AMERICAN AND ENGLISH AGRICULTURE AS SEEN BY ENGLISH EYES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 1, Issue 105, 27 May 1880, Page 7 (Supplement)

AMERICAN AND ENGLISH AGRICULTURE AS SEEN BY ENGLISH EYES.

The average yield of wheat in Great Britain is 28 bushels per acre. Estimating rent, interest on capital, outlay for manure and labor, and the crop costs L 8 per acre. “ The Western farmer who has L2 sterling invested in his soil and its equipments, his expenses per acre would he some as follows” : Interest on capital, 4s ; ploughing, 10s; seed, 6s ; reaping and binding, 10s; threshing and marketing, 2s ; total, Ll 12s. The fourteen bushels (which is the average) of wheat will give a return of 425, or a profit of 10s per acre, “Two year’s profit thus moderately estimated would purchase the fee-simple of much of : the land in Western States.” The American farmer under the circumstances has much the larger margin of profit. “ The American of a certain t}'pe has an instinctive aversion to the pursuit of an unprofitable calling ; he has a wonderful capacity for , accommodating himself to circumstances. If wheat growing does not pay he trys dairying,or gardening, and failing that, will cut down lumber or split rails, keep a store or ‘ run a hotel,’ or even make politics his profession.” The English writer claims no such smartness and versality for his farmers, and does not expect it, as they are “not to the manner born.”