THE FARMERS' CABINET, 



AMERICAN HERD-BOOK, 



DEVOTED TO 



AGRICULTURE, HORTICULTURE, AND RURAL AND DOMESTIC AFFAIRS. 



" The Productions of the Earth will always be in proportion to the culture bestowed upon it." 



Vol. VI — No. 1.] 



8th mo. (August,) 16th, 1841. 



[Whole No. 79. 



KIMBER «& SHARPLESS, 



PROPRIETORS AND PUBLISHERS, 



No. 50 North Fourth Street, 



PHILADELPHIA. 

 Price one dollar per year. — For conditions see last page. 



For the Farmers' Cabinet. 



"Farming is not what 'tis cracked up 



to be." 



Mr, Editor, — During^ a late sojourn at 

 Wilmington, Delaware, I paid a visit to the 

 whaling company's ship Ceres, then under 

 repair for a three years' voyage, and was 

 etruck with the enormous expense incurred 

 in such a rebuilding as was then in pro- 

 gress, which, as I was given to understand, 

 added to the victualling of the ship for the 

 voyage, would not amount to less than 

 S25,0tK). Now, I could not but contrast this 

 amount of outlay, in a speculation proverbi- 

 ally hazardous and long extended, with what 

 is generally expended upon that of farming, 

 where, only as many hundreds would be con- 

 sidered a sum by far too large to be entrusted 

 to such a concern. In whaling, no return is 

 calculated upon in less than three years, and 

 even should it prove a fortunate voyage, the 

 wear and tear and consequent expense of re- 

 pair during the voyage, and particularly after 

 return, must reduce the profits exceedingly,* 

 while the chances of loss, with the attending 

 vexation, hardship, trial, labour and depriva- 

 tion, are sufficient to chill the heart-blood of 

 every one who is not amphibious in his mind 

 and habits. 



Now, in farming, how different the employ- 

 ment as well as the probable results ! In the 

 same space of time will be realized three full 

 returns for capital expended, besides many 

 others of shorter dates ; the whole of the ope- 

 rations peculiarly under the eye of the pro- 

 prietor, and comparatively independent of out- 

 ward circumstances; for while the sailor is 

 compelled to be up, and bearding the ele- 

 ments in their roughest garb, and in the dark- 



* It is said, after 6 years of uniform success until the 

 last year, when one of their ships was lost, and under 

 the most careful management, the Wilmington Whal- 

 ing Company have not been able to make a single divi- 

 dend upon their stock. 



Cab.— Vou VI.— No. 1. 



est and most tempestuous nights, the farmer 

 shrugs his shoulders and retires to his peace- 

 ful bed or fireside, there to await in calm and 

 safety the return of brighter skies and less 

 inclement seasons. And in the event of un- 

 fruitful years, what other employment is there 

 which is viewed with such consideration ? a 

 few weeks of drought or superabundance of 

 rain, being sure to raise the markets for grain 

 and meat, while even butter and eggs are not 

 thought of too small importance to feel aa 

 elevation commensurate with the evil. And 

 while the ill-fortune of a particular ship' 

 might be ruinous to herself, the success of 

 others of the same character being so great 

 as to make up for all deficiency in the mar- 

 ket, the farmer is pretty sure to experience 

 only neighbours' fare, and the drought which 

 dries up his crops, or the rain which deluges 

 his land, is taking care that his neighbours 

 come in for their share also, thus bringing 

 things to an equilibrium: and, besides all 

 this, being "forewarned" he might become 

 " fore-armed ;" every thing being clear above- 

 board. 



But it is said, farming, even when well- 

 conducted, leaves but little profit at the end 

 of the year. Now it is to the end of the year 

 that I look for the real profits of farming, for 

 while extensive mercantile establishments 

 are counting upon large returns and enor- 

 mous profits arising fron^ fortunate specula- 

 tions, often indeed, by the time the ends of 

 the year meet, there is but little in the shape 

 of real gain remaining, after all the costs of 

 prosecuting such a business have been de- 

 frayed, those occurring in the shape of extra- 

 vagant rents, heavy commissions, frightful 

 discounts, large amount of wages, and ex- 

 pensive appearances — then come extra rents 

 for private dwellings, cost of collecting bills 

 abroad, failure of expected remittances, bills 

 renewed indefinitely, and division of profits 

 with partners; and it is often, indeed, that 

 the anticipated profit of 25 per cent, is re- 

 duced to less than a quarter of that sum; re- 

 minding me of the man who, on hearing his 

 neighbour calculating upon large profits, ad- 

 vised him to halve it, quarter it, and divide it 

 by nine, if he did not wish to be deceived. 



But I do not think that the farmer goes 

 the right way to work when he sits down to 

 count his profits; for, in the first place, be 



(9) 



