EXPEKSE AND PEOPIT. 89 



I have now "before me four detailed accounts of farms of 

 eighty acres eaeh, all of wHcli show a profit, besides paying for 

 the land itself, from the first crop. But these cases were in- 

 stances during the period of high prices in 1855-6. And the 

 same may be said of aH the detailed accounts wMch have been 

 recently laid before the public. I propose, therefore, to offer 

 an estimate based on the probable future range of prices, and, 

 to facilitate calculations, will take 100 acres of land ; the first 

 crop wheat, and the following crop Indian corn. The wheat 

 crop shall be cultivated by contract, the land fenced, broken up, 

 sown with wheat, reaped and thrashed, and a labourer's house 

 built, during the first eighteen months. The second and fol- 

 lowing crops shall be managed by two resident ploughmen, 

 whose wages, and the cost of keeping their four horses, will be 

 tKe only outlay. 



Cash price of 100 acres of land, • . . , . £^00 



Contract price of fencing, breaking, sowing with wheat, reaping 

 and thrashing, and building a labourer's cottage, and stable 

 and shed, ...... 260 



Capital invested in the purchase of four horses, implements, and 



harness, ....... 110 



£560 

 Second year, wages of two men, horse keep, taxes, and accounts, 200 



£760 

 Ck. 

 TiTSt crop, wheat, 2,000 bushels, at 3s. &d,y . . £350 



Second croprlndian corn, 5,000 bushels at Is. 8^, . 416 ^766 



Surplus after the second crop, besides the value of the land and 



stock, ....... £6 



The third year begins by the prairie farmer finding himself 

 the unencumbered owner of his land, all fenced and improyed. 



