Wisconsin State Agricultural Society. 189 
cold; and as these will all exist in some degree as necessarily incident 
to agricultural operations, it is not possible for the farmer to derive 
an equal advantage in all his operations from the use of machinery, 
as does the printer, the miller, and all the multiform indus¬ 
tries which can command a fixed power, constant resistance and 
which will therefore last longer, do better work and more of it with 
a corresponding less investment of capital. Considering then that 
the use of machinery in farming implies large farms or its equivalent, 
a large area on which to use it to make it profitable—it is a very 
doubtful investment for small farmers and only a few days use—and 
judging from the number to be seen on the farms of Wisconsin, we 
think the matter is overdone and that our farmers would gain by 
ceasing to purchase for a while, and several adjoining farmers unite 
in the use of those already on hand, especially of reapers, mow¬ 
ers and threshing-machines. The greatest profit from the use 
of machinery in connection with farming, is seen in the cheese-fac¬ 
tory and creamery; where a large number combine in one object, 
and it suggests the proper course to follow in all neighborhoods of 
small farms, with all machinery. 
Mr. Warner. In my experience, the greatest difficulty in pur¬ 
chasing farm machinery, is in selling wheat for sixty cents a bushel 
to pay for a $250 machine, Mr. Benton’s statements reminds me 
of the story that some agents tell about their wonderful machines, 
and especially when he tells us that the machine works forty days, 
and pays for itself and more in one season. 
Mr. Sherman. I think this is a very nice paper. If I never had 
any experience in farming, I am sure I should agree with Mr. Ben¬ 
ton, that it was a very nice business to farm. I have had a little 
experience, and I am bold to assert that 3m u take Wisconsin, and 
good machinery is a damage to us financially—take the state to¬ 
gether I think you can count it out. 
I farm a mixed farm of 200 acres. I cut forty to seventy acres. 
I have a machine—a marsh harvester, probably as good and eco¬ 
nomical a machine as we ever found, but I figure up and find that 
the expense of that machine is $50 a year, counting interest and 
repairs. I think I can cut my grain at any reasonable price of la¬ 
bor, and lay it in the swath, and perhaps a little more, for that. 
Secretary Field. Will that amount of hand labor cut the gen¬ 
tleman’s grain without a machiue? 
