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credit for rent. $120 was reported as the average clothing bill 

 of a mechanics' family, which amount is also placed to the 

 credit of the farm. Then followed the following items : 



For house-furnishings, making good, wear and tear of 



furniture, bedding, crockery, etc., $30 



For fuel, 50 



For personal use of team, 40 



Church, societies, education, including books, news- 

 papers and music, 50 

 Luxuries, vacation, charity, medical attendance and 



sundries, 40 



This estimated cost of an average farmer's living, aggregated 

 $800, which was moderate and reasonable, as the cost of a com- 

 mon laborer's family in Connecticut is estimated $720, and in 

 Massachusetts $754, while the farmer lives much better than 

 either. 



On these estimates, with $1200 charged the farm, and $800 

 credited it for personal expenses, the average farmer should get 

 ahead about $400 per year to do as well as he would with his 

 skill and investment in some other kind of business. This 

 "getting ahead" was claimed to be the real criterion of financial 

 prosperity of anyone, rather than the showing of large figures 

 for salary or profits, and makes no estimate of such incidental 

 benefits, as increased health, greater independence, and better 

 moral and physical surroundings for the education of children. 



This amount that the average farmer ought to get ahead need 

 not be represented by actual cash, but if it exists in increased 

 fertility of soil, new buildings, more stock or tools, it is as real 

 profit as in any other form. The speaker was positive in his 

 belief that the average farmer does get ahead the amount speci- 

 fied, and cited cases to prove his point. Where farmers fall 

 below this average, it does not disprove it, for then arises the 

 question whether those less successful do not have inferior skill, 

 and are getting as good or better return for their labor and 

 capital as they could anywhere. 



The New York dairy commissioner shows by figures from 

 1200 butter and cheese factories, averaging 350 cows to a fac- 



