The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1881-09-22
Economy on the Farm.

Judicious economy is commendable
IN every business or sphere of life, and
should be studied and practiced on the
farm. Extravaganee is simply another
name for waste, and wastefulness is q
SIN against ourselves and our families.
VI late years there has been growing
tendency in this country toward use.
| less expenditure of money to maintain
style, which, when it exceeds neatness
and comfort. is all nonsense and waste.
In walking along the street a few nights
since, we saw a man riding in a light
two wheel rig, and driving two horses
tandem. 1t was the first tandem team
we had seen for long time, and it sug-
gested to our mind what such tomfooi-
cry always does, that the owner had
more money than brains. Against such
style and extravaganza of like charac-
ter. it is the duty of every sensible man
to set his face. Farmers do not USUALLY
descend to such Stiffness as this, but in
many cases, perhaps, they are IMPROVE
dent and careless in the matter of ex-
penditures. they should have all that
IS necessary for comfort. for no man in
all this world is more in duty bound to
treat himself and his family well than
the farmer is. Their work is arduous.
and they deserve the best in reward for
their toll.
But there is such a thing as false
economy, and it is about as bad as ex-
travagance. On trip through the
country the other day we saw MANY rich
and elegant farms, with but rare apol-
ogy for a house and no barn or other
building whatever on them. A shed
covered with straw, and we presume in
winter enclosed with straw, served for
barn. while the hogs, if there were
any. and the chickens, if chickens were
kept, were provided with no shelter at
all. This, no doubt, is often considered
economy, but although it bears that
name, 1T is far from being economy.
No business can be carried on snccess-
fully without the necessary tools and
implements, and suitable buildings on
the farm are in the nature of tools. If
carpenter enters upon his work with
out saw, an augur. a plane or a
hatchet, or if he enters upon it with
tools that are worn out or dull, it will
take him two or three days to do one
days work. and his economy, il he calls
~ tnat, Will be no economy at all Bet
ter he should expend months wages
for proper outfit.
:, So with the farmer. He cannot do az
well without things to do with as be can
It ne is fully equipped for his business.
His stock should have proper buildings,
and unless it does have them, they viii
annually lose him a heavy percentage.
especially in our long, cold winters at
the North. Not to speak at all of an
pearances, which are worth a good
deal, straw barns'' are not what the
farmers OF our rich agricultural West /
should have. In the older sections of
the country there is really no excuse for
not having good and convenient build |
ings- In newly settled portions, Of
course the farmer has to do the best he |
can. We earnestly hope that no reader
OF this paper will try to get his stock |
through another winter without pro-
yiding it with suitable protection. The |
fatality among stock last winter ought |
to be sufficient warning. - Western |
Rural.