CROPS AND PRICES. 449 



extent, consisting of fifteen acres of forest, and the remainder 

 prairie, the expense would stand thus : 



Purchasing 80 acres, at $ 1 



Fencing into two fields of 30 acres, and one of 5 acres for a 



garden, .... 



Ploughing by contract 35 acres, at $2 . 70 



Seed for 30 acres of Indian corn, . 60 

 Vegetable seeds and potatoes, . 

 A Cow $8, pigs and poultry $4 



Assistance in harvesting corn, ... 20 



Seed for 30 acres of Wheat, . . 15 



Harrowing Wheat, . . . 7 . 50 



Buildings and furniture, ... l^ O 



Household expenses, ... 40 



Ploughing 30 acres in spring, at $2 60 



2 Oxen for ploughing and harrowing, . 14 



Assistance in harvesting Wheat, . [30 



Total, $609 



With an expenditure of $609, or about L.130 sterling, 

 and the farmer s labour, 2,400 bushels of Indian corn and 

 675 bushels of wheat would be obtained, besides the produce 

 of a cow, vegetables, pigs, and poultry for family use. 



Notwithstanding the enormous quantity of produce exhibit 

 ed by the preceding statements, high wages and low prices 

 prevent much money being realized. By referring to the 

 statement of the produce of an acre of land for two years, it 

 will be seen the cost is $10.02, and Indian corn being esti 

 mated at 15 cents per bushel, and wheat at 45 cents, the 

 produce amounts to $6 and $10. 1 2^ for Indian corn and 

 wheat respectively ; or the outlay is L.2, 2s. 7d., and the 

 produce is L.3, 10s. 7d., subject to the charges of fencing 1 , 

 thrashing, and marketing. Every thing, however, has been 

 &amp;lt;lone by contract, and in future the purchase of the ground 

 and part of the expense of ploughing would be saved. In the 

 view there is a profit on hired labour, and an industrious man 

 would obtain almost the whole of the produce by labouring 

 himself. 



In a country where Nature is so bountiful and land so 

 abundant and cheap, the wages of labour must necessarily be 



2F 



