The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1888-04-17
SUCCESSFUL FARMING.

"The prime object of all business is
gain.
Gain may be divided into two
classes: cash, and increase of resources.
Something must produce this in
crease; it may be capital, or enterprise,
ar the two combined. The successful
combination of the two, aided by
foresight and persistence, is the only
sure road to success.
One great cause of failure in any
business, especially where capital is
small, or the person is in debt, is the
fact that the reasoning faculty is
allowed to become clouded by the
haste for immediate profit forgetting
the business maxim that present profit
must not be allowed to diminish the
ability to produce. If increase of re-
sources is gain, diminution of resources
must be loss. AS an illustration of
this look at the farmer who sells all
his grain, as grain, instead of putting
it into stock, thus robbing his land of
the fertilization to be gained by feed
ing them upon it; spending days and
maybe weeks getting it to market
when it might all be driven there in
one trip. It is safe rule to feed, as
nearly as possible, all grain upon the
ground on which it was raised. No
fear need be entertained in regard to
this rule not paying; it's foundation is
in sound business principles, and if
carefully and persistently followed
success is certain. Stick to whatever
is founded on good business principles
and pays a small profit. Life is of
sufficient length to amass a compe-
tency by saving small amount yearly,
and it is the only sure way to do so.
Take an interest in your work. Edu-
cate yourself in your branch of busi-
ness. Expand your mind as well as
your hands. Take, read and think
about what is in the papers of the day.
There is more money made by read
ing an hour each day, provided you
digest what you read, by giving that
hour to work. It is the brain, not the
hand, that enriches; but keep up with
your work. Let your brains rule
your hands, not your hands your
brains. No man who has a brain and
uses it can expect his hands to do the
work his brain has failed to do. If he
allows his work to get ahead of him it
will master him instead of him master
ing it. No advantage can be taken
of work if you are behind; by being
behind in work is meant not only that
the corn must not be choked with
weeds, and fences kept up, but also
your plans must be kept up. They
are as much part of your work as
your plowing. Know what is to be
the next crop in field year ahead.
What the next days and the next
weeks work is as we'll.
The poet says: "They who would
prosper must be both prudent and
fore-casting." Solomon describes the
sluggard's farmer and sends him to
the ant for advice. And as he uses
the ant, the smallest of creatures, for
an example, let us initiate him: utilize
and care for the smallest things, but
do not become little in SO doing. Be
master of everything, and master
everything in such a way that it will
increase your resources mentally,
bodily, financially and morally. [
fear that sometimes farmers lose sight
of the fact that those in other pursuits
of life are using up nearly all Of their
income in their living. Ninety five
per cent. of the mechanics use up all
they make in the year, while seventy
five per cent. of the renting farmers
are laying away small sums yearly.
Yet farmers complain that farming