386 HISTORY OF THE GRANGE MOVEMENT; OR, 



Stillson, whose farm of 960 acres adjoins this city, and 

 who has been one of the most successful farmers in the 

 State, keeps a careful account of every cent that is ex- 

 pended in the production of each of his crops, and how 

 much he receives for it. He told me that to pay all 

 expenses and 7 per cent, interest on the value of the 

 land takes about $15 an acre. If the crop is fifteen 

 bushels, at $1 a bushel, the farmer makes nothing. 

 This year, counting the average crop at eighteen bush- 

 els per acre, and the price at the farm at $1, the average 

 profit will be $3 an acre. Ordinary years, when the 

 average crop is only about fourteen bushels, unless the 

 price is more than $1, there is no profit, and a part of 

 the interest on the investment is lost The majority of 

 the farmers know nothing about this, but go on year 

 after year raising crops that don't pay, while there are 

 others that would bring them a good profit. 



" There are large sections of Wisconsin where the 

 farmers make butter and sell it at fifteen cents a pound. 

 By erecting a cheese factory, and turning in their milk 

 at eighty-five cents per 100 pounds, the lowest rate 

 paid, they would get about forty cents for a given quan- 

 tity of milk, which now, after deducting the labor of 

 making butter, the salt, packing, etc., brings them only 

 ten cents. A few farmers like Mr. Stillson, Colonel 

 Cochrane, and others who might be named, have always 

 managed their places with the same business tact that 

 a merchant displays, and, with no more capital to start 

 with than others, and no superior advantages, they have 

 become rich. It is not to be expected that the Grange 

 will make Stillsons or Cochranes of all the farmers, but 

 it may, by bringing them together for discussion and 

 consultation, by encouraging them to read more the 



