Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1880 [PAGE 149]

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147

F I N E STOCK—

This stock has, according to instructions, been charged with the cost of keeping and value of pasturage, and credited with sales, etc. For a detailed account of this, see paper marked "A." It will be seen by this, that one year ago 22 head were valued at $2,805 00— $127 22 each. At this time, or December 1, there were 33, costing $110 24 each; and this reduction has been made after the purchase of the Shorthorn bull, at $357 48, including transportation, and the loss of the old Jersey cow, by milk fever. In this account I have made no charge for my own time in the care of this stock. This, especially in the last nine months, has been something of an item. Since December 1, there has been one Shorthorn calf dropped, and Jersey bull calf sold for $44 00. This sale was made through Mr. Barber, of Decatur, and $6 00 was paid him for making the sale, at $50 00. As our stock of both Jerseys and Shorthorns is fast increasing, I would ask for leave to have inserted in one Chicago paper and one county paper, a breeder's card, stating that we have such stock for sale. I would recommend the "Live Stock Journal" and the "Gazette," as such papers. Last year this farm was seeded to timothy, all except about ten acres, that was then too wet. One year ago the farm was in debt, after charging for work and seed and giving credit for value of pasture (which was much less than it would have been, had there been water on the place), $168. The account the present year is as follows: By cashforhay " for pasture " plowing, etc., for pasture. To work Balance

GEIGGS FAKM—

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Mr. Hedges plowed some nine acres and repaired the fences and assisted in dividing the hay, and gave $21 00 cash to pay for the pasture after the hay was cut. The farm now has a credit, above expense, of $102 00. Accompanying this report is a communication from Mr. Hedges (Mr. Jacques being the responsible party), proposing to rent the farm for one or two years. It only varies from what I proposed to recommend, in this: that he makes it optional with himself, whether it be taken one or two years. The proposition I agreed to recommend was for two years. I would not think it advisable to make the fence, for the sake of one year's rent; but would advise renting on the terms he proposes, for two years. The fence proposed, is of barbed wire, three wires; the whole to be kept in grass. I would estimate that 4 A of the whole amount of hay obtainable from the farm would come from that half proposed to be mown, the poorer land being taken for pasture. For an account of expenses, and receipts, and credits, see paper marked "B." For inventory, see paper marked "C." It will be seen from the paper of receipts, that $943.13 was received for hay, and fr >m the inventory the accounts due the farm amount to $228 43, ($174.90 of which is now pai ) $100 of this item should be either included in the receipts for hay, making $1,043.13, or eise in the inventory of hay, making $947 worth of hay on hand. This was overlooked till the books were made out. It makes no difference in the result, only showing the proper credit to the hay account. The item of credit from the Horticultural department includes $200 credit given the Agricultural department for my personal service to tne Horticultural department. By reference to my report to Prof. Burrill, it wi 1 be seen that the horticultural work has yielded a profit the past year. If the orchard and forest be taken from this account, the first of which is non-productive, and the other partially so, and credit be given for work at the greenhouse, a profit will be shown amounting to $12 per acre for all land occupied. By comparing receipts with expenses a deficiency of $2,656.18 is found. This can be accounted for by the increase of cattle by purchase and otherwise in the year. Last year we had, all told, 61 head. Now we have 117, an increase of 51 head. For a showing of permanent improvements, see paper marked "D." In the tile draining I am unable to show on the map what has been done, from the fact that a part of the work was done after the corn was up and the surveying, was left till fall. NowT, on account of the snow I am unable to follow the courses of the ditches. It is the intention to complete this in the spring. I append, from the papers, a printed statement describing our method of obtaining water. The difference in cost then given and here allowed is on account of work done in making some alterations. I first conceived this idea when I first went upon the stock farm, or during the first summer, on account of the peculiarity and favorable conditions then offered for such an arrangement. There is a well there within 200 feet of the divide between the waters of the Wabash and the Mississippi, five feet deep, that with this arrangement would have furnished water for 200 head of cattle during the drouth of 1874. For an inventory of permanent property, teams and tools, see book kept for this purpose accompanying this report. For a showing of the item of repairs, see paper marked "E." It is tb e aim to keep tools, etc., in good repair. There is no account here made of the work done on the farm in the way of repairs. For instance, new timbers were put to the hay scales, and oak was used in place of pine, and a brick foundation made. The brick, as there had been none before, were charged to permanent improvements, the lumber to repairs, and the work, done by myself and the farm hands, to general expense account. For an account of experimental work see paper marked " F . " Work has been furnished on demand, notice being given the evening previous, when anything new was to be commenced. Charges have been made at the rate of 12% cents per hour, or 25 cents per hour for team and man. For a single hour 15 cents has been charged. This is all paid for by the farm, but is shown to exhibit our gains (if such can be found).