LARGE PROFITS IN A SMALL WAY.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1289, 12 November 1896, Page 5

LARGE PROFITS IN A SMALL WAY.

The following is an account by an American farmer of how he made things pay on a small farm : My fatherin law gave me and wife a nice little farm of 50 acres, but upon hearing farmers complaining so much we became dissatisfied, sold the farm for £6OO, and went into the grocery business. As the man we bought of made money, we imagined that we could get rich speedily, but on account of unfair competition we failed in three years.

Having left a fine farm which was making us a little money besides a good living, the loss almost discouraged

us for life. But we were young and willing to work, and now regard our experience as an eye-opener for the future. Father being dead we now rented the old homestead from mother, she to live in. the house with us, and picked up here and there ten Jersey calves. They grew into money, and at two years were fresh. Our experience in this city had taught us that good butter was in great demand, while of good butter there was always a surplus. We now selected fifteen of our very best former customers, whom we could trust, and took their orders twice a week, furnishing them with eggs, butter, poultry, potatoes, all kinds of garden vegetables, fruits, berries (we have a half-acre of strawberries, a half-acre of raspberries and blackberries, and one acre in garden) ; also meats, in which there is a good profit. For example, a hog weighing 2251 b live weight, if sold to a shipper for Sdols 25cents per cwt, would bring Sdols 25cents (equal £1 4s -id). We sold it as follows : 401 b lard at lOcents per lb, 4dols ; 401 b ham at 12cents per lb, 4dols bOcents; 38lb shoulder at lOaents per lb, 3dols SOcents ; 301 b sausage at lOcents per lb, 3dols ; 201 b rib and bone at per lb, Idol SOcents ; 51b pudding at lOcents per lb, SOcents: total, 17dols 60cents (£3 13s 41). This left us a profit of £1 19s over and above what farmers got when selling to a shipper.

Our farm contains 70 acres. We run it in permanent pasture with the exception of 30 acres, which we farm on Terry's plan of clover, potatoes and wheat. We use a cream separator, leaving us all sweet milk for hogs and cows ; we have our farm in a high state of cultivation. By this plan we have made a success, having paid for the farm in five vears.