244 MY FARM. 



the relative profits of different crops prevail, but there 

 is no proper business estimate of home labor. 



We often see it affirmed, admiringly, that such 

 or such a man has built an enormous quantity of wall 

 so many feet high and broad or dug out so many 

 rocks, and mostly with his own hands, or in spare 

 time with his own help ; in short, it is intimated 

 that all is done at little expense. Now this is very 

 absurd; great work involves great labor ; and great 

 labor has its price. You may do it in the night, and 

 call it no labor ; you may do it yourself, and call it no 

 expense ; but there is, nevertheless, a great deal of 

 positive expenditure of both muscle and time which, 

 if not given to this work, might have been given to 

 another. It may count much for your industry, but 

 not one whit for your farming, until we learn if the 

 labor has been judiciously expended has paid, in 

 short. And to determine this, we must estimate the 

 labor at its market value whether done in the night, 

 or on holidays. 



If I see a house painted all over in diamonds of 

 every hue, and express distaste for the wanton waste 

 of labor, it is no answer to me to say that the man 

 did it in odd hours. What will not pay for doing in 

 even hours, will never pay for doing in odd hours. 

 It is no excuse for waste of time and muscle, to waste 

 them in the dark. Every spade or hammer- stroke 



