The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1890-05-22
FARMER AND PLANTER.
FARM ACCOUNTS.
The Importance of Keeping Accurate Ac-
count of Farm Operations.

The Importance of Keeping Accurate Ac-
count of Farm Operations.
Every business man-and the farmer
is engaged in the most important BUSH
ness of all-should keep some sort of ac-
count which will show him whether he
is making profit or loss.
Business methods applied to farms are
as essential to success, financially, COM
mercia1ly and socially, even to every
farmer as it is to every merchant,
manufacturer or other vocation; yet
how few farmers are there that even
keep few rude memoranda of their
business transactions, and how few
are there in any other business
vocation but what. do. Where
or what is the occupation of
which one would expect aught else
but failure if carried blindly on, season
after seasons year after year, without
ever taking an account of stock on hand
or keeping an account of expenditures
or receipts, the man or firm apparently
content as long as business keeps along
and makes 'both ends meet" as the
saying is? Yet how many farmers are
doing that very identical thing, consid-
ering themselves fortunate, or perhaps,
as they might express it lucky if they
only come out whole at the end of the
year. If not so fortunate, they grum-
blingly complain that farming doesn't
pay. Yes, we all sadly realize that it
doesn't pay "big," at present ruinously
! low prices for our surplus products; but
rest assured that the old saying, shat
/ it it is a long road that has no turn, !"
will yet be proven as applied to farm
ers, by better demand and prices.
We have heard many farmers ask,
What is the use of bothering our heads
and taking our time with accounts, bal
ances and inventories, for all that we
can manage to get we make way with.
Besides, they declare that the condition
of the purse at all times shows for itself.
To all such declarations l would say, !
deem that one of the most serious rea-
sons why, as class, we farmers are not
considered as successful in our pursuits
as those in numerous other vacations,
who have many less advantages than
ourselves. 1t is because we lack the
vim for pursuing our business principles
We let things take their course with
out knowing whence or wherefore" the
profit or loss comes in. l deem it g
mistake, a fault, with the farmer
that does not keep some sort of farm
aecounts-which one can do who car
read or write, in some way. If ever sc
rude and rough it matters not SO much
provided the individual himself under
stands it. don't make pretensions tina
each farmer should, if he could, keel
elaborate accounts, as firm or man o
much business does, for that nigh
neeessitate too much time or expense
but do consider it his duty to keep a
much as a record of his expenditure
and receipts, as much as he considers
his duty to see that his mich cows ar
MIXED daily 1t is with that as witt
any thing else, after getting the habi
formed (the younger and sooner the bet
ter in this easel, he will not once thinl
or consider it more of an irksome dut
to make the entries than it is for tn
habitual tobacco-user to partake of hi
customary ''quid" after meals, or ligh
his pipe or cigar.
One can begin by keeping the sim
plest and most essential accounts tina
arise on farm, and after the habit
formed. and ere he is scarcely aware, h
will be branching out on other account
on broader scale-as accounts on di1
ferent crops, poultry, dairy, etc. L
fact, he can keep diversity of account;
and the same as other vocations hav
their accounts for each branch or dc
partment of their business, all cente
, ing finally in the general inventor!
| showing by general statement, at lea'
once year, their standing. Beside
| there is much good mental discipline
t keeping accounts.-J. G. Underwood,
Mirror and Farmer.