St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1888-03-10
FARM MANAGEMENT.
Some of the Minor Causes of Failure in
Making Farming Profitable.

Some of the Minor Causes of Failure in
Making Farming Profitable.
1t is estimated that only half the
farmers in this country who own the
places they occupy are free from debts
that draw interest. Oh these the ma
iority have no working capital. They
have no bank account that they can
draw on in case they need money to
erect buildings, purchase improved
stock, buy agricultural Implements,
obtain seed or pay laborers. Their
general practice is to have a running.
account with several traders and me.
chanics, and to meet their obligations,
or at least to try to meet them after
they have marketed their crops and dis.
posed of their fat animals late in the
fall or near the commencement of VIM
ter.
These farmers may not endure the
miseries mortgage brings, but they
do not enjoy the pleasures nor profit by
the advantages of ready money. All
manufacturers know the Importance
of working capital. A fair working:
capital is as important to a farmer rs.
to a manufacturer. 1t enables him to
buy necessaries to the best advantage.
1t also enables him to take advantage
OF the folly of others who have con-
tracted debts and are obliged to sacri"
flee stock or other things in order to
meet their obligations. In England g.
tenant farmer is expected to have
working capital of ten dollars for every
acre of land he rents, and few can OBJ
tain land to work if they do not have
this amount of capital. This will al.
low him to purchase his seed, nipple.
ments and fertilizers, to pay his men
at the end of every month. and to
meet his rent bill, which is there due
twice year. In this country it is rare
to find a tenant farmer who has ny2
working capital. His property is linl1
tied to team, few hogs and cows.
and ordinary farming implements. He
lives on faith and trust till he can raise
a'crop and dispose of it. If he fails to
raise one some one besides himself and
HIS lanulUGu must SulIer. -
Lack of business tact and failure to-
employ business principles in farming,
operations and in buying and selling
are frequent causes of failure. Many
persons conduct farming in very
loose sort of way. They never take an
inventory of what they have, and they
keep no accounts. 1t would be difficult
for many to ascertain whether they are
richer or poorer than they were year
ago. They do not know whether they
were gamers or loosers by raising
certain crop or by feeding a lot of ani-
mails. They can not tell whether their,
cows are sources of profit or loss. Sew
eral horses may ''eat their heads off,
before their owner makes the discov--
cry. They are generally ignorant
or the times when their obligations are.
due. They have many running ac-:
counts, and they would continue to run,
indefinitely if traders and mechanics
did not suggest stop They fall into.
the habit of buying goods on credit,
stuo uiiOy hOfSL IAtihC SAcf w SCsi
out of it. They do not put themselves
in the way of learning how much bet
ter they can do with ready money than,
with promises to pay at an indefinite
time, as after harvest or when the cat
tie and hogs are disposed Of They
seem to think that credit is better than
capital, as it is not taxed
Many have noticed that town mer-
chants and manufacturers generally
succeed in farming, though they ar
lacking in knowledge and experience
They have much to learn, and accord
ingly they take many agricultural pc
pers, read many facts, and follow til
advice they obtain from those we'll a
quainted with farm matters. The
succeed in an occupation with the d
tails of which they are not familiar, b
cause they apply to the business
farming the same methods they en-.
ployed when they were engaged il
manufacturing or selling goods. They
are constantly on the lookout to see
what things pay and what do not
They are likely to know how much
every bushel of grain and every animal
cost when they are ready to sell. They
take an account of stock at - certain
time every year. They soon find out
they are making or losing
money and in what particular branch
of farming or stock-raising the loss or
gain occurs. If they incur debts they
are for specified times. They meet
their obligations when they are due
If they are not as good farmers as most
Of their nelghbors they are better trad
ers and conduct their affairs in a buslf
ness-like manner They always know
how they stand.
There is quite class in almost ey
cry country that meet with very poo
success in farming from cause thaj'
mas not been referred to. They own ;s
place, and are working it till such
time as they can find customer for 1t
Perhaps the place is mortgaged' ane
they feel that they can never tree
from its circumference. 1hey want t'
,ell ont. and are looking for some on