62 ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN’S ASSOCIATION. 
Wm. PatIen thought it would be a long time before 
we could reduce our living expenses to a level with Ger¬ 
many or France. 
Bingham said it was an established fact that small 
farms would always yield a greater per cent, than large 
ones. 
Thos. Bishop : Could see no difference between large 
and small farms. A small one could keep lour or five cows, 
a pig, a chicken or two, a goose and a turkey or two—how 
could these manure it so as to produce such wonderful 
crops ? It can’t be done ; its all nonsense. Small patches 
may do for amusement, but when you talk about making 
money, you have got to have room to do it. 
Bingham said on 36 acres he raised corn, cherries and 
all kinds of small fruits, as well as eight or ten cows. Made 
a good living and more too. 
Wm. Patten inquired how much he paid for labor. 
Mr. Bingham: Do not call my own time worth any¬ 
thing, and I do most of the labor. 
S. N. Wright inquired of Bishop how many cows he 
kept. 
Mr. Bishop said he had 40 cows. 
Mr. Wright : Had considered Mr. B. one of the 
best farmers in the county, but was now in doubt, as he 
(Wright) had only about one-half as much land as Bishop 
and he kept 45 cows and four horses. Came to this meet¬ 
ing to learn about soiling. He felt confident that no one 
was aware how much stock could be kept by soiling and 
feeding in the barn. Thought one acre sufficient to keep a 
cow. 
