MULES, CARTS, &C. 321 



Lost time, suppose 98 days, leaves 267 working days, at nearly 

 33 cents, cost for each. 



A mule, young, and of better than ordinary or average ability, 

 usually may be bought for less price than a young horse. A mule 

 may be kept at work on much less grain than is necessary for a 

 horse, and with coarser and cheaper long forage. The mule is also 

 more long-lived. All these considerations will make the cost of a 

 mule's labour, less than that of a horse by at least one-fifth ; which 

 being deducted, leaves, (33 6.30 =~) 26f cents for the cost of each 

 working day. 



A light tumbrel or tilting cart, for one horse or mule, may be 

 bought for $25. Suppose it to last at marling (and other uses) for 

 four years without repair \ or that at the end of that time it would 

 be worth as much only as all the previous cost of repairs. Then 

 the annual cost of " wear and tear" would be one-fourth of the first 

 cost ($6 25) and the interest on $25, or $1.50, or annually, 

 $7.75; and daily (say for 190 days) 4 cents. 



A tumbrel for two mules will cost $34, and will last at least five 

 years marling, with but slight repairs. Suppose the cart at that 

 time to be worth the previous cost of all repairs, the annual cost 

 will be one-fifth of $34, and of its interest $2.04, making ($34 -:- 

 5 = $6.80-f-$2.04 =*) $8.84 for the yearly cost, and daily for 190 

 days, nearly 5 cents. 



Harness for each horse or mule, annual average cost may bo 

 supposed $4, and daily for 267 days in use, 1 cents. 



Of the utensils used for uncovering, digging, loading, and spread- 

 ing marl, as a scraper (used very rarely), grubbing hoes, picks and 

 shovels, the cost of use^nd wear, supposed to be fully covered by 

 3 cents the 100 bushels of marl put out and spread. 



In the estimate of the cost of horse labour, no charge is made 

 for attendance, because that is part of the labour of the driver, and 

 forms part of his expense. No charge is made for grazing, because 

 enough corn and hay are allowed for every day in the year ; and 

 when grass is part of his food, more than as much in value is saved 

 in his dry food. No charge is made for stable or litter, as the ma- 

 nure made is supposed to compensate those expenses. 



It may be supposed that the prices fixed for corn, and fodder or 

 hay, are too low for an average. Such is not my opinion. The 

 price is fixed at the beginning of the year, when it is always com- 

 paratively low, because it is too soon for purchasers to keep swelled 

 corn in bulk, and the market is glutted. Besides, the allowance 

 for waste during the year's use (10 per cent.) makes the actual 

 price, equal to 49^ cents the bushel for corn, and 55 cents the 

 hundred for hay on July 1st. The nominal country price of corn 

 in January is almost always on credit ; and small debts for corn 

 are the latest and worst paid of all. The farmer who can consume 



