The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-12-20

The Sentinel repeatedly emphasizes the
fact that the farmer is engaged in an oc-
cupation demanding the same business
methods that are found in the factories
and stores of our towns.
The farm is a factory fitted for the pro-
'duction Of certain articles. and untitled
for the production Of others. The capt.
tai invested in it and its improvements
and equipments must be made TO pay a
fair interest above cost of production.
or else the business is poor one. This
Is not an easy thing TO do just now
competition is too severe. Half civilized
countries, having rich soils and serfs for
laborers, ara willing TO take a smaller
Irlce for grain than we are able to take.
But we have 10 meet competition, and
our only hope is in using the greater in
telligence that We possess. Educated
labor is always more productive than
ignorant labor. We must get our bust
hess into the best shape possible.
Nearing the close Of the year it is
we'll that we see whether we do not all
have some unproductive capital eating
up the profits Of the productive. When
anything is not paying and can not be
made 20 pay, the best policy is to get
rid OF II at once. on many farms may
be found stock that brings only loss at
the end of the year Sometimes 1t is a
horse that is not paying its way-one
that is not needed. but viii bring little
ST put on the market. 1t eats up what
the other horses produce. Probably S25
or $50 a year is thus thrown away. be-
sides the interest on the price of the ami
ho 70, So hca a
bunch Of scrubby fine wool sheep. that
has been on the farm for nearly a gcner-
alton. 1t has been neglected some, and
now that wool is low the income from
the flock does not actually pay the cost
of the food consumed. It is better to sell
at a seemingly very low price than to
keep that flock. 1t is a burden-it rep
resents unproductive capital.
The fowls on the farm may be notori-
ously poor layers. The hens are old, or
they are not naturally prolific. They eat,
eat, scratch and eat increasingly. Why
not market the whole lot? The same
money Will buy some choice pullets from
q neighbours flock that is known to be
of a laying strain. Then If they are kept
away from the corn cribs and given
some low-priced wheat instead of the
fattening corn, there should be eggs In
abundance. y little matter! Why, yes,
It may seem so, and yet hen should
bring in an income Of a dollar a year
easily enough. Better get $50 from a
flock than only SO. 1t is the old ques-
tion OF productive capital Everything
should do its share.
But TIE chief part of the unprOductive
capital is usually found in some of the
land. How few farmers can say that
every acre of their farms is doing its
full share. The swales, the swamps, the
knoles, the ridges-many acres that do
nothing but cut down the average yield
of the farm. Other acres are burdened
by this unprOductive land. How can this
be helped2 Here is the problem that
each must solve for himself. The writer
found it possible 10 tile the swamps first
at small cost. and the rich soil soon paid
for other tiles. One can start in a small
way, only taking care to follow a sys-
tenn of drainage that will be suited 10 all
the land. Let the ridges and knoles
rest Top-dress with the manure and
seed to clover. What if a strip of I'M
cultivated land is there right in the
field, If tillage on it never pays. Soon
It viii be ready TO do its share. The
problem of the day is: How can we con-
vert our unprOductiVe capital into CAPT
tai that will pay at least small inter
est, and cease to be a charge upon the
better investments.