The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1877-11-03
RnrlII AcChnniA.

Although more men are employed
In agricultural pursuits than In any
other, and Notwithstanding the world
Is dependent on them for bread, there
is no class 30 deficient in the matter
of keeping accounts AZ they. One
reason il there il thought to be no
necessity for 1t, and farmers Sous are
not trained to 1t, MS in other
departments, where 1t Is conceded to
be of first Importance. II is also
conceded to be a matter of some
difficulty growing out OF the peculiar
nature of agricultural employment
and the elements which properly
enter into the keeping of accurate
accounts. The plea that there il no
time for il Is not well founded, for
there Is n time for everything that is
useful. or the utility of farm accounts
the argument is equally strong as
pertains TO every other branch
of business. Every merchant once or
twice a lyear deems it an
absolute necessity to take an
account of stock, and to carefully scru-
tinize the credit and debit sides of his
business. One who never did that
would 10y common consent be pros
nounced very poor business man. A
manufacturer, whose profits may be
upon an almost inhnitesi-
NAL triile in cost OF material, or in the
construction or adjustment Of his ma
chinery, could never succeed without
keeping accurate accounts, and no
young man brought up under one who
Is neglectful In this particular, however
skilful he may he In other respects,
can reach promotion in large and
well-regulpte establishment. This
subject commends itself to the atten-
ton of educators, especially those In
country high schools and agricultural
colleges. There is hardly farmers
son in any of them whose father can
tell approximately how much 1t
costs to carry on the old
homestead, or whether there
has been "a profit or loss from time to
time. Family expenses are unknown,
few farmers can tell how much 1t costs
to support their households, and the
old farm does not get half the credit it
Is entitled to. Those who live in cities,
and are obliged to pay cash for every
thing they eat, drink and wear, can
appreciate this more fully than tho e
who raise a large portion Of what they
consume. When the corner grocer de-
liberately weighs out pound of car
rots for stew, and the purchaser
knows that the farmer raises them,
or can, in almost any quantity and at
a cost of few cents per bushel IL IL
adapted to make a strong impression
When the children OF city parents are
obliged to pay two cents for every
apple they eat, and the farmers chill
dren and live stock, by the mere
gathering, have more than can be con-
sumed, but no credit is given for any
thing, 1t is hardly fair to the old home.
stead The same holds true Of large
portion Of the profits which go into
the consumption of farmers families,
but Of which they make no account or
thought. Thus the actual profits Of
farming are largely unknown, the gen.
eral rule being to count little used In
the family as portion. II n tolerably
accurate account should be kept in all
| these matters, IL would be found that
the real profits OF agriculture are far
greater than is supposed. IL would
also have tendency to keep more Of
the sons and daughters in content and
independence rather than to drift with
the multitude of cities, where every.
body knows how much he has to pay
for all farm products, and where few
can indulge freely in the use OF much
that contributes to the health, comfort
and enjoyment of rural life.