56 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
Jan. 
Farming vs. Manufacturing. 
Eds. Cultivator —As suggested by “ Enquirer” in 
the November number of your paper, I admit that 
agriculture may be made the most happy pursuit of 
man; but whoever may engage in the pursuit, in the 
belief that it is now the most profitable, is destined to 
certain disappointment. That the profits of capital 
and labor in agriculture, have been greatly misunder¬ 
stood, is too true. That they have been the subject 
of misrepresentation by superficial observers, who 
have based their estimates upon single acres, or single 
fields, is also too true. That this misunderstanding 
has been productive of much mischief, is sustained by 
too many examples to be for a moment doubted. 
How many men under a misapprehension of the 
profits of agriculture, embark in that business, and 
through subsequent disappointment, abandon it in dis¬ 
gust, to engage in other pursuits? Influenced by mis¬ 
representations, how many men are induced to abandon 
other occupations, to engage in that of agriculture, 
and when taught by experience of their error, have 
returned to their former employments, having sacrificed 
by their changes of business, the fruits of former in¬ 
dustry and toil? Ignorant of the true principles upon 
which agriculture can alone be made profitable, how 
many farmers drag out their years of dull monotony, 
and leave to their heirs a worn out farm, encumbered 
with debts of years accumulation? To avoid such cases, 
it is important that the actual and relative profits of 
agriculture should be distinctly understood. Much of 
that required knowledge may be found in Professor 
Tucker’s Progress of the United States, published in 
1843, by Little and Brown of Boston. 
In the 17th and 20th chapters of that work, the 
number of labourers employed, and the amount of in¬ 
come produced, is given in each of the great industrial 
pursuits of our country. By his tables the annual in¬ 
come of each agricultural labourer in the state of 
Maine, was $156—in Massachusetts, $183—in Ver¬ 
mont, $244'—in New York, $237—in Virginia, $186— 
in South Carolina, $109—in Ohio, $138—in Tennessee, 
$139—in Mississippi, $190—in Louisiana, $288. By 
his tables it is also shown that tli& annual income of 
each manufacturing laborer in Massachusetts, was 
$750, and that such income, after deducting the raw 
material, was $510. The estimates of Professor 
Tucker, were taken from the census of 1840, and are 
eminentl} r sustained by that of Massachusetts, taken in 
1845. Take the cotton interest for an example. The 
capital stock invested in the state, in cotton manufac¬ 
turing, was $17,739,000. The value of the goods 
manufactured, was $12,193,449. The value of the 
raw material, was $3,900,000. There were 6,300 
men, and 14,400 women employed as laborers, at an 
expense of about $3,300,000, giving an income fully 
sustaining the estimates of Professor Tucker, and 
showing a net profit exceeding by at least four-fold,* 
* It will be seen that our correspondent here claims, that 
labor employed in the manufacture of cotton, produces “ a nett 
profit, exceeding, by at least four-fold, the most successful farm¬ 
ing operations.” It appears to us that there must be some mis¬ 
take in the data by which he arrives at such a conclusion. 
Let us see what result we produce from his figures. He puts 
-down the value of cotton goods manufactured in Massachusetts, 
at ......$12,193,449 
From this there is to be deducted: 
cost of raw material,... $3,900,000 
25 per cent on the capital for wear and 
tear of machinery, and expenses 
other than labor... $4,434,750—$3,334,750 
' This leaves...$3,858,699 
to be divided among 20,700 laborers, which gives to each $186.42, 
within a fraction, which is about the average allowed by our cor¬ 
respondent to farm laborers. Eds. 
the most successful farming operations, not excepting 
the premium farm of the state. 
It will be seen by these tables that the value of ag¬ 
ricultural labor varies very materially in the different 
states of the Union. And it should be borne in mind 
that climate, soil, and location have done much in pro¬ 
ducing that variation. It should also be borne in mind 
that good culture has had much to do in producing 
that result; for instance, location giving superior mar¬ 
ket facilities, has given to labour a greater income 
upon the rugged soil of Massachusetts, than has been 
realized from that expended upon the virgin soil of 
Ohio. Location and climate allowing the growth of 
the sugar cane,' (which is the most profitable of agri¬ 
cultural productions) has given to labor, a greater in¬ 
come in Louisiana, than has been produced in any other 
state in the Union. But it must have been good culture 
that has given to labor a greater income upon the in¬ 
ferior soil of Vermont, than that produced upon the 
superior soil of New York. And it must also be owing 
very much to good culture, that should have given—to 
labour in Seneca county, so much greater income than 
has been produced in the residue of the state, or in 
any other state in the Union. If, then, good culture 
is so material in producing such different results, how 
important it is, that our farmers acquire a knowledge, 
and adopt the practice of giving it a universal appli¬ 
cation. If location is capable of exerting so important 
an influence, how important it is that such effect 
should be modified by increased facilities of communi¬ 
cation. If market facilities produce so material effect 
upon the profits of labor, how important it is, that our 
agricultural productions should enjoy the unrestricted 
market of the world. A Farmer. Hillsdale, Dec. 
5th , 1849.__ 
Fowls in Yards. 
Eds. Cultivator —You ask some questions relating 
to my aviary, answers to -which are cheerfully sub¬ 
mitted. 
My usual number of fowls is one hundred. They 
are confined in an enclosure containing about half an 
acre, inclusive of ground occupied by the buildings, 
the dimensions of which are as follows: Forty-eight 
feet length and twelve breadth, with length of posts 
sufficient for the admission of twenty-four lighted win¬ 
dows, of which there are eight in front, sliding hori¬ 
zontally upon the sill. This building contains but one 
apartment. In addition, and communicating with it, 
is an upright post, at one end twelve by sixteen feet 
with nine feet posts, containing an underground 
room for fowls to collect in cold weather, and is ac¬ 
cessible to them at all times. Above, on the ground 
floor, is a depository for sand, gravel, mortar from 
old walls, &c. &c., for daily use of fowls. The attic 
designed for a roosting apartment, which on account 
of the sharpness of the roofs, is roomy, as all sleep¬ 
ing places should be, at least for the health of fowls. 
A window in gable ends, is for lights and ventilation. 
The roofs to the main part, are also sharp, to turn 
the sun’s rays in summer, and as a matter of taste 
and durability. The yearly average to each hen is 
not far from one hundred eggs. Young hens, say of 
the first or second year, are found more prolific than 
older ones. 
Cocks have always been permitted to run with our 
hens, and consequently I have not the means of deter¬ 
mining the particular results, from a separation, as 
regards the production of eggs. 
As a general rule no strange fowls are admitted to 
the yard. We raise a yearly supply for home use. 
I consider the Poland crested fowls to be a hardy 
variety, and perhaps the best for northern latitudes; 
