The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-10-09
Business Habits OF Farmers.

AS q rule, farmers have no system in
conducting their business operations.
They contract obligations without spec
flying any exact time when they are to
meet them. Many of them give notes
in very reckless sort of manner, and
make no memorandum of the time they
become due. When presented for pay
ment they affect considerable surprise
and resort to various subterfuges to OBJ
tain an extension of the time of pay
ment. They generally object to giving
anew note, though they are well aware
that it is very difficult to raise money on
the old one, as few persons wish to in
vest in an overdue obligation to pay
money. Most farmers are offended If q
person holding their note sells its They
think such an act implies sort of disre-
spect or furnishes evidence that the sell
er does not presume that it will be paid
at maturity. Some are angry if the
holder of these notes negotiates them,
for the reason, as they affirm, that they
do not want their neighbors to know
that they have outstanding obligations.
In making contracts for labor it is
very unusual for them to specify any
definite time for payment. 1t is for this
reason that women dislike to work in
farm-houses and men prefer to work
elsewhere than on farms. In city or
large town woman who does cooking
or homework expects her wages at the
end of every week, and generally re-
ceives them. In shops, manufactures,
printing offices, commercial establish
ments, and in most other places where
men work in cities and large towns they
receive their wages in cash on complet-
ing weeks labor. Some railroads and
other corporations pay at the end of
month, instead of at the end of week,
but they have definite time for paying
for the services of their EMPLOYEES.
These latter know what they are to ex-
pect, and when to expect it, and are sell
dom disappointed. This system of pay
ing at the end of definite periods has
much to do in causing both men and
women to prefer labor in the city in
stead of in the country. Farmers are
losers in consequence of their method of
dealing with their employees. They
would get work done much cheaper if
they paid for it at regular periods.
They would also get better work. Any
person will labor more faithfully, more
theoretically, and more contentedly if
he is sure OF his pay at the end of a day,
week, or month. Payday is a great
stimulus to exertiOn. - ~ 70
The hired help of farmers is some
times accommodated, as the express
sion is, with an order on the store where
the employer has running account.
This order is, however, no equivalent for
cash. 1t allows the holder of it to
''trade it out" at a place he might never
patronize if he had the cash wherewith
TO purchase goods. The holder of an
order on a country trader is virtually
obliged to take what he can and in the
store at the price demanded for it. The
articles may not be what the person
wants, either in style or quality, but they
are the only ones to be obtained by
means of the order. Even if they suit
the purchaser, the price demanded for
them will ordinarily exceed the cash
price, for the time when they are to be
paid for is very indefinite. Men and
women employed on farms like to exer-
else their own taste and Judgment about
purchasing goods as well as other per-
sons do. 1t is for their interest no less
than their pleasure to have the money
they earn to spend when and where they
P1CeboC. Ii GllC1 stLC VI udDluS bucy
are more likely to save money when paid
their wages regularly. The farmer is
benefited quite as much as his employees
by prompt, regular payment of wages.
The system of dealing with traders
and mechanics pursued by most farmers
is very Objectionable and unbusiness
like. 1t consists in having running
account kept by the latter of all the ar
ticles sold, made, or repaired. A dupli-
cate is rarely kept by the former, who is
generally astonished at the amount of
every bill that is presented for payment
Accounts grow very rapidly, especially
when different members of a family are
allowed to add to them. When goods
or services are obtained on credit, the
matter of price seems to be of secondary
importance. Persons are careful about
how much they pay when they count out
the money for it, but if payment is to be
delayed for an indefinite time they are
not very particular. In fact the person
who obtains goods or services on credit
is not in a condition to have much to say
about the price. He is receiving an
equivalent for money, but instead of
money he only gives promise of it.
For the same reason he is debarred from
making very thorough examination of
the quality of goods or work. The long
and the short of the whole matter is,
large amount of very poor goods is gen.
orally obtained when they are charged
up in running account.
If farmer has not the capital to
bridge over the time before crops or
stock are ready for the market, he will
be obliged to hire money or obtain
necessary supplies on credit. Undoubt-
eddy the best course is to hire the money
if it can be obtained at a reasonable
rate. This will enable him to purchase
goods at the lowest price they can be
obtained. 1t will also keep him from
asking any favors, SIS obtaining money
from capitalist is in the line of regu-
lar business. If he can not procure
money at reasonable rate of interest,
he will be obliged to obtain goods on
credit. But in doing so he should con-
form to business principles. He should
inform the persons with whom he trades
of the probable time when he can pay
the bills against him. If he trades with
Il IL,