Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1881-10-05
CAPITAL IN FARMING.

have often been struck in reading
Peter Henderson's articles, with the
Importance, in his estimation, Of large
working capital, if man would expect
success in the business Of market gar.
dening. He states in his book, "Gar.
denIng for Profit" that 1t is not safe for
a gardener to begin the business in the
vicinity of New York, with less than
$500, cash capital per acre. Now
while not near so much capital is need
ed to manage an ordinary farm as q
market garden, there is just as much
advantage in having cash capital on
the farm as in the garden, and much
of the failure to realize iair profit
comes from the fact that the farmers
means are all invested in land, and
none left to improve it.
"But," says some reader, "whats the
use Of aggravating us by such state
ment; we have not this surplus Of
funds, and how are we to get it2"
Well, there are possibly some readers
of The Farmer who are Gland poor"
and who might sell off enough land to
furnish the needed capital, or there
may be others who are tempted TO buy
more land, which will not only absorb
what capital they now have, but run
them in debt besides, and such may
possibly be benefited by having their
attention called TO this matter.
The farmer who has thousand dol
lars capital TO use in his business can
always pay cash down for oil supplies,
implements, ETC., etc, that he needs,
and he will ordinarily save double what
the money would bring if put at inter-
est, Again, he can often buy feed,
when it is low and is likely TO rise, and
effect quite saving. 1t is often the
case that a saving OF 80 per cent. can
be made by timely purchase.
The farmer with no capital is always
crippled in his farm management. His
purchases must be made on credit, and
when a crop is sold the money goes 20
pay Off old debts, and leaves bin TO
fight through another year on the same
line. II, as is sometimes the case, his
corn crop is short, he can 60 out and
lay in supply of feed in anticipation
of rise, but must either sell his stock
at a sacrifice, or take the risk Of buying
feed at high prices in the Spring. He
wants to improve his stock, and has
chance TO get some first-class animals,
but he has no money TO pay Tor them.
There are bargains offered often in his
neighborhood by men who are selling
out, or who for some reason must part
with their property, but he has not the
funds and can not get the benefit of
them.
He secures crop, and although he
has every reason to believe it will soon
advance in price he can not hold it for
he is out of money. He perhaps sees
that bone meal doubles the crop of
wheat on his neighbours farm and he
would like to try ton Of it, but he
can not spare the cash. A few acres
of bis best land fails TO produce any
thing but weeds and wild grasses be-
cause of the wet, aud he would be glad
TO drain it, but draining costs money
and he has none TO spare.
A few years OF farming under such
circumstances discourages him, he lCses
ambition, grows careless, and old age
finds him keeping up the same hope
less warfare with poverty. Now | am
not arguing especially against large
farms, for the man who has the capital
and business capacity to manage a
largo farm can make more money in
proportion than the one with q small
farm, for his business will justify the
purchase Of all modern implements
that save time and labor. What | do
say is that q man who has only money
enough to buy and stock fifty.acre
farm is not wise, ordinarily, If he buys
one hundred acres and then there are
thousands of men now approaching
middle life who have battled with debt
and the legion of troubles which ac-
company il in trying TO hold on TO
more land than they have capital TO
manage, who would be wise TO either
sell part of the land, or if il can not
be divided, sell out and buy a smaller
or cheaper farm. There Is probably
no ono thing that has done so much TO
retard progress among farmers as this,
and perhaps no one evil 80 universal.
feel safe in asserting that more than
half the farmers of my acquaintance are
crippled for want of capital.
have had long experience in this
matter and therefore write feelingly
about it, and as look back over tho
experience Of the last twenty years /
have no doubt that should have en-
ioyed more Of life and have been worth
as much to-day II had been satisfied
on my little farm Of forty acres, on
which | began life, and kept cash
capital on hand that would have ena.
bled me 20 make every inch Of ii pro.
ductive, instead of putting every dol.
lar 1 could make into land aud always
feeling cramped for working capital |
have large sympathy for young men
who start on the farm as i did, with.
out dollar, and who have no expec-
tation of any outside help, and ] wish
to cay to such that | have lived long
enough TO prove the truth Of the adage
that "littlc farm well tilled"--the
owner Of which is out of debt and has
a little something laid by for rainy
day-is one Of the greatest blessings
man can have, and will bring him far
more comfort than TO be the owner OF
broad acres il he is short Of working
capital Waldo, in Ohio Farmer.