Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1891-11-18

A[ self only by the
pro b b lie de-
mands of his trade, and the capacity
of his warehouse to store the goods.
If he did not or could not do this he
would find his trade falling off, and
customers leaving him until he might
justly complain that his business was
not profitable, and would not give
him a comfortable support.
But, says the American Cultivator,
how many farmers follow this method?
DO they, when their cash in hand ex-
ceeds their expenses, invest it again
in the business that they best under
stand, and strive to be limited only
by the productive capacity of their
land and stock, or do they place it in
some savings bank, where there are
high-salaried officials to guard it, and
to invest it for them? Do they buy
bonds and stocks and shares in vari-
Gus companies, of whose management
they have neither knowledge nor
share?
Do they buy more land while that
which they already own is only
partially productive, because of in
sufficient expenditure of capital upon
it? Do they eXpend it for snowy resi-
dences, while their barns are incon-
venient and unfit for the proper
stabling Of their stock? DO they buy
fine buggies when they have not good
working carts upon the farm, pianos
when they have more need of plOwS,
and cover their house floors with
costly carpets, while their fields are
barren from a lack of sufficient COW
ering Of manure.
Probably very few farmers are
guilty Of all these mistakes in the
use Of their capital, and there are but
few who are free from all of them or
similar ones. 1t is true that the
farmer and the farmers family
should have a right to all the con-
veniences and many of the luXurIeS
enjoyed by the successful merchant,
but neither have clear title to them
unless successful, and neither can at
tain high grade Of success if he does
not have sufficient capital in his bust
ness to conduct it properly, and each
should have reserve fund in the
bank for emergencies when he can.
But he should use it when it will pay
in the business an interest fourfOld
that paid by the bank.
When a thoroughbred or a high
grade COW Will make a hundred
dollars worth of butter in year, and
a scrub cow only makes forty dollars
worth, while it costs but little more
to feed one than the other, money
invested in improved breeds Of COWS,
or in pure male from which to raise
up a herd of grades, will pay better
returns to the dairymen than can
be obtained from bank stock or rail
road shares Or Western farm mort
cages.
When a small extra investment in !
better seeds and more liberal manur-
ing will increase the crop without in
creasing the labor of cultivation will |
make an increase in the money re-
turn four times as great as the eX-
penditure; when better tools will save |
their cost in one seasons labor, while |
with care they will do good work for
five or ten years, then is the time |
when the farmer can make money by
spending money.
When the expenditure of S25 or S35
per acre for tile drains will enable a
field that now yields less than $40
worth Of poor grass a season to pro-
duce $35 worth of the best, and fit it
for the growth Of any crop that Will
yield profitable returns, it is economy
to spend money, and SO it is when
similar sum or smaller one will so
renOvate an old pasture which now
only feeds about one cow upon six
and better for six times that number.
In short, every farmer should see
for himself the manner in which he
could improve his land, his buildings,
animals, tools or methods Of work
ing, so that dollar invested will be
placed at better rate of interest
than any one else will pay him for it.
If he doubles the producing capacity
of his land, it is better than it would
be to double the number of acres,
and if he spends his money judiCiOusly,
and uses good Judgment in managing
his business afterWard, he has not
lost his money, but has changed an
idle dollar thai only earned cents
in a year for a lively one that will
earn 25 cents. And when he has
made such improvements that his
business is up to its full capacity, or
to the measure of his capacity as
manager, than he may indulge in the
luxuries of life and may deliver over
his surplus profits to the bankers and