CULTURE AND CURING IN PENNSYLVANIA. 159 



the summer the wages are but very slightly higher. Most farm laborers prefer to contract their services for the 

 entire twelve mouths, rather than for a shorter period. The following are the rates that have prevailed during the 

 past four years : 



By the mouth for By the month for 

 the whole year. the summer months. 



1877 $12 39 $15 10 



1878 ' - 11 24 14 50 



1879 10 58 13 40 



1880 11 79 14 90 



There has been a growing tendency in some places to hire help who will board themselves, although the custom 

 cannot be said to be at all general. In such cases the rates averaged as follows: 



Whole year. Summer niontha. 



1877 $20 97 $26 07 



1878 18 41 24 07 



1879 17 44 21 25 



1880 18 32 22 35 



Transient labor during the same period, harvest time excepted, has been as follows per day: 



With board. Without board. 



1877 $0 80 $1 15 



1878 75 90 



1879 63 88 



1880 71 98 



Board on an average is estimated at about 30 cents per day. 



COST AND PEOFIT OF TOBACCO-GKOWING IN LANCASTER COUNTY. 



Tobacco has proved to be the most profitable of all Lancaster county farm crops, and, although generally 

 considered a precarious one, it has proved quite as certain as any other grown during the past twenty years. 



The high-priced lauds of the county, and the labor bestowed upon the tobacco crop, require not only that a 

 heavy crop be grown on the laud, but that a good price be obtained when it is marketed. Both these conditions 

 have been realized for a long series of years. The average price of good farm land is about $200 per acre ; sometimes 

 the price is not higher than $175, but it frequently runs up to $250. To get at the true cost of growing an acre 

 of tobacco four of the best known and most successful growers were invited to make estimates, which are here 

 given. It will be observed there is considerable difference in some of the estimated items. 



The estimate of Mr. J. M. Frantz, of Wabank, is as follows : 



DR. 



Makiug seed-bed aud attending plants $1 00 



Plowing one acre of ground 1 50 



Manure 50 00 



Preparing ground for planting 2 00 



Planting 2 00 



Cultivating aud hoeing after planting 5 00 



Topping, worming, and suckering 10 00 



Harvesting, cutting, spearing, and housing 5 00 



Use of shed, laths, wagon, etc. (interest on cost) .' 5 00 



Stripping, bulking, and preparing for market 12 00 



Rent of land (interest on value of) 10 00 



Hauling to market 2 00 



105 f.O 

 CB. 



1,000 pounds tobacco, at 25 cents $250 00 



500 pounds tobacco, at 10 cents 50 00 



300 pounds tobacco, at 5 cents 15 00 



315 00 



Net proat 209 50 



Cost per pound, 5.86 cents. 



Mr. Frantz further says that in his opinion an additional expenditure of $50 for manure would give this 



result : 



DR. 

 For labor, manure, and interest on investment $155 50 



CB. 



1,500 pounds of tobacco, at 25 cents $375 00 



500 pounds of tobacco, at 15 cents 75 00 



450 00 



Net profit 294 50 



C'ost por pound, 7.77 cents. 

 48 AG 



