BUSINESS.

"Farming is a poor business," said the Deacon. "Take the corn crop.
Thirty bushels per acre is a fair average, worth, at 75 cents per
bushel, $22.50. If we reckon that, for each bushel of corn, we get 100
lbs. of stalks, this would be a ton and a half per acre, worth at $5 per
ton $7.50."

Total receipts per acre for corn crop $30 00
Expenses.--Preparing the land for the crop $5 00
Planting and seed 1 50
Cultivating, three times,
twice in a row both ways 5 00
Hoeing twice 3 00
Cutting up the corn 1 50
Husking and drawing in the corn 4 00
Drawing in the stalks, etc. 1 00
Shelling, and drawing to market 2 00
Total cost of the crop ----- $23 00
------
Profit per acre $7 00

"And from this," said the Deacon, "we have to deduct interest on land
and taxes. I tell you, farming is a poor business."

"Yes," I replied, "_poor_ farming is a _very_ poor business. But _good_
farming, if we have good prices, is as good a business as I want, and
withal as pleasant. A good farmer raises 75 bushels of corn per acre,
instead of 30. He would get for his crop, including stalks

$75 00
Expenses.--Preparing land for the crop $5 00
Planting and seed 1 50
Cultivating 5 00
Hoeing 3 00
Cutting up the corn 1 50
Husking and drawing 10 00
Drawing in the stalks 3 00
Shelling, etc. 6 00
----- $35 00
------
Profit per acre $40 00

Take another case, which actually occurred in this neighborhood. The
Judge is a good farmer, and particularly successful in raising potatoes
and selling them at a good price to hotels and private families. He
cultivates very thoroughly, plants in hills, and puts a handful of
ashes