Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1880 [PAGE 202]

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200

EEPOET FROM HEAD FARMER.

To'Dr. J. M. Gregory, Regent Illinois Industrial University: I herewith present my annual report of the operation of the farms for the year just closed:

GEIGGS FAEM.

In my report of one year ago I recommended that the Griggs farm be rented to Messrs. Jaques and Hedges, on terms that we had previously agreed to. Mr. Gardner and myself were appointed a committee to rent the farm. Soon after this the bargain was closed and the farm rented. The north eighty acres to be used as a pasture, for which we were to receive $240 00, to be paid November 20,1879. The south half was to be kept for meadow, and the hay divided in the rick, giving us one half and the other party the benefit of the fall feed. We were also to put the fences in repair, and make a new fence, dividing the farm in halves from east to west. The amount of money to be paid was paid when due, and the hay was put up in good shape, and sold on the ground for $220 00. The cost of the fence will appear hereafter. By the terms, the other party was to have the refusal of the farm for another year; and they have agreed to continue another year on same terms as the past.

STOCK AND EXPEEIMENTAL FAEMS.

The crops raised on the farms are as follows: 105 acres corn. 14 wheat, including 4 acres experimental. 110 timothy meadow. 20 ' clover meadow, in orchard.! 23 *' oats. 210 ' pasture. 3 ' potatoes. llA artichokes. The balance of the farm had Horticultural crops, and is included in the roads, yards, etc. In round numbers the profits have been as follows: 105 acr^scorn. at $15 $1,575 00 14 " wheat,at$25 350 00 110 " meadow,at$6; 660 00 23 '* oats 100 00 210 " pasture,at$3 630 00 All other, including hogs and cattle 1,185 00 Total., $4,500 00

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85 acres of corn on the stock farm made an average of 70 bushels to the acre. This was all weighed, except 11 acres of shocks; a few of these were shucked and weighed, and an average from this was made. i he corn on the Hort. Farm was all cut and shocked, except V/2 acres in an experiment, and gave from 55 to 90 bushels to the acre. There were four different fields of wheat, the best yielding 34 bushels per acre. The oats gave 53 bushels per acre. Timothy meadow about one ton to the acre. Of the pasture, 80 acres was seeded last spring, oats and rye being sown with the timothy for feed before the other was grown. On account of the drouth the timothy made a poor stand and no feed till the fall rains, and then none worthy of note. 30 acres of this, as well as 20 acres sown with oats, was re-seeded in the fall, with present good promise. We have seed to sow the balance in the spring. Fifteen acres was sown to clover and made a good stand. For reasons above stated, pastures have not been as good as usual. Potatoes were a good crop, as well as artichokes. I think we have 1,000 bushels of the latter. The pigs are now rooting them out I am unable to state the value of artichokes, but this is sure, the pigs seem to enjoy gathering them. % For an account of the sales of the year, see paper accompanying this report, and Of the hay sold, $640 00 was of the old crop, $220 00 from the Griggs farm, and a small amount from the farms of the present crop. The hogs were inventoried at $320 50 at the beginning of the year; 79 head. We now have 144 at $471 00, a gain of $150 50; this added to the sales $i03 47, gives $754 97 as the value of the year's crop. Four car loads of steers were sold in Chicago. For account of purchase and sale of these cattle, see paper marked "B." The corn sold was all of last year's crop. About 150 bushels was sold for seed at 50 cents, and the balance was sold on the market, in August, for 30 cents. Nineteen bushels of wheat was sold early for seed at 90 cents, and the balance sold in October for $1 07. Twenty-four acres sown.