82 AGRICULTURAL TEXT-BOOK. 



predations of insects is exceeding great, and is calculated by millions of 

 dollars. 



203. The manufacture of flour is, in itself, a business inde 

 pendent of the farmer. It employs a largo amount of capital, 

 requiring expensive buildings and machinery; and consumes 

 much timber in the making of barrels. It is not necessary to 

 refer to it any further in this place, otherwise than to say that 

 a good farmer will always endeavor to take his wheat to market 

 iu the best and cleanest condition. In 1850, 2,202,335 bar 

 rels of Flour were exported from the United States. 



It is extremely important to the practical farmer to know the cost of producing 

 wheat, so that he may be able to make his calculations, and avoid losses. The Com 

 missioner of Patents has more than once endeavored to acquire a Knowledge of the 

 expense of bringing a bushel of wheat to market, in various parts of the United 

 States ; and though, owing to difficulties in the way, it has been found impossible to 

 arrive at an accurate estimate, the actual cost of every bushel of wheat, to the farmer 

 may be stated to be from 50 cents to $1&amp;gt;8 according to the location, the value of the 

 land, and the need of manure, &c. The following, which is a bonafide account by 

 a very intelligent, practical farmer, may be considered as the actual cost in the older 

 settled parts of Michigan. The field contained 12 and 2-100 acres of land. 



Plowing, 7 days, 3 pair oxen, 1 pair horses, 2 men and 1 boy, - - $21,00 



Harrowing 2 days with team, -..-. 2,00 



Cultivating 2 days, ---... . 2,00 



19&amp;gt; bushels seed at 51,00, - ... 19,50 



Sowing 1 day, ---.-. - - 63 



Cultivating 3 days and harrowing 1 day, - ... 5^0 



Fnrrow ng and cleaning furrows, 2 days, - .... ] ( 50 



Weeding Y t day, - - 31 



Harvesting, &c., 37 days, ....... 32,38 



Team, ------. 1,50 



Thrashing and cleaning, ....... 28,82 



Manures, ...... .. 7^5 



Interest on value of land, ($6 per acre,) . . . 7,55 



$128,95 



The produce was B45 bushels of wheat or about 45 bushels per acre, making the 

 cost about 23 cents a bushel. But if the crop had averaged 90 bushels only, which, 

 on the average is a large crop, it would have cost nearly 54 cents a bushel. And had 

 the crop been smaller still, say 15 bushels per acre, a fair average for the State, it 

 would have cost over 71 cents a bushel, which is more than wheat was then selling 

 for. 



There is one apparent error in this account, and that is in the interest charged 

 upon the lard : land of su h richness, drained; worked, and manured as it must be 



