578 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
August 24 
The following table shows how the various herds 
stand after three months of the contest. This state¬ 
ment includes the totals of each herd up to and in¬ 
cluding the week ending August 6: 
Value Total 
Name of hbs. Amt. of at 25c. cost 
herd. milk, butter, per lb. feed. Profit. 
Guernsej' .16578.fi 862.10 215..52 76.98 138.51 
Ayrshire .19976.7 838.95 209.74 77.57 132.17 
Jersey .16081.1 826.90 206.73 75.14 131.59 
Holstein .22715.7 832.25 208.06 85.46 122.60 
Red Polls .17.554.7 792.82 198.20 77.79 120.41 
Brown Swiss .18886.1 777.48 194.37 84 47 109.90 
Short-horn .19159.8 760.21 190.05 88.70 101.35 
Polled Jersey.? .12280.7 647.19 161.80 60.54 101.26 
Frencli-Canadian ...15137.5 669.89 167.47 66.16 101.31 
Dutch Belted .14179.9 548.84 137.21 72.21 65.00 
Thus it will be seen that the Guernseys lead, with 
Ayrshires and Jerseys close behind them. There is 
quite a difference in the way these cows are fed. The 
Guernseys have eaten $46.65 worth of grain; the Jer¬ 
seys, $48.21; the Ayrshires, $48.66; the Holsteins, 
$54.69, and the Short-horns, $56.47. One would think 
that the larger cows like Holsteins and Short-horns 
would be fed heavily on hay, since it is a part of the 
argument made for them that they are masters at 
disposing of roughage. The fact is, that both of these 
large herds have eaten less hay than the Guernseys, 
although they have each used about two tons more 
of silage. Possibly at the close of the test it may be 
found that the Short-horns and other heavy breeds, 
while falling behind in butter production, have 
gained in flesh, and this will be credited to them at 
three cents per pound live weight. 
The next two months will prove the most interest¬ 
ing of the test. Possibly some of the breeds now be¬ 
hind will be better stayers and pass the present lead¬ 
ers. We hope to give several studies of the cows, 
with opinions of expert dairymen based on these test 
performances. The test is in charge of E. Van 
Alstyne. He is a practical dairyman and thorough 
student of the cow. He has an able corps of assist¬ 
ants, and it is gratifying to know that the test is 
in charge of such thoroughly honest and capable men. 
VALUES OF FARM PROPERTY. 
How do agricultural valuc.s of farm properly 
in your .section compare with those of 20 years ago? 
Has there been any increase in farm land values for 
purol.v agricultural purposes? 
DEPRECIATION IN NEW YORK.—Selling value 
of farm lands in this locality, as compared with 20 
years ago, have, in my belief, depreciated more than 
one-half, and when sales are made very small pay¬ 
ments are given on the purchase price. This is a good 
fruit locality, especially apples. F. b. 
Yates Co., N. Y. 
INCREASE IN ILLINOIS.—The farms here have 
increased over double the value of 20 years ago. Land 
that could be bought for $45 or $50 per acre 15 years 
ago will sell from $85 to $115 per acre for good im¬ 
proved farms well tiled. The agricultural values of 
land have increased, almost all being tiled, and more 
clover is raised than 10 or 15 years ago. f. a. 
Braceville, Ill. 
INDIANA LAND.—I bought 120 acres for $3,300 30 
years ago. I repaired the farm, put up new house and 
barn, kept the farm 12 years and sold it for $7,000. 
The farm would not sell for more than $5,000 now. 
Ten years ago I bought 80 acres for $50 an acre, have 
repaired buildings and put in tile drainage. I will 
sell for $60 an acre. I rent 70 acres for $175 with 
Iniildings; that is a little over four per cent; then 1 
must keep up buildings, fences, wells, windmill and 
taxes. Twenty years ago wheat was worth $1.25, now 
65 cents. I do not know of any land that has in¬ 
creased in value. Farm crops do not yield as well as 
20 years ago. It is a continual fight from Spring until 
Fall; Potato bugs, beetles, files, lice and blight. 
Butler, Ind. t. c. k. 
GOOD VALUE IN WISCONSIN.—We bought this 
farm (160 acres) April, 1872, for $3,500; a few years 
later added 32 acres more to it at cost of $400. It is for 
sale now, and our price is $15,000. But it would not 
be fair to try to make it appear that the farm of itself 
had improved so much in that time. I have been in 
other business part of the time, and built a fine house 
in 1893, large barn in 1886, and silo in 1889, ice house, 
etc. The buildings are insured for $6,000. I asked a 
neighbor in regard to his farm of 100 acres, and he 
said that he bought for $2,500 a little over 20 years 
ago, and that his price now was $5,000; buildings no 
better than when he bought. He was offered $2,000 
for a 40-acre lot with no buildings, and the land is no 
better than the rest, as I have cut grain on nearly 
all of it. Another neighbor who joins us on the south 
bought for $2,500 about 15 years ago, and 'his price 
now is $4,500, and the buildings are about as then. 
He improved the farm wholly from the farm, except 
perhaps by keeping a few bees. I know of one or 
two which could not be sold for as much now as they 
could a few years ago, but in those cases the people 
are not up to date, or perhaps might be classed as 
shiftle.ss. I am quite certain that nearly all the farms 
in this county and many other counties in the State 
are worth from one-fourth to one-half more to-day 
than they were 15 to 20 years ago. I think raising 
cattle has helped the value more than any one thing 
perhaps, although some got rich 10 years or so ago 
in raising potatoes about here, but the Germans are 
our best farmers, I think, and they keep lots of cat¬ 
tle, hogs, etc. 6. s. c. 
Waupaca, Wis. 
MASSACHU'SEJ'TS LAND.—I do not think that 
the values of the farms about here have increased 
any; they are about the same as they were 20 years 
ago, although assessors tax them for a little more, 
which I think is due to having water, light and new 
brick schoolhouse. We also have the electric cars run¬ 
ning through the town, which perhaps makes some 
of the property more desirable. I think that we raise 
larger crops than weusedto,as we buy large quantiti s 
of dressing from Boston, and go in for market gar¬ 
dening, also small fruits. I do not know of any in¬ 
crease of farm values in this neighborhood. I think 
that the farms will sell for about the same as 20 years 
ago. c. B. w. 
Billerica, Mass. 
PENNSYLVANIA COAL HELPS.—The best farm 
lands rate here now at about the same value as they 
did 15 years ago, and while they are not so produc¬ 
tive as then, they sell more readily, because of the 
rapid development of extensive coal mining opera¬ 
tions which have largely increased the non-agricul- 
tural population, thus affording a ready market near 
home for our farm products. The Pennsylvania Rail¬ 
road Company also employs many men here now, 
which adds much to the business of our little town. 
But farmers in this county are now prospering main¬ 
ly from the sale of the coal underlying their lands. 
OLD APPLE TREES AT HOPE FARM. Fio. 254. Sek Page 683. 
and many mortgages have been lifted by this means, 
and a wonderful improvement in the appearance of 
farm buildings has also taken place within the past 
two years for the same reason. This county (Cam¬ 
bria) is fast becoming one of the wealthiest in the 
State from its large production of bituminous coal, 
and the outlook for the energetic and well-to-do farm¬ 
er appears to be quite encouraging. g. w. s. 
Wilmore, Pa. 
IN TENNESSEE.—From what I can learn, farm 
lands in this section have appreciated within the time 
you specify about 25 per cent, and farm products 
about the same. The farm I own was purchased 
about two years ago at an advance of 20 per cent over 
what it sold for seven or eight years ago. It is gen¬ 
erally said that I bought it cheap. An advance of 50 
per cent would not tempt me to sell it. I am of the 
opinion that farm lands do not sell readily for this 
reason. A greater circulation of money may be found 
where manufacturing interests or mercantile pursuits 
abound, and as man is prone to look for means to 
make money quickly he leaves the peaceful farm life 
with its conservatism to engage in more active life 
with a proportionate risk. I am one who believes in 
“not so much money but more farm life.” j. w. b. 
Sweetwater, Tenn. 
MICHIGAN VALUES.—There has been quite a de¬ 
pression in farm lands for several years in this neigh¬ 
borhood, and yet there has been perhaps more land 
changing hands here than in many other places, as 
the town south of us is settled with Germans, and 
the young people are inclined to stick to farming, and 
have to be supplied with farms. But there has been 
quite a noticeable increase in land transfers, at least 
in this immediate vicinity, in the last year, and at 
slightly increased value, although the call seems to 
be for small farms from 40 to 80 acres, the purchasers 
being careful not to incur too heavy a debt. As to 
the value of my own farm, when I purchased it 13 
years ago it was nearly all wild land, and very poor 
buildings. I have made quite a change in the farm 
and buildings, and, of course, increased the value of 
the property. c. f. w. 
Adair, Mich. 
VERMONT FARMS DOWN.—I think farm values 
25 per cent less than 20 years ago, perhaps 20 per 
cent less than 15 years ago. There seems to be a gen¬ 
eral dislike to farming, and most of the farmers think 
they are working too hard and too many hours for 
the pay they get, as compared with other industries. 
It is also almost impossible to get help, either in¬ 
doors or out to work on farms, and it seems to be 
growing worse from year to year. It is much harder 
to get help now than it was even five years ago. 
Farms do not sell with the exception of forced sales 
to settle estates, and these have to be sold for a mere 
pittance compared with the prices when inflated by 
the influences of the Civil War, the prices being one- 
third and some even as low as one-fourth the sum 
paid for them in the sixties. I have in view a near 
farm that a man paid $6,000 for in those days, and his 
son paid $2,000 for same two years since to close the 
estate. Another, one of the best dairy farms in town, 
was appraised at $12,000 when owner died about 20 
years since, and two years ago was sold to grandson 
for $5,000 to close estate after having been rented 
trying to find a buyer for several years. These two 
cases seem to be a fair sample of all the farms in this 
section. Otter Creek interval, which has sold for 
$125 to $135 per acre, has sold under the hammer for 
$60 per acre within two years past, and located on a 
fine road only six miles from Rutland, a fine city of 
about 12,000 inhabitants. Agricultural values of farm 
lands have not kept up, but have fallen so low that it 
does not seem possible for them to shrink any more. 
Agricultural products, of course, are governed by sup¬ 
ply and demand as to prices. Farm help 'hear the 
whistles blow, and that makes dissatisfaction as to 
hours and consequent dislike to farm work. My own 
farm was purchased in the Spring of 1865, when pricis 
were infiated to their highest, and consequently would 
not sell to-day for 50 per cent of what I paid for it— 
although I have spent about $5,000 in addition to pur¬ 
chase price in repairing the buildings. It produces 
more and is in better shape than when I bought it 
36 years ago. The reason is because of the general 
depression in real estate around, as so many are 
anxious to sell at any price. I do not recall a single 
instance where any real estaJte has increased in value 
in this vicinity for several years. I sometimes think 
that the fraudulent manufacture of food products, like 
oleomargerine, sold as butter, and the many kinds of 
pure Vermont maple syrup and sugar manufactured 
in Chicago have had a great influence in depressing 
the prices of the real to a non-paying business, and 
consequently help to make the farm profits much 
less. N. s. w. 
Chippenhook, Vt_ 
FARMER AND COMMISSION MAN. 
I wish to enter a protest against the idea you con¬ 
vey—at least, that will be drawn—from your editorial 
on page 536, when you tell of the two men playing 
tennis, and the farmer working hard. There are too 
many farmers now who are almost chronic grumblers 
because they feel they do not get their just dues, and 
you only add impetus to this disposition to kick and 
complain. The farmer works hard, if he makes a suc¬ 
cess, but he also has his play days. You will find 
very few farmers who work as hard, either mentally 
or physically, as an up-to-date successful commission 
man, and 'he richly earns his play time. To be a suc¬ 
cess in a city like New York he must be up and going, 
wideawake at all times—it is a gait that kills, and 
there needs must be a play day. I am not and never 
have been, and hope I never will be, a commission 
man, but I am and have always been a farmer, and 
I think I can do both justice. One would infer that 
you thought the commission men should have gone 
to the field and helped the farmer get in his hay. 
Quite likely they knew nothing about handling hay 
in the field, and would have been a hindrance instead 
of a help, fully as much so as the farmer would be 
trying to help them in a rush time on Washington 
Street. The farmer’s wife fully deserves all the sym¬ 
pathy you can give her. She has a hard time, espe¬ 
cially in the East, with all the farm hands to cook 
for. Down here the farm hands feed and house them¬ 
selves, but I have no doubt the commission men were 
paying good board, as 1 have always found them lib¬ 
eral, and the farmer’s wife was glad of an opportu¬ 
nity to get a little extra pin money. Besides, she 
would catch a few moments each day from her labors, 
for a little talk with these men, and these talks gave 
her glimp.ses of other life. This to a degree was a 
rest and recreation to her, and if they told of the 
hard life of some of the city’s poor I have no doubt 
but she was thankful that she had a home and some¬ 
thing to cook. s- H. Q. 
McIntosh, Fla. 
