The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1888-08-04
MAKING FARMING PAY.
II Can Be Done by Conducting Work on
Strict business Principies.

ft Can I3e Dons BY Conducting Work on
Strict Business Principles.
The farmer is self-sustaining and his
living Is insured, to soy the least.
This ought to bring contentment The
fact that now and then n merchant
secures large wealth by favorable ac-
cidents and extensive operations should
not blind us to the fact that In propor-
tion to the number engaged, great
many more farmers than merchants
advance to independence, II not wealth.
The average mechanic seldom lays by
enough to buy himself little home, to
say nothing of surplus for "rainy
day." Those who earnestly follow
agricultural pursuits never fail to have
| comfortable food and clothing, and
homes for themselves and families.
In order to make farming pay we
should first Of all secure n better
knowledge Of our calling. The doctor,
to be successful, must be educated in
his profession. The lawyer, minister,
and in fact all engaged in professional
| business, must be educated in their
calling to be successful. And farmers
who expect to make money in such
times as these must use brains as well
as muscle. They must get out Of the
old ruts or they will be left far in the
rear. 1t is not advisable to go in debt
at any time, but just now we should be
especially particular not to buy and
use beyond our ability to pay. There
is no more occasion for running in debt
now than when farm products brought
in twice as much money as they do at
present. A bushel of wheat will buy
rs many yards OF calico, as many
pounds of sugar or nails, as it would
when we got a dollar and II half for it.
And as long as it will do this the
farmer should not grumble.
If you are a young man just starting
out with capital to invest, never put it
into poor farm. 1t will take a life
time to bring it up to the point where
1t can be farmed proftably. and then
you will be ready to die. Go where
land is good and cheap. In improving
your farm put up good and substantial
buildings. If you can not finish as you
would like, let the work be good as far
as it goes. Keep on good terms with
your neighbors by keeping four fences
in good repair, and make it rule
never to borrow, and when you can do
so without mourning the displeasure Of
a neighbor too much, refuse to lend.
No man has any more right to ask for
the free use of implements than to ask
for the loan of a COW for a few days,
Where farmers are located near each
other they may find it to their mutual
advantage to purchase farm implements
in partnership Or exchange implements
when it can be done without interfer-
ing with each others plans or putting
back work in the very busiest season.
But this is quite different from whole-
sale borrowing without any intention
of returning an equivalent.
What you should grow must depend
upon the locality of your farm. If you
are not satisfied with the returns the
crops you have been cultivating have
brought in, try a new departure, but
feel your way slowly. Don't venture
too much. 1t is a very good rule to
throw your strength into the leading
crop of your locality, carrying one or
two others along to fall back on in
case of bad luck with your leading
crop, and be sure to keep part OF
your farm in grass and clover, even if
Iyou only have ten acres. You must
increase your manure supply in every
way possible. Manure is cash; at
least if you don't make it on the farm
you are out the cash for commercial
fertilizers If you succeed in growing
paying crops. Have good stock to
work and good tools to work WITH and
when you get through with your tools
see that they are carefully housed. In
preparing for any crop let your land
be thoroughly prepared before seed.
ing. Let this be an invariable rule.
In cultivating begin early and let your
work be thorough, so that you may be
able to keep ahead of the weeds. When
your crop is ready to harvest delay nc
time in getting it housed. Sell all
your surplus and let nothing go to
waste. II you feed your grain give
your stock the very best care and at.
tention. Lastly, take good farm pa.
pers and keep posted on the crop pros.
poets, so you will know when to sell to
best advantage the produce of the
farm.-W. W. SteUcnS, in Ohio Farmer.