The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1880-01-15

One cannot lay out his work to ad-
vantage, without knowing precisely
how he stands with regard to his busi-
ness. The beginning of the year is the
appropriate time for ascert raining it.
Frequently an account of business is
kept for a month or two, and then neg
lected. If it is only to encourage habits
of regularity and perseverance it will
be time we'll spent to keep an account,
not only of money affairs, but record
of events for every day. This tends to
beget promptness and system in every
detail of farm work, and in business af-
fairs, that foresight and economy which
are everywhere the prime essentials to
success.
Keep q record of the events of each
days work and farm life. One of the
boys or girls should do this. A book
will be needed, ruled with plain lines,
on which to make the entries; put
down the condition of the weather, the
work done, and by whom; purchases
and sales made, indeed, anything that
may be needed for future reference, or
that should be entered in the account
book, which will thus become valua-
BILE and interesting record for the farm.
Make an inventory. Put down every
thing you possess, from the farm itself,
to the small tools and utensils, and
value each item fairly. Enter the
money on hand, and also every debt
owed. This is the frst work in begin
ming an account. The property owned
and money on hand will be on one side
of the account, and the debts on the
other. The balance will show just how
| the farmer stands. This account will
be the account of stock.
Purchases and sales are entered in
the daily record, and from that into a
| purchase and sale book; except the
| cash transactions, which 60 into the
cash book.
Every payment and receipt of money
for purchases, sales, or wages, should
be entered in the cash book; this should
be done every evening, and before it is
forgotten: all these entries are trans
ferred to a ledger to the proper ac-
counts. The work is very sim pie and
easy, and there are farmers girls who
keep all their fathers accounts in the
most accurate manner.
| A farmer should try to make work for
a hired man, or several of them if pos
sible. If he can find profitable work
for them, he is making money for him
self. A few months wages spent in
procuring or making manure, draining,
clearing off stone, getting out stumps,
ductive, will be well invested.
Keep the stables clean; clear out the
manure every morning, and scrape OF
cart off all filth from the animals. The
stable should be make so warm that the
manure will not freeze at night; a lower
temperature will either demand lar
ger amount of food, or the animals viii
fall off in condition.
Cut the litter. If the litter is cut
into 3-inch lengths, or even smaller, il
will hold more moisture, will make
better and finer manure, and will keeI
the animals cleaner than long litter
The gain in the quality of the manure
in one year, the saving in time in the
handling, and increased effectiveness oi
it, will pay good interest on the cost O.
windmill, and fodder cutter, to dt
the cutting. But if the stormy and disa
greeable days are chosen to cut the straw
for this purpose, an abundant suppl!
can be made. A broad axe can be pur
chased for 50 so, and with this and i,
block, a sheaf of straw may be cut int
3-inch chaff, in half minute. TIVE
persons, one to hold the sheaf on tn
block or plank, and the other to use tn
axe, would soon cut up ton of straw
Where hard wood saw-dust, dry swami
muck or fine straw can be procured
these make excellent litter and manure
Economy in feeding is very import
ant consideration. In some case hal
the feed is wasted. Cutting the fodde
has proved saving of one-thi I'd to one
half. Where but 10 head of stock ar
fed, if the feed of one-third or one
half can be saved, it is simply a larg
increase of the resources Of the farm
and is sufficient to pay the cost of
good cutter and the time expended i
cutting.
, The supply of water in winter is
source of trouble. Ice gathers abou
, the troughs and other drinking places
pipes freeze and burst, or becom
choked, and many other Inconvenience
, occur. These may be avoided by mi
! thodical management. Have reguls
watering periods twice day. Fill th
, troughs from the pumps or cisterns, an
drive the cattle to them and see tht
!, they drink. When all are supplies
empty the troughs, and either cover G
, turn them over. Have no flowing
! the yards to was te and freeze, or b.
: come ice-cold for drinking. A col
. drink will reduce the milk from th
t COWS 10 per cent. or more.