatoes less. And they being so low, 

 I will not pretend to fix a price upon beets, rutabagas, 



1 A. B. Allen. 



2 Allen appended the following note to Robinson's article : "Agree- 

 ably to Robinson's request, we have given on page 335 of this 

 paper, the best method of English stacking which fell under our 

 observation while abroad. It is the same which we have fre- 

 quently seen practiced in our own country, with the exception of 

 the stone, or cast iron blocks, for the foundation of the stack to 

 rest upon, which are a sure guaranty against rats, or mice get- 

 ting at the grain." 



3 Ante, 326-27. 



