132 [Assembly 



FARMING. 



I began in 1828 to get my farm in order. At that time there was 

 but little fence on it, that deserved the name, and many of the ditch- 

 es had become stopped, and the low ground rendered wet and of lit- 

 tle value. At that time the farm had about twenty head of cattle on 

 it, and we had to buy hay almost every year. For three years I did 

 little but make fences and ditches, and seed some meadow. In 1831 

 I began to garden on a small scale, and continued making fence. 

 In 1832 and '33, rebuilt the barns, which had fallen to decay; and in 

 '34 or '35, began to sell milk on the place to milkmen from the city, 

 who came for it; finding great difficulty in getting the pay from them, 

 I began on the first of April, 1837, to send the milk to private houses 

 in the city, myself. At first we sold only about twenty quarts per 

 day, in that way, and had to dispose of the rest to other milkmen, 

 who all predicted that I should fail of getting customers enough to 

 pay, and would give up in disgust before the year went by. Many 

 of my friends were of the same opinion, but I was sure that I was 

 right, and went ahead, and time solved the problem. In October, 

 1837, 1 had more customers than could be served by one wagon, and 

 I had to start a second. In May, 1S3S, two were not enough, and 

 we had to get a stable in New-York to keep the horseg and wagons 

 that served the milk, and send it down in a large wagon. That fall 

 we had four wagons on the road, and the next summer five; and in 

 1840, it took six wagons to do the business, from which time to the 

 present, we have not tried to enlarge the concern, as I am contented 

 ■with it as it is. My policy has been, to furnish as good an article 

 as can be produce<:l, and at a fair price. At times persons have start- 

 ed up, thinking to make a fortune by the quality they sold, and have 

 offered to serve my customers at a less price. I have never fixed the 

 price at less than 6d. per quart, and have always found that those 

 who undertook to serve at four cents per quart, either stopped soon 

 or the customers who had left me to take of them, came back agam, 

 which I suppose they would not have done, unless they found my 

 milk better and cheaper at 6d. per quart, than others at 4 cents. In 

 1837, 1 also began to enlarge the garden, which now covers about 

 80 acres. I have by my experience come to the following conclu- 

 sions: 



First, That money can be made by farming, if properly attended to. 



Second. It can only be profitable by doing well what you under- 

 take; for one acre well worked and manured, will yield more than 

 ten acres cultivated as we some times see doiie. 



