The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1883-08-02

them to share their future. They do
not then consider that she will be the
most real, active force in their whole
lives, almost irresistible, with power to
drag them down or to lift them up in
body, mind and soul.
A Successful Farmer.
What may be done with email capital,
good management, and industry is told
by Northern Michigan farmer in the
Rural New Yorker:
lam convinced that the man who keeps
accounts does not habitually run large
store bills, smoke many cigars, or spend
much of his time or money in saloons. I
say keep accounts and be honest with
yourself and put everything down. AS
the editor seems to desire Il I will brief
~ give my experience which is eome-
what anomalous and not very instructive.
as believe. The first attempt I made
ut saving money to build up home was
in 1870, when came, without money.
to what is known as the Grand Traverse
district in Northern Michigan. The
country was quite new then, there being
not more than two or three settlers in
the township, and scarcely dozen scat
tered here and there in the whole coun-
try. We were SO miles from the nearest
store or post. office, and more than 100
miles from the nearest railroad station.
AS to law, we had none, nor did we
seem to need it. Our supplies had to
De hauled that distance over
miserable bush roads and some of
them carried part of the way on our
backs. You can readily imagine we did
not live in the same style that our
friend w. H. Vanderbilt does, but I do
believe we were just as happy. Well. I
homesteaded l6O acres of land, and what
l consider strong point was, I stuck to
it. Some got dishearented and left, but
none, that l have heard from, to better
themselves. I ard q friend kept
'batch"-he was something of a farmer
and was something of a cook 80 we
did very we'll together. In 1875, think
it was, I disposed of my friend, took a
wife and commenced for myself as a
poor man farming for profit. I knew
little of the business. Nine-ten ths of
the commonest farm operations were
new to me. Our stock in trade at that
time consisted of $50 acres of land ten
acres improved with log barn and no
house. l had no team. no stock, no
farm implements, few household uten-
sils and no capital besides. A little out
side property..would just about off.
set my debts. I worked out in
the winter time and in the summer time
stayed at home and improved the place.
For different reasons made hay lead
ing crop. 1t brought high price, my
land was adapted to it, and it left me
more time to improve the farm. The
improvement Of the farm made lead
ing idea arguing that the first thing to
I got little better off bought an OK
team; then a horse team which have
kept ever 81 &c.
All this time was studying farming
from books and papers and was expert
menting on small scale. Every wear
found myself by the blessing of Provi-
dence, little better off tn an the year
be ore. l have gone in debt for plows
and harroWs, for cultivator horse
rake and mower, and never regretted
the fact. An agricultural implement
should atIeast pay % per cent. on the in
vestment 1Oper cent for use of and
Is per cent for depreciation of property.
Two years ago I also went in debt for q
thoroughbred short-horn bull, which
hope to make pay by improving the
stock. I am now out Of debit have 80
acres improved; two barns, one stable, a
granary Capacity l 900 bushels, and com.
Portable log house, have II head of cattle,
three horses and all this past seasons
crop ESTIMATED value 5000 ahead. It
has all beer made here, and have had
no labor but my owl, except what l
hired. We are now within easy reach
of q railroad, have post'office in sight,
md 10 NJ ~,
every point Of the compass. l always
clover heavily regardless of the price of
seed. of which 1 SOW the cleanest
and best in market. 1t does
not pay to sow weed seed because
we may happen to get the clover seed a
little cheaper. T re cheapest is much the
dearest in the end. keep the best
stock I can: They are more pleasant to
handle, they are more profitable,
| remunerative prices. So called fancy
stock leave for men with more money.
I have never sold busilel Of wheat. ex-
cept at fancy prices for seed, preierring
to mill it, thereby saving the bran fol
feed and to put back on the land. l al
ways hire the best help l can get, be-
lieving them to be more profitable than
inferior hands. When we have help we
aim to give them good start in the
morning so they will not have to hurry
to do days work. Regularity of meals
and general smoothness and pleasant
ness of life are necessary to the best re-
suits with hired help. For the house we
always buy, when we can, unadulterated
groceries, pure sugar, pure syrup I'M
ground coffee, etc. In clothes we always
try to preserve happy medium.
have thus strung together some gen.
eral maxims, the observance of which
believe to be Of more value than any set
system of farming that ] could suggest.
No good general manager will remain
| poor farmer. Each man at starting
must adapt himself to surrounding con
ditions, but if he is guided by proper
business principles he cannot fail of sue.
cess.