The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1875-01-07
Farm Accounts.

WE have, IN years past, uTSeu INC az
ricultural readers of the RurWl Home to
keep accurate accounts with their farms
in order that they may know at the end
of every year whether they are making
or losing, and how much. In those ex-
hortations We have given our opinion OF
what it is proper to charge against the
farm and what should be credited to it,
but as every year brings us thousands OF
ne,o subscribers, it may be we'll to rccur
to the subject.
WHAT SHOULD BE CHARGED AGAINST THE
FARM.
/. The farm should he charged with
lawful interest on the capital invested,
the taxes, and depreciation in value from
use. If a man invests $4,000 in land, it
should, in the first place, return him the
interest which he would be certain to re-
ccivc if he lent it on good securities. If
not, he had better loan it, for the demand
for money almost always exceeds the
supply. If the productive capacity of
the farm has diminished in consequence
of cultivation, that would properly be a
charge against it, although it might not
be possible to estimate the amount OF de-
probation. The interest on whatever
capital is invested in tools, implements,
machinery or stock, and their deprecia-
ton in value from use or increasing age,
is legitimate charge against the farm.
1t may not be possible to form all exact
estimate here, but an approximate one
may be made.
2. The value of all seeds, manures afItl
materials used in repairs and permanent
improvements should be charged, and it
would be legitimate to charge the in
terest on these expenditures until returns
are received. 1t requires no arguments
to convince farmers that the value of
these expenditures is d part of the costs
| of farming, but what would probably
puzzle them the most would be how to
correctly express them.
8. The cost of all labor expended upon
the farm, whether of the owner, his
sons, hired laborers or dumb brutes, and
whether this labor is paid for wholly in
money, or in money and board. II
farmer hires man for dollar day,
and boards him, when he would be
obliged to pay him $3.50 if he boarded
himself, the proper way would he to
charge the farm $3.50, and if the board
actually costs him less, the difference
would be the profits of keeping boarders
If interest and wear of working stock has
already been charged, as contemplated
above, then no further charge would be
required under the head of labor.
If butter or cheese are made in the
house and sold, or consumed in the fam
ily and credited their full value to the
farm, then the value of the female labor
employed in making them should he
charged against it.
WHAT SHOULD BE CREDITED THE FARM.
The value of its products, whether
consumed by the family or sold from the
farm. should be credited to it. If q pOr.
ton of the products is fed to stock the
increased value of the stock will appear
| in the farms favor. We are aware that
it is difficult, perhaps impossible, for the
farmer to keep an accurate account of all
the products consumed IN the family
especially fruits and garden vegetables
but they are portion of the benefit.
which he receives from his business, anC
should be considered. ...-
| The increased value of the farm, from
any cause whatever, whether good cul
! ture and lasting manures, may have in
creased its productive capacity, or neigh
borhood improvements, or any othel
cause appreciated it's value, and the value
of permanent Improvements should b
credited to the farm.
The rent of the farmers dwelling
should be credited to the farm, and als'
the use of houses for the convenience O
pleasure of the family. In towns ant
cities the livery bills, and street-car ant
omnibus fares form an important item il
family expenses, and on the farm tn
carriage horses take their place, ant
should be credited with their services
We have endeavored, in this paper, t,
state the principles on which farm &C
counts should be kept, and will in an
other try to give some practical direc
tons for keeping them in o simple
form as possible.-- american Rlral HonsI