Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1870-12-21
Economy in Farm Management.

Most of the fortunes that are made in this
world are made by saving and by judicious
expenditure; by first getting money, and
then making such use of it that it shall keep
constantly increasing. Those men are, as a
class, the most successful in amassing large
fortunes who have no IDLE capital. As fast
As money comes into their possession they
find a means for SO investing it that it shall
in its turn, help to enlarge the general fund.
In proportion as they allow it to remain idle
do they lose an opportunity TO add to their
store. If they launch it in losing ventures
they are still worse off, for it takes the income
of other money to make up the loss on this.
In farming the same general principle holds
true. The farm, the live stock, tine crops,
the implements and the labor represent not
so much the capital as the opportunities Of
the farmer, and they will yield a return not
so much in proportion to the interest on the
capital as in proportion to his knowledge and
skill in their management.
Furthermore, there is in every item Of his
establishment tendency to waste and deter
OratiOn that demands his constant vigilance.
Weeds, rust, decay, disease, the escape Of
ammonia, the teaching of manure heaps, the
destruction of food, the deterioration of the
soil, and the ravages of insects-these are
the neyer-ceasing sources Of loss against
which he should wage a constant warfare.
and which will surely conquer him unless he
conquers them.
There Is no use in manuring land to grow
weeds; in buying tools 70 rust under stone
wall in erecting buildings to rot away for
want Of paint and care in buying animals
and leaving them 70 the unhindered action
Of disease in accommodating manure to fill
the air with its eXhalations and the brooks
with its teachings; in raising forage to floor
a barnyard with in buying land to yearly
lose its strength and virtue in growing
crops to feed UNDECIDED insects. Yet more
than one of these defects may be seen in al
most unrestrained operation on every farm
in the country, and the extent 70 which they
lower the average success of our farmers IL
greater than would be believed.
Every days labor expended in growing
crops that are to be eventually wasted, Is a
direct tax Of from SI00 70 $500 on the
farmers income. and It takes the good result
of another days labor to square the account.
This simple proposition Is the type of an al
most universal shittlessness. Every farm il
dependent for its success on the harmony Of
many parts, and on the success with which
it's manager endeay0rs 70 turn each item to
its fullest account not to make every de-
partment Of the farm 81 get along alter a
fashion, but to screw everything up to
concert pitch, so that it shall constantly pro-
duee the utmost effect of which it is capable
The vague desire for =. improvements - l.
the ruin of many a farmer No new imple-
ment and no new process can be an improve
mcnt in his case, unless II can perform its
functions without detracting from the effect
Of some other implement or process that he
already has In judging of the benefit de
rived from the cultivation Of any special
crop, no matter how fruitful it may be, We
must consider how much other crops have
suffered for want Of the manure. the labor,
and the care that this one has demanded
\ c,ashing in the working Of the establish
ment is a direct want of economy. and in
increasing any branch of the business. due
regard must constantly be had to the require
ments Of all the rest As a broad principle
IL is wise thing for farmer 10 double his
hay crop bat often it would be far more t.
his advantage to add even ten per cent To
the effect Of his present crop when fed 10 his
animals for If his feeding is now wastcful
the chances are that with the greater crop
he would waste still more, while in giving.
by greater care, more effect % his present
feeding. his net profit would be greater on a
smaller outlay.