354

BACKWOODS AND PRAIBIES.

Thus, for 550 dollars, or about   110 sterling, may a man make a promising beginning, and not for less. Those who cannot command this small capital must not think of commencing to operate with land, except indeed it be as renters, in which case a man who has been accustomed to farming may make a beginning on almost nothing; and even with the aforesaid small capital, a man must have some ingenuity to carry him through the difficulties of a beginner. In the instructions offered to emigrants, I have repeatedly seen in guide, books the sum of   100 set down as sufficient to establish a man on 80 acres either in Illinois, Iowa, or Wisconsin. This might do were the settler to begin with oxen, and fence but a few acres at first. Mr. Newhall, who is considered no mean authority, says, indeed, that the cost of a house, implements, stock, and eighty acres of land may be set down at   80! * An estimate in which I am unable to concur, because I would rather not incur the responsibility of misleading any one.

Let us now take a look at the state of our Settler's affairs at the close of a year, supposing him to have cropped the entire forty acres.

Dols.

25 acres Indian corn, 1250 bushels, at 50 cents, 625 10 do. wheat, 200   do.,    at 75      150

1 do. potatoes, 150 do., at 30    45 4 do. oats, and Ruta-Baga turnips for stock, 00

--820

EXPENSES.

Store Bill.......... .. 100

Clothing.....,......100

Corn and grain for stock and family,   .. 75 Newspapers and books,        ..       .. 10

Schooling for children,   ..      ..       ., 10

Taxes, ..      ..      ..      ..       ..      .. 5

Sundries,   ..      ..       ..      ..      .. 30

-330

Gain for the first year...........490

or nearly a hundred per cent, on the capital. With this 490 dollars the settler may now materially add to his stock. He enjoys the blessing of sitting rent free   he has cut down enough prairie hay to fodder his cattle through the