1817. 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
207 
number of the acres would now bring $100 each. 
There were two acres of bog on the farm, which he 
offered to sell for $25, Finding no purchaser, he em¬ 
ployed two Irishmen to drain it, which they did tho¬ 
roughly in a day. He found the bog to be composed of 
peat, and since that time, he had cut and used in his pa¬ 
per factory 200 cords of this peat, by which he made a 
saving of five hundred dollars in fuel. It cost only a 
dollar a cord to cut and dry the peat. He thought far¬ 
mers did not work as hard as mechanics and manufac¬ 
turers. Some will sit still all winter and leave their 
wood uncut for summer, and are then obliged to quit 
haying to make the pot boil . Money could be made by 
farming, if farms were attended to. 
Mr, Brooks, of Princeton, said his experience in 
farming was similar to that of Mr. Parker. He went 
on his farm about twenty years ago, at which time he 
could only winter six head of cattle. He now winters 
thirty head of cattle, two horses, and two colts, from 
the products of the same land. 
Mr, Wheeler offered a resolution in regard to intro¬ 
ducing instruction in the science of agriculture into col¬ 
leges and seminaries of learning. 
Hon. B. V. French, of Braintree, agreed that we 
wanted more knowledge on agriculture, but he doubted 
whether we could obtain it from professors . Instruc¬ 
tors must be practical men. A pattern or experimen¬ 
tal farm, where boys could get an education, and also a 
practical knowledge of farming, would be useful. By 
properly dividing their time, they might enjoy more 
health and gain more knowledge than they now do, 
when books only are the means of information. Stu¬ 
dents who are conversant with nothing but books, be¬ 
come feeble and emaciated. The lads in the city who 
have nothing to do but to acquire lessons from books, 
are outdone by young men who are bred in the country, 
and are used to a more active life. No profession re¬ 
quired so sound a head as farming. As to profits, it 
was difficult to form an accurate estimate. So far as 
the land was made better, it was rather a matter of 
opinion. People' estimate improvements differently. 
Many of the calculations of annual profits, too, are 
vague and unsatisfactory. Some of his own neighbors, 
who had done no other business through life, and had 
but very little to begin with, had accumulated pretty 
good fortunes; that is, say $15,000 each. They are 
now quite advanced in years, have been moderate work¬ 
ers, and have lived prudently. 
Mr. Jenks, of Boston, thought the importance of a 
proper education, as bearing on the success of farming, 
could not be too highly estimated. The difference be¬ 
tween those mechanics who come here from Europe 
with a proper education, and others, is great. He 
thought the great improvement which has been made 
in plows, was the result of scientific investigation. He 
had heard of a man who made a profit by farming with 
the aid of books alone, without any practical education. 
He was guided by science only. 
THE FARMER’S NOTE BOOK, 
Hall’s Brick Machine.-—I observe in the March 
number of the Cultivator, page 97, under the head of 
Hall’s Brick Machine, you quote the following :—“ With 
the power of one horse and two men, [with two boys 
carrying off,] from 6,000 to 10,000 brick can be pro¬ 
duced in a day.” 
No briekmaker north of New Jersey would want a 
machine, or ever trouble himself about one that would 
produce but 6,000 brick per day; and as statements 
relating to new inventions are supposed to rate them 
generally at their greatest capability, the quotation 
is calculated (especially at the north,) to prevent the 
sale of my machines , except in such places as they 
are known. 
There was not far from two hundred millions of brick 
made last summer in the United States with my ma¬ 
chines. Near one hundred millions of these were made 
on the Hudson river; twenty-five millions were made 
at the single town of Coxsaekie. My machines are 
row in use in most of the states, and I know of no 
place where less than 8,000 bricks are produced regu¬ 
larly every day, but, at the south with slave labor, the 
brick being very large, and five brick made at each 
impression, instead of six of the smaller brick at the 
north, it is necessary to add a third off bearer. I 
know of no place north of New Jersey where less than 
10,000 brick are produced regularly per day with one 
machine, and in some eases the regular day’s work is 
13,000. The greatest number made daily last season 
with one machine, was 15,000, and I understand the 
same man who moulded them has entered into contract 
to mould the same number daily this summer. I have 
frequently known of 10,000 being made (with four 
hands and one horse,) in six hours, and 3,000 in one 
hour. But what bookmakers want to know, or that 
which it is most satisfactory to know, is the number 
that can be made in a season, as men ordinarily work. 
The number moulded by one man during the season, 
(five months,) on the Hudson river, was from twelve 
to fourteen hundred thousand. I will refer you to the 
statements made by practical brickmakers and pub¬ 
lished in the Farmer and Mechanic, Jan. 1st. These 
statements were made, (such as were made to me) 
mostly in letters of business, unasked for, and they may 
be relied upon as correct. You will much oblige me to 
notice the foregoing facts in your next number of the 
Cultivator. Alfred Hall. Perth Amboy. N. 
May 16, 1847. ...... 
Relative Profits of Wheat and Indian Corn. 
—It is the opinion of the best informed farmers, that 
the average yield of wheat in the counties of Seneca and 
Cayuga, for several years past, has not exceeded thir¬ 
teen to fifteen bushels per acre. It will be less this 
year, from present appearances. The whole expense 
of raising wheat, may be put at $13 per acre. Wheat 
at $1 per bushel, gives but a poor return to the farmer 
for his labor and investment. 
There has been a prevailing opinion throughout this 
section of country, that the raising of Indian corn, was 
more expensive, and yielding a less remuneration, than 
wheat. But I am satisfied from the little experience I 
have had, that the cultivation of corn will give a better 
return for the labor and expense than wheat. For. on 
making a calculation attending the expenses of raising 
corn, I have found it to be about $10 per acre. If 
only 30 bushels are raised to the acre, which would be 
considered generally an indifferent yield, and the market 
price, say 50 cents per bushel, which is and has been 
the average price here, and wheat at $1 per bushel, it 
will be seen at once which yields the most profit to the 
farmer. 
I am aware that the falling off in the yield of wheat 
has been uncommonly great from what it was 25 to 30 
years since, owing in a great degree to the manner 
