Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1885-01-31

planted. 1t was first charged, as il,
the other cases, with its share of
taxes and interest with all the labor,
and seed, and fertilizers. If heavy
manures were applied, the first crop
would be charged with only por-
ton of the value-one-third or one
half-as part would remain in the
soil for the next crop, not being
wholly exhausted by the first crop.
The cost of harvesting and market
ing would of course be added to the
other labor on the debt side of the
account against the wheat crop. 1t
would then be credited with the en-
tire value Of the produce, both grain
and straw; and in some cases 1t
would be fair to add a small item to
the credit side for the value of stub
BILE pasture, if it were 50 used instead
of being soon plowed. An account
so kept (Which would not take ten
minutes each day. would keep the
farmer fairly posted, as to the profit
or loss of his operations, as clearly as
a mechanic or merchant is of his bus
mess.
In the same manner page of ac-
count would be opened and kept with
each crop, meadow, or animal-pen,
flock, or herd-on the farm, charging
them with the cost of labor, feed, and
care, and then fairly crediting them
with whatever was realized from
them in produce or service. A COW,
for instance, would be charged with
her cost, feed, care, &C., and then be
credited with the calf and all the
milk she gave. So with horse, to
be credited with his services "a sheep,
with her lambs and fleece poultry
with eggs and chicks; and so on
through the whole farm operations.
From this system much certain, re-
liable knowledge would be at hand
at all times from which to judge of
profit and loss.
Once begun and well entered upon,
this bookkeeping would not be
found a difficult OR unpleasant task.
On the contrary, to all people of taste
or order it would soon grow to be a
pleasant, attractive practice. Itwould
be exceedingly appropriate for the
boys and girls of a family, and would
become fine step in education to
them. ItWould enable them at the
start to acquire the first principles of
correct bookkeeping; from that they
would go on improving, and soon at
tain higher" degree of efficiency,
and finally possess that full capacity
which would enable them to occupy
positions as professional book-keep-
ers, should circumstances ever render
it necessary or desirable for them to
do so. 1t would also have a tenden-
cy to make the profession of agricul-
ture still more attractive, as well as
more profitable, by showing its more
attractive characteristics, and prov
ing more clearly what are the capa-
bilities and possibilities of this noble
profession for dignity and develop
ment of highest intellect and noblest
laborers and statesmen. incidental
ly, too, it would lead to the desire fol
a broader sphere of education by the
farmers young people, showing them
the benefits and pleasures of obtain.
ing fuller knowledge of figures in
making estimates of the cost and
value of everything used and requir.
ed in their business; of knowing the
best methods of doing all the work
the best breeds of animals, and the
best varieties of seeds. 1t would in.
spire them with an ambition to know
more of all the natural sciences
which lie at the foundation OF the
highest and most successful agricul
ture-such as botany, chemistry
geology, and natural histOry-just in
accordance with one of the beautiful
general laws of the human mind, in
which every step or advance in the
acquisition of knowledge leads to the
desire for still further acquisition
knowing one fact of principle creates
the desire to know more; and a:
there is no limit to the knowledge
that may be acquired, so there is ne
limit to the desire, in the intelligent
mind, for the possession of knOwl
edge.
There are many farmers who are
short of good hay, and, in fact, there
are always likelyto be, since the con
victiOn is fast spreading that hay i,