Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1875-05-22

WORTHY M ASIEk, DlStEhS AMI
BROTHERs;-I come before you, be-
lieving this body is always rcadyto hear
the views ofany one of its members,
and will consider the matter aud moi!
the manner. | will endeavOr TO dis
close some of the advantages -accruingi
from the subject | have chosen, Ehop-f
jng that our worthy Lecturer may con I
aiiue it and further enlishten us as TO-
jts efficacy for good.
System on the farm is the subject
for consideration. As this is the be.
ginning of u new era in agriculture,
let us call it a reformation and prove
tito be such; let each Que tryto con-
tribute something towards forwarding
the general good.
There should be az order or set
plan. when one 10 to undertake any
business, however simple or complex
itmay be. by which systematic arrange
ment one is enabled TO proceed in the
execution of il; otherwise there will
be delay, after the work has begun, in
devising means as to hOl0 to proceed
System is one of the great laws of ma /
ture, it il the methodical hinge upon
which all nature turns, and ID deviat-
ing from which, nature itself becomes
a phenomenon. You who practice
system in all things, are, | think, the
exceptions, and to you | have only to
say, let it so shine that we may see
your furrow, and therefrom learn tn
set our stakes. As yet. | fear the
greater number of Us are off the hinge
Gentlemen, | do not presume TO lay
down a mode for you to follow--you
who have had so much more expert
ence than |, but will place before you
ideas, rough and crude, which have
from time to time been suggested by
my own farming, reading, and observa :
ton. As labnrer, Iwish to put them
forth for you husbandmen to make So
lutions to sift or lop off, and to hand
them back to me through the Grange,
closely pruned, that | may cultivate !;
or if need be, the bare seed or naked
root that l may plant again.
But the kindly aid OF the ladies'
must be brought into reqnisition, five
would succeed. The household is the
starting point from whence order
spreads over the farm. The systematic
regulation of the one is an index to
the other, unless the master, lord, or
or whatever you may choose TO term
him, is pell-mell disorganizer, and 1
believe seventeen-twenty-ffths of us
are; therefore, your help is asked. To
reform us is, know, task hard TO
perform; but as you teach us by ex-
ample in your daily mouOtonous toll a.,
gracing each hour with punctualiiy, do
so by precept also, exerting all your
influence to bring us up to the require.
ments of the household. When this
is done, twill be one great point gained
towards establishing order throughout.
the farm as regards time, and we all
know the importance of regulating
work by the hour Farmers are con
stantly wishing for time, as if we had
not enough; but, sad to say, we have all
there is It is an economist of time
We would wish for, and in possessing
system, We have it, which brings to US
. liberty and leisure, without which life
is tOiling drudge and nature a false
teacher.
Bookkeeping is branch of system,
and very important one, which we
should all begin The day book and
ledger are as valuable essentials on the
farm as in the merchants counting
room or banking house. Ask mer-
chant what are his annual profits; by
reference to his ledger he can tell you.
Ask farmer what he is making, and
without reference to anything, but
with long drawn sigh, he will say,
barely making buckle and tongue
meet. Ask how il SO happens.
Don't know, something wrong
Did your tobacco pay Out2" About
SOL reckon" Wise mathematician
he would be indeed, TO be able TO tell
profit or loss, not knowing Investment,
expenses or income. Brothers, this
state Of things ought not so to be. We
are working out of system We should
know the profit or loss, the exact
amount. There may be many farmers
who keeps accounts, but | think the
number small. Our forefathers may
have done very well without book
keeping. don't know, as they have
left few records and have thrown very
little light on agriculture. 1t sufhced
for them to send sack to mill, one
end filled with corn. the other with
rock; but that will not do in this our
day. .,i toilt 3Gaf |
A plan of farm book keeping is
what We want-a short and concise
Formulate suit all farmers. But we
must not expect to keep accounts and |
- -.
reeordswithoutsome trouble. The best |
investment ofth farmers time is that
given to the farm accounts, in proper
ton to the amount of it he deyotes to
other things. In regard TO keeping
accounts, / will give the plan | have
adopted for the past six years, i'm
proved, and with few suggestions.
Procure blank book sufficiently large
TO contain all farH, transactions for
three years at least, the arrangement
to be as follows: -
Farm expenses. which includes all
articles bought forand 10 consideration
of thefarm. improvements, en-
bracipg all bulldog. fencing, Tree
planting ditehing &C., aud she per
cent. on amp ose.nent Cd sail. Home /
Improvements. under which head come
tol.e painting, yard aud garden re- 7