196 COMPARATIVE PRICES OF PRODUCE. 



For colonial prices, these will appear very high, and 

 they account for what at first I considered a very curious 

 fact, that, in past years, Baltic wheat has not unfre- 

 quently been re-shipped at Liverpool for St John, for the 

 use of New Brunswick millers. 



With the above prices, considering the cheapness of 

 production and the high average yield of the land, farm 

 ing prudently conducted should be reasonably remunera 

 tive. But here, also, a better idea of the position of the 

 New Brunswick provincial farmer ought to be obtained, 

 by comparing the prices he receives, as well as the crops 

 he reaps, with the more lauded western countries. I 

 am able to do this in the cases of Ohio and Canada West, 

 the prices in which countries for 1848, a high year, com 

 pared with those for New Brunswick in 1849, were as 

 follow, per imperial quarter : 



New Brunswick. Canada West. Ohio. 



Wheat, . 48s. 6d. 22s. od. 24s. 8d. 



Barley, . 27s. 3d. 14s. 5d. 11s. 9d. 



Oats, . 13s. 9d. 8s. 6s. 5d. 



Rye, . 22s. 9d. 14s. 5d. 12s. lOd. 



Buckwheat, 24s. 16s. 11s. 6d. 



Indian corn, 35s. 25s. 8d. 8s. 7d. 



In respect of prices, therefore, the New Brunswick far 

 mers have hitherto been better off than those either of 

 Canada or of Ohio. And this fact, taken in connection 

 with the larger average produce, ought to make farming 

 more profitable to the former than to the latter. 



But two very different meanings may be attached to 

 the word profitable, applied to farming. It may be pro 

 fitable to the man who, with his own family, or with only 

 a little hired help, labours his own land, inasmuch as it 

 yields a comfortable maintenance to his household, and 

 places all above poverty or care. Or it may be profitable as 

 an investment for capital, yielding a fair return for money 

 expended in improvements, and in paying for hired labour 



