The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-03-10
Success in Farming.

AT late meeting OF the Farmers
Club at st. Louis, Mo-, "Success in
Farming" was discussed. Rev. Mr..
Peabody related his experience, and
then said
The principles on which farming can
be made successful are, first, man
must take hold and work, and see that
those around him do the same. At that
time if farmer said to his men, "Come,
boys, and work." the thing was done
and done we'll. 1t was not apt to be
done at all if he said, "Go to work,
boys" and sat in the house doing moth
ing. To farm large number Of acres
successfully, man must be up as early
and retire as late as any one on the
farm, at the same time keeping his eyes
on everything. He must have the same
carefulness and frugality that man
must possess to go on Change and sue
ceed there, and it requires as much
talent. 81
suppose that 100000 live in towns,
and 100000 live by the soil, of whom
not more than $4,000 have wealth, but
the majority have their farms. The
farmer is more successful as general
thing than any other man. He is de-
prived of some luxuries, but compen-
stated by the absence of the anxiety and
ups-and-downs of those who live in the
city. SO when you strike a balance, the
man who owns and cultivates his own
farm is better off in the things of this
life and the concern of future life than
almost any other There is no occupa-
ton that stands on q higher level with
regard to future life than his and his
is almost free from the misfortunes that
sweep over the mercantile world.
Mr.. Sigerson said that ali over the
country the profit of farming is much
greater than is supposed, but the farm
ing interests Of the country were far
from being fully developed. They have
not made corresponding advance and
improvement with other occupations.
Their dwellings were not as attractive as
they ought to be. He was convinced
that it could be made to treble its pres
sent profit if improvements were made
corresponding with those of other de-
partments of industry.
Mr.. Porter-As to the profit and loss
in farming the one grand defective is
that there is no system among them.
They are defective in keeping strict
account of their purchases, crops, etc.
If man comes out even at the end Of
the year that is considered sufficient.
If they would keep strict and detailed
account Of every field and every crop,
they would be able to tell at the end of
the year where the loss was. AS it is
now, there are so many little leaks that
they are unable to assign the cause of
the balance against them at the end of
the year, and remedy it. There is also
want of cooperation among them.
In other occupations the members con-
tinue together, and price for every
thing is established. A few days ago he
met man who had just sold his hogs
for $50, when the published price the
day before was $3.50 to $6.l0, and they
ought to have brought $500 at least.
Why do not farmers combine and es-
tablish prices for their products as mer-
chants do? There is where the loss
comes ina want of systematic CO.
operation among them.
Mr.. j. M. Hubbard, of Champaign City,
ILL.,, being called upon, said that farm
ers had to pay one and two hundred
per cent. more for their implements
than they ought, from the fact that they
have to buy on time; they also pay
twenty-five and thirty dollars day to
cut down grain which, when cut and
brought to market, entails loss on the
owners. Farmers also make q great
mistake in using small plows. A fifteen
inch pillow is better than twelve inch
one. They should use more system in
harvesting their crops, if they don't
wish to see the profit on the wrong
side of the account.