July 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
206 
farming. Many years ago he purchased a farm in 
Framingham for about $10 7 000. He had leased it 
for three years at the halves. The tenant returned 
$800 per annum for his share, and the farm was well 
treated. He spoke of the profits which had been de¬ 
rived from improving bog lands, and said that Mr. 
Wetherbee, of Marlborough, had 15 acres of this kind of 
land which produced last year 60 tons of hay—or four 
tons to the acre. He spoke of education, as connected 
with the subject of profitable farming. He thought far¬ 
mers’ boys had not generally a proper kind of education. 
They work, but they are led along without being re¬ 
quired to think. If their minds could be engaged in 
the business they would like it. 
Hon. Mr. Clark, of Walpole, said that 25 per cent, 
clear profit had been made by bringing cheap lands into 
good grass. He had land that cost him ten dollars per 
acre. He had cleared twenty-five per cent, on this, 
though he hired all the labor. From 65 square rods of 
this bog land, which he had brought into English grass, 
he cut over 3,900 lbs. of hay in 1845. And this hay 
was then worth forty-four dollars and odd cents, at the 
market price in Walpole. The average price of hay in 
his region was $18 per ton. He used ashes as manure 
on his grass land, and thought those unleached were 
worth 12^ cents per bushel. He applied them as soon 
as the snow is off in spring. They kill out couch or 
witch grass [?] and induce the growth of clover and 
good grasses. In Norfolk county, land set in fruit 
trees would pay a profit of twenty-five per cent. Some 
of his neighbors had got into the peach business and 
made 100 per cent. One acre set in peach trees yield¬ 
ed more than $200 last year. 
Mr. Brooks, of Princeton, said in answer to an in¬ 
quiry, that he had reclaimed some of his rocky pasture 
land at a cost of $100 per acre, and was paid for in a 
few years in the crop of hay. 
Hon. Mr. Calhoun thought if we were to compare 
the whole profits of farming with the profits derived 
from other pursuits, it would be found that farmers on 
the whole succeed best. Let 100 men go into a city 
and trade; let 100 go to farming, and at the end of 20 
years the 100 farmers will be worth the most money. 
It is ascertained that of 100 merchants who had done 
business on Long Wharf, more than ninety became in¬ 
solvent. In examining the condition of 1000 men who 
had accounts at a bank, it appeared that only six be¬ 
came independent. These are facts grounded on tho¬ 
rough examination. To take a general view of the sub¬ 
ject, out of 100 egtates at the probate court, in Boston, 
ninety were insolvent. These are facts to be put down 
by the side of farming. He had found that systematic, 
prudent, and dijigent farmers always succeed. Mr. 
Brooks had said that fifteen per cent might be realized 
from farming capital. He (Mr. C.) believed it might 
in many cases be done by farming intelligently. He 
had wondered that farmers generally could get along so 
well as they actually do in their Careless mode of farm¬ 
ing. For himself, he had regained his own health by 
farming. The fresh open air had restored him. One 
more consideration should have much weight. It had 
been truly stated by his venerable friend from Framing¬ 
ham, Major Wheeler, that this business naturally leads 
the mind to contemplation, and to gratitude to the Ru¬ 
ler of the Universe, to whom farmers should look for a 
blessing on their labors. No occupation so directly 
leads the mind to reflection on the works of creation. 
He thought we needed a better system of education for 
farmers. They should know something of the sci¬ 
ences on which agriculture rests; and science should be 
brought down so as to be clearly understood, in order 
to be useful. Minds now run to waste; we quit school 
and are then permitted to think of nothing but hard 
work. 
Hon. Mr. Denny said that he had examined into the 
statement of 97 failing out of 100 engaged in trade, 
and he believed it was correct. He found that out of 
1112 cases of insolvency in this state, during 11 months, 
only 14 were called farmers; and he had examined as 
to a part of these, and found that they did not attend 
strictly to farming. One was a lazy man, another a 
stage owner, and a third no man at all. Yet young 
men rush to the city to acquire wealth ! 
Capt. Benj. Porter, of Danvers, said that out 
of one hundred farmers in the circle of his acquaint¬ 
ance in Essex county, there had not been a fail¬ 
ure for 40 years. He had farmed and traded, and 
farmed again. He had been in debt and lain awake 
many a night to contrive how to take up his notes given 
in trade. He lost his health, but had recovered it on 
his farm. He bought a farm that had been neglected 
and worn out, for $5,500. It had numerous fruit trees, 
but they bore no fruit. He commenced by plowing and 
cross-plowing among the trees—bought yearly $100 
worth of manure, and the third year had $793 worth of 
apples. He had also made money by swine. He had 
a sow that brought nine pigs. When these were sold, 
[age not stated,] they brought him $253. He cited the 
instance of the Howe farm, on the Beverly town line, 
which during the last 40 years, had been leased to six 
different men in turn, and all of them had made money 
on it by having half the proceeds. They went to the 
farm poor, but several of them made money enough by 
the profits of farming to buy themselves good farms. 
Hon. Mr. Russell, of Princeton, said that he let a 
farm worth $3000 to a young man, and he paid the 
rent—$150, or five per cent on the investment—sup¬ 
ported his family, and laid up $100 a year. He had 
seven daughters, and he brought them all up well edu¬ 
cated. He left the farm in a good state. The Gill 
farm in Princeton, 600 acres was rented for a number 
of years. The lessee retired with a handsome pro¬ 
perty. 
Mr. Clary, of Conway, spoke of the profitable corn 
crops which had been raised by some of the members of 
an agricultural association, or farmer’s club, formed in 
the town to which he belonged. The society chose a 
committee who examined the lots offered, (ten in num¬ 
ber,) measuring two rods of each, and from this made 
their estimate of yield per acre. The yield of the tea 
lots was as follows: 134. 132, 111, 110, 95, 92, 90, 
86, 76 bushels. 
The corn was measured in October, and would pro¬ 
bably shrink considerably. The land on which it grew 
was not naturally rich. It was dressed with 30 or 40 
loads of sheep manure to the acre—a part being spread 
and plowed in, and the remainder put in the hill. The 
corn was planted in hills three to three and a half feet 
apart, four stalks to the hill. 
Major B. Wheeler, of Framingham, said a towns¬ 
man of his, Mr. Edmunds, had very recently stated to 
him, that seven years ago, he bought a farm of 74 acres 
for $2,250. He sold off ten acres and a lot of standing 
wood for $1,000, leaving his purchase at $1,250. From 
these 64 acres he sold produce last year to the amount 
of $700, and he hired but eight days’ labor. His own 
labor, therefore, amounted to more than $600. after pay¬ 
ing labor hired and the interest on his capital. 
Mr. Parker, of Sudbury, formerly president of the 
Middlesex Agricultural Society, said, when he was a 
boy he thought farming was not good enough for him, 
and he engaged in trade. He lost his health in this bu¬ 
siness, and he bought a poor farm because it was in 
his way. He gave $2,000 for it. The former owner 
had cut but two tons of hay on it, and this made the 
cattle shed tears to eat it. Now he cuts forty tons, be¬ 
sides the grain and other produce. It may be made to 
cut 100 tons. The land cost 17 dollars per acre; a 
