The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1884-01-24
bookkeeping on the Farm.

The successful farmer manages his
bus ness by. business principles. He
keeps strict accounts Of all transactions,
and always knows that his income ex-
cecds his outlay The farmer can no
more achieve a money success on the
farm without an accurate record OF
business transactions than can the shop
keeper The man who keeps strict ac-
counts knows just what he is worth,
and the amount he can afford to spend
from month to month, without interfer-
ing with his business. He appreciat
the labor a dollar represents, and VII
be cautious that each dollar is spent for
returns worth that amount to him.
The cost Of the necessary books fol
keeping accounts is small and an hour
spent, say two evenings in each week,
will be sufficient on most farms foT
| making the records. All purchases
and sales, with the dates and prices
whether paid for OF bought or sold on
credit should he noted. A record
too of the work done and the weather
| for each month win be found of value.
| All special business transactions ought
| $50 to be carefully noted.
| Many farmers are deferred from book
/ Keeping because they are not furnished
/ with the science. For this class are
| provided and for sale bv leading sta
! toners, form account books with print
! ed headings for the various departments
! Of the farm business that render the
! Keeping OF accounts an easy matter.
| For the ordinary farmer there need be
! but one hook and that in the form of
! merchants cash book This book may
! he kept by placing on the left-hand page
| all debts, and on the opposite one all
| credits. From these two pages a bal
auce can be obtained any time the farm
er desires to know how the accounts
stand.
difficulty with many beginners in
bookkeeping Is to determine Just what
to charge, and for what to give credit.
| MIR. Waring. on this subject, oives the
following rule: when you let your
neighbor or lie with whom you deal
have anything from you, il is a charge
against him, and you must charge him
with it on the debit side Of the account,
but when YOU receive anything from
him it is a credit, and you must credit
| him with it on the credit side of the aC-
count If YOU sell your neighbor a load
OF hay which he does not pay for when
| delivered, he becomes your debtor for
| the value of the hay. GOU buy COW
without paying cash of another neigh
Dor, that neighbOr becomes your creditor
for the price of tle COW. Accounts can
be kept with crops, fields or animals in
the same manner. A crop is debtor TO
the use Of the land and expense of pre-
pairing it. the value OF the seed. and cost
of planting or sowing, to the expenses
of cultivation. harvesting and market
ing, and credited by the amount Of
money received for what is sold and the
value of the portion used ut home. A
COW is debtor to her first cost, interest
on money invested. and the expenses Of
keeping; and credited by the value of
her calves and milk.
A good plan is to open the book with
an account of the farm. On the left
hand page enter the present cash valu-
alton of the farm, the cash value of farm
implements theron and all new tools
and machinery bought and repairs
made during the year. On the right
hand page enter the amount received
for implements sold. etc. Next open
| accounts with each field also with the
sheep. dairy cattle, etc. Each Of these
| accounts viii show its gains or losses
from which to decide future manage
ment. At the end Of the year place on
the right-hand side Of the farm account
a fair valuation of the farm and farm
implements, balance up the field and
| cattle accounts and carry the balances
to the farm account. You viii then
| know whether You are richer or poorer
than at the beginning of the year, also
| Just where the losses were sustained or
profits made. In a word, the account
with the farm viii show to the utmost
farthing how much money has been
lost or gained. and the following ac-
counts with various fields or depart
men:s, which Of them has been most
profitable and which the least.
IF care be taken Il, have the accom- +
book and pen and ink in a convenient
place for use the farmer viii find it but
little trouble to keep it posted. Where
diversified farming is practiced on an
extended scale day-book and ledger
will be found more convenient than the
ordinary cash-bOOk.
The simple principles of book-keep-
ing are now taught in many of the
schools and should be in all. Let the
bows and girls avail themselves of the
opportunity to learn these; then inTust
one of them with the responsibility OF
the bookkeeping. if for any reason
writing is n tedious occupation to the
older folks. BY one means or another
try the plan at least of keeping a short
account of expenditures and income
one-vear. January LIST is a good time
to begin, and the resultant benefits viii
prove such, no doubt as to insure an
other year careful account with all in
dividuals with whom a credit business
? is done, with the crops. the fields and
the stock. and an accurate record of all
. the money received and paddy J.
| World.