AMERICAN FARMING.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 111, 10 May 1878, Page 4

AMERICAN FARMING.

Perhaps the following, which we copy from nn American journfil, may prove inferes'ing to many who have gone in for nmateur farming, and have been obliged to give it up, because their income would not run if. Of course the case ia different with small farmers, who do most of the work themselves, aed understand the necessity of economy, feeing trained to it from childhood. Tbe journal from which we quote says :— "Farming is very pl'asant when. * mfiO has a good income from other sources, so as to be able to Btand losses, «o*fcerwige it will ruin. Vim in a short lime. 'Jhoalatisfirg o f those famous amateur farmers, Er«rts. Beecher, and Gougb, aa re . c ag fo!|owg ,_ Mr jjvarts, our pre^nt Secretory of Stale, has a WO) [ Q Vermont, which is said to exK^UBf, the best pnrt of his income,. He "has 70 head of catile, 200 sheep, IB horse?, and 25 swine. The extent of land is 800 acres. Last year 200 Jons of bay were cut, costing (he proprietor not much more than double the market price. More than 2000 bushels of corn were raised at an estimated loss of 50 -cents a bushel, and therefore ought to be •of good quality. His pork is estimated to cost him 20 cents « pound, and his chickens 3 dollars a-pair. Beecher Jast year raised about 15,000 bushels of onions on. V.ie PeekskM farm. They cost hio> 1 dollar 50 cents (Ss) a bushel according to estimate, and aa the market value in this city (New York) 'was 1 dollar (4s), anyone nan Bee how much he made. Beecher fean send beef to New York market at 50 cents (2s) a pound, and can raise oata at a* low a mark as 2 dollars (Bs^ a bushel. His butter is reckoned at 1 dollar 25 cents a pound, and his eggs at 75 cents a dozen. He cleared 40,000 dollars <t80OO) by lecturing laefi winter, and it he maintains Bueii an income he will be able to continue farmiag. Gough lectures five times a week, bis fee being 200 dollars. He has a farm at Worcester, which at one time contained 175 acres. He has no children, but his expenses are heavy ; and to bring matters in a Bnug Bbepe, he sold part of his land, and reduced the farm to 125 acreß, which is as extensive as his income will admit. A few years ago his wife, who is a Yankee girl, undertook to raise fency fowle> which some say are very profitable. She got up a very nice variety, and at a rather reasonable expense, for the Shanghais did not cost more than 75 dollars (£l7) a pair. The Cochm Chinas were a little cheaper and the Bantams could be rated at from j5 dollars (£o) to 40 dollars (£8). After stocking the place with these rare birds, Gougb, it is said, found that if they were to be kept up, he would übe obliged ' to lecture on Sundays as well as week days to make a living. When it costs 15 dollars (£3) to winter a chicken, a man needs & good income. The system is therefore changed : the fowlß were abolished, and regular crops were tried, with decided success. Ab long as Gough's rye does not cost more than 5 dollars (£l) a bushel, and the other cropß are kept at a reduced rate, his present income will enable him to live in a very decent maDner. There is nothing like farming life for men who have plenty of money."