12 



MONTHLY JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE. 



one week, and then three days more, by rainy 

 weather, making ten days in all. During tliis 

 time, tlie weeds had sprung up six to ten inches 

 high, BO as to require, instead of two days, no 

 less than six days to hoe thom ; and so much 

 was the growth of the crop checked at this early 

 stage, that the owner had 150 bushels less on his 

 acre, than the fiuTner who took time by the fore- 

 lock. Another instance occurred with an intel- 

 ligent farmer of this State, who raised two fields 

 of oats on land of similar quality. One field 

 was sown very early and well put in, and yield- 

 ed a good ]irofit. The other was delayed twelve 

 days, and then hun-ied ; and although the crop 

 was within two-thirds of the amount of the 

 former, yet that difference was just the clear 

 profit of the first crop ; so that with the latter, 

 the amount yielded only paid the expenses. 



Admitting that tlie farm is already purchased 

 and paid for, it becomes an object to know what 

 else is needed, and at what cost, before cultiva- 

 teon is commenced. If the buildings and fences 

 are what they should be, which is not often the 

 case, little immediate outlay will be needed for 

 them. But if not, then an estimate must be made 

 of the intended improvements and the necessary 

 sum allotted for them. These being all in order, 

 the following items, requiring an expenditure of 

 capital, will be required on a good farm of 100 

 acres of improved land, that being not far fi-om 

 the size of a large majority in this State. The 

 estimate will of course vary considerably with 

 circumstances, prices, &c. 



1. Live Stock. 



The amount will vary with the fertility and 

 products of the land, its quality, and situation 

 with regard to market. The following will ap- 

 proximate the average on good farms, taken at 

 the spring of the year, or commencement of 

 work: 



3horses, at $80 $240 



1 yoke oxen 75 



8 milch cows, at $15 120 



10 steers, heifers and calves 70 



20 pisrs, at $3 60 



150 sheep, at S2 300 



Poultry, say 5 



Total. 



2. Implements. 



2 plows, fitted for work $ 



1 small plow, do 



1 cultivator, best kind 



1 drill barrow 



1 roller 



1 harrovi' 



1 fanning mill 



1 straw cutter 



1 root slicer , 



1 farm wagon, with hay rack, &c., 



1 oxcart 



1 hor.se-cart 



1 double fann-hamess 



1 hor.sc-cart harness 



1 root-steamer, or boiler 



1 shovel and one spade 



3 stcel-plale hoes 



2 dung forks 



3 hay forks 



2 hand rakes 



1 revolving horse-rake 



2 grain cradles 



2 Kcythes 



20 00 



6 00 



7 00 

 5 00 

 5 00 



10 00 

 20 00 

 15 00 



8 00 

 70 00 

 50 00 

 45 00 

 30 00 

 18 00 

 20 00 



2 50 

 2 25 



2 25 



3 00 

 25 

 8 00 

 8 00 



4 00 



1 w^heelbarrow 4 00 



1 pointed shovel 1 25 



1 grain shovel, or scoop-shovel 1 25 



1 pick 1 50 



1 mall and wedges 2 50 



2 axes 4 00 



1 hammer 50 



1 wood-saw 1 50 



1 tuniip-hook 75 



1 hay-knife 3 00 



2 apple-ladders, (for gathering,) 1 50 



2 large baskets 1 25 



2 hand baskets 50 



1 tape-line, (for laying off land,) 2 00 



2 sheep-shears 2 00 



1 grindstone 3 00 



1 steelyard, large, and one small 2 00 



1 stable-lantern 50 



1 cuiTycomb, one brush 75 



1 half-bushel measure 1 00 



20 grain-bags 8 00 



1 ox-chain 3 00 



1 crowbar 2 00 



1 sled and fixtures 30 00 



Total $437 00 



Other articles might be included, as subsoil 

 plow, sowing machine, &c. A thrashing ma- 

 chine is not named, as it is better to employ 

 itinerant thrashers, and save capital. To the pre- 

 ceding amount ought to be added one-tenth the 

 expense of fencing the farm, as fences need re- 

 newing at least once in ten years. E very farmer 

 should also be supplied with a small set of car- 

 penter's tools, which would cost about twelve 

 dollars, for repairing implements in rainy 

 ^veather, and other useful purposes. This set 

 should include saw, hammer, augers, planes, 

 adz, mallet, chisels, square, breast-bits, <Scc., and 

 by the convenience and economy afi'orded, 

 would soon repay their cost. 



3. Seeds. 



2^ bush, clover seed, for 10 acres $15 00 



2 " com, " 6 " 1 00 



30 " potatoes, " 2 " 7 00 



3 lbs. ruta baga seed, " 1 " 1 50 



2 " field beet " " ^ " 1 00 



2 " carrot " " ^ " 1 00 



30 bu.sh. seed wheat, "20 " 30 00 



10 " oats, " 5 " 2 50 



10 " barley, " 5 " 4 00 



Total $d3 00 



4. Labor. 



Supposing the owner to labor with his owti 

 hands, as every owner should, so far as is con- 

 sistent with a general superintendence of all 

 parts, which would probably amount to one-half 

 the time, — he would need besides through the 

 season two men and one boy, and in the winter 

 one man ; during haying and hai'\-est he ^^■ould 

 require two additional hands. The men, board- 

 ing themselves, could be had for fifteen dollars 

 per month in summer, and twelve in winter ; if 

 boarded, the cost of their meals would make up 

 the deficiency in wages to the same amount. — 

 The expenditure needed then, would be, 

 2 hired men 8 months. 15 per mouth... $240 00 

 1 •' boy " 6 " ... 48 00 

 Day labor in harvest 32 00 



Total $320 00 



