THE BONANZA FARMS. 35 



neath ; two vegetable houses to contain three thou- 

 sand bushels, with other large barns, smaller build- 

 ings, sheds, and sheep pens in process of construction. 



It is stocked with eighty-four head of cattle, a 

 part being good short horns ; sixty-two horses, most- 

 ly mares ; one hundred and forty hogs, and two hun- 

 dred and forty sheep, to be increased before winter to 

 two thousand, and about one thousand fowls. 



At the time of our visit, July 9th, fifteen men were 

 employed. During harvest it was expected that the 

 number would be increased to about eighty. The 

 average number employed during the year is about 

 thirty-five, at an average cost of about $17 per month, 

 their board costing $4 50 per month. 



The average yield of wheat, in good seasons, is not 

 less than 20 bushels per acre ; this year 12 bushels 

 only are expected. Last year the No. 1 wheat was 

 worth, on the farm, 70 cents ; No. 4, 40 cents. (Last 

 year, owing to heavy and unseasonable rains, alternat- 

 ing with hot days, much of the wheat was blasted in 

 Southern Minnesota, and marked as No. 4.) Oats 

 and barley promised well. Some of the fields of oats 

 were estimated as high as 70 bushels, and barley 50 

 bushels to the acre. All but the wheat looked re- 

 markably well. The large amount of flax here grow- 

 ing, as well as in other places, was solely for seed and 

 the oil. The fiber, which appeared to be long and 

 excellent, was put to no use. 



In harvesting the grain fourteen self binders will 

 be used, each cutting a swa^th of six and one quarter 

 feet and fifteen acres a day. Mr. Kendall gave me 

 the following copy of a carefully made up detail state- 

 ment of the cost per acre of wheat growing : 



