The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1886-12-17

able difference OF opinion even among th-
most careful calculators.) Then comes the
cost of fertilizers, and in this item it is al
most impossible to determine just how much
of the outlay shonld be charged to the first
crop.
Farmers seldom apply manures with the
sole intent of getting one return. They
look fnrther, and when planting wheat
have also in view the trass which is to
succeed it, and hence we cannot accurately
divide the responsibility Of the ontlay be-
tween them. Then comes the straw which
although not much priced, yet is of consid
cradle value when properly handled, -
enough so as least to warrant us in giving
it place in our account of profit and loss
The same general reasoning will apply to
raising corn, whatever manures are used in
its production must, in part be charged to
the oats or wheat which are to follow, and
the fodder is TO be entered on the credit side.
But reason as we may--there is one thing
certain, the success or failure in conduct
ing farm depends almost entirely upon
capabillty of the man a. the helm. /, is so
in all other pursuits, why not in ours?
Why should We be exempt? Look at the
merchants III the different parts of the
country. Those men who stand behind
their counters and await your coming as
the spider in his net awaits the entrance of
the fly! Some of them are making sue
Gees of their business. and becoming rich,
some are merely holding their own, while
OTHERS are going behind. Take :he profess
ional men, and you will find the same ire
quality. Observe the lawyers swarming in
the country towns of our state. A very
few are up at the top of the Ladder. a
large number are somewhere about the
middle, and much larger number at the
end nearest the ground. l could mention
one in our county who has his position on
the top; one who towers above his fellows
mentally, but not physically, because like
the Dutchman's cow, he is bigger when ly
ing down.
Th. same holds good of Doctors, and ev-
en- Clergymen. Among the former you
find some who are eminent for their skill
with the knife, and are called to all the
important and difficult cases even from
long distances, whilst others who were their
classmates and enjoyed the same advantages
are entirely overlooked. Amongst the
clergy you find some who are far in ad-
vance of their fellows, and who are sought
after at higher salaries, while others find
their level according to their qualifications.
1t is not to be expected then that all farm.
ers should meet with general success. Like
others they differ in fitness for their work
Some are too indolent, some too thick
headed and dull, some know how to do bet
ter than they 'ry, some try who don't know
how. Now and then you come across one
who possesses both energy and skill and he
generally gets along.
The whole secret of success in farming
does not consist in raising crops; the proper
disposition of them has much to do with it.
When corn is selling at 40 cents bushel
the thoughtful producer does not place it
on the market and further depress the
price, but feeds it to his stock, and disposes
of it in beef at bstter figures. He thus gains
in two ways, by realizing more for his crop
and by enriching his land for those which
follow. But this will not be good advice
to give everyone. Some could do better by
selling the grain. They might not under-
stand the methods OF feeding and could not
make good selections of cattle, might neth-
er know profitable feeder or how to feed
it. And if all, or even a large majority
W ent into the feeding business the price
would decline, and the markets become
glutted, and all would become losers. Beef
is low enough now. and / wish to call your
attention to this fact, that the difference
between the price on foot and in the cart is
out of all proportion. We are selling pret
ty good steers at a trife Over4 cents, and
pa wing for the same when slaughtered, l6
cents, or the same we paid when we got
a third more. This can and should he con-
trolled. These middle men are useful and
shorld he encouraged but not at 30 great
cost If we could kill and hang up beef
and use it, the consumer would be indie
pendent of these dealers, but it wont keep,
and hence some one must slaughter and
peddle around. When it is evident that
the profits of these men are so much in ex-
cess of what they should be, il is an easy
matter to bring them to terms in one or
two ways, Either demand higher price
for the animals when alive or insist on a
reasonabl reduction when dead.
We must curtail our expenses in some
y l.