The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1880-06-17
Capital IN Farming.

There is a mistaken idea very preva
lent, not only among farmers, but with
the public generally, that little capital is
required in the business of cultivating
the soil, when the real fact of the case is
that the farmer requires more capital III
proportion to the business he does than
either the merchant or manufacturer.
He has more unproductive "plant," so to
express it, than almost any other occu-
patton requires. He has first to pur-
chase his farm tools the better these
are the more successful he will be in his
results and often from want Of pecunl-
airy means he is compelled TO purchase
poor cows and other cattle which, in
fact are. dear ut any price. Again,
whatever he invests he can hardly ex-
pect to turn, in the way of trade, more
than once in the year, whereas the mer-
chant or manufacturer turns his capital
many times in the twelvemonth. The
farmer puts his seed in the ground, and
until it natures his capital lies dead,
and the processes of nature can not be
hurried When the crop is gathered it
is not sold for money, but it is put into
the barn to be fed to his stock. A calf
must be fed two or three years before it
is suitable to send to the butcher as
beef, and all this time the cost il dead
capital.
The farmer purchases manures and
fertilizes in the Spring; he buys his
seed, and to these must be added the
labor. Say the land is laid down to
grass, the first year he obtains small
crop only, and for several seasons can
not reap tho full benefit of his invest
ment of money, time and labor. He
sows his wheat in the Fall. In one
year he will have his crop harvested,
and perhaps in six months more it will
be sold, thus requiring eighteen months
before he realizes any money from the
investment. Just so with all other
grains and crops; he must wait long and
patiently for his returns. A merchant
frequently purchases goods on three or
four months credit, and sells them be-
fore his notes become due, realizing his
profit, and, in fact, without cent Of
capital The fal mer rarely enjoys such
a chance as this. The merchant says
the interest account is an important ele-
ment in his calculations; SO it is with
the farmer equally important, making
great inroads into his moderate profits.
Surprising the farmer, to illustrate
this idea of interest, should commence
with his calves, and at their birth charge
them at such a figure as they are really
worth; then at three months of age esti-
mate their value, adding interest on first
cost for ninety days and the cost of feed
ing. Again at six months 60 through
with the same process, and SO continue
until his cows or steers are sold, We
think that he would get an idea of this
interest account in this way which he
never before realized. The unthinking
merchant, when he talks about the
farmers not having to consider any in
terest account, is far from the truth.
Some CT tho products of the farm are
sold for cash, but ve'y few; milk, for in
stance, is nearly always sold on three or
four months credit, and the capital upon
which many large milk dealers do bust
ness in our cities is furnished by the
farmers.
We do not wish to be understood as
discouraging agricultural farming inter
est it is the great basis Of the nations
prosperity, and without it no country
coeld live. 1t is undoubtedly the most
healthful Of all occupations, and brings
us nearer to nature than any other.
But our object is to slow that there are
two sides to this, as to all other matters,
and that in making up ones mind upon
the subject there are SO many things to
be considered. All is not rose-colored
in any occupation ; the merchant is
necessary in his sphere, the farmer also
in his, but neither of these occupations
can DO carried on successfully without
capital, and the matter of interest ac-
count applies equally to both.-Ameri-
can Cultivator