Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1893-05-20
The Jack OF All Trades.


Fifty years ago the chief aim Of the
farmer was to prevent the outgo of
money. Currency was hard to OBJ
tain, and no effort was too great that
prevented the expenditure of cash.
This condition Of affairs led to the
practice of doing on the farm all
possible kinds Of work. The farmer
felt obliged to keep an alleged KIT OF
shoemaker tools, of carpenter tools, OF
blacksmithing tools, and so on to the
end Of the list While we have passed
this era, says a writer in the Practical
Farmer, yet there fingers with US the
idea that the farmer should produce
all he consumes, so far as nature
will permit, and that he pay out no
money when he can get what he
wants through the labor Of his own
hands.
II a farmer is natural mechanic
and likes to work with tools because
he is handy and rapid with them, it
may pay such one to own a good kit
and turn mechanic now and then, but
the majority of farmers are very in
different mechanics and when they
undertake to make repairs OF build
ings or implements, they can figure
no profit from the work only by esti-
mating their time as worth nothing.
Even If they pay out good money for
good tools, they are not kept in order,
and the farmer works hard only to
accomplish very little. Ionce thought
that a good farmer should have a
first-class workshop and good line
of carpenter and other tools. now
find that it is far cheaper not to try
to be jack Of all trades, but to at
tend to my business as farmer, and
let mechanics do the work in which
they are skilled. II repairs about the
house or barn are needed, I can hire
a carpenter for 81 day who will
come with sharp tools, and every kind
needed, and do the work in one day
that the average farmer could do in
two or three. Good tools are eXpen-
sive, and it pays to let those buy them
who have constant use tor them.
One of the chief faults Of the
farmer is failure to put true value
upon his time. If he is worth any
thing in his chosen business, he can
not afford to fool around all day do
ing some kind of work he has no fit
ness for, merely to save half dollar.
If his time is worth no more than
that, 1t would be money in his pocket
to rent the farm and work by the
day.
1t was the failure to value time
Alright that led farmers in the past
to plant patch of everything under
the sun that would be used on the
farm All the energy was used to
prevent the paying out Of money.
Nearly all farmers have natural
adaptation for special products, and
their owners have skill and knowledge
in special lines. There are certain
cash crops that give more than other
crops These are the ones that de-
serve the best care and attention of
the farmer.
An acre Of ground may be made to
grow a half dozen different kinds of
supplies for the farm, thus prevent
ing the necessity of expanding money
at the store, but If that acre can be
made to produce cash crop that will
buy all these supplies, and require
only half as much of the time and
labor Of the farmer, it is business to
let the patches go. The little side
crops take too much valuable time in
the busy season, and those who grow
these supplies as field crops on soil
and with tools adapted to their cuI-
ture, can sell US what we need far
more cheaply than we can grow them.
/ believe that very few kinds Of
crops are enough for one farm. Mod
ern tillage requires many costly tools,
and it is better to push few paying
crops than to fritter away time on
numberleSs patches BY so doing
there is less danger Of neglecting any,
thing, and there is more net profit
at the end of the year. Some side
crops may be raised because they pay
in cash, but the planting of every
thing with the idea that a farmer
must pay out no money for anything
is relic Of a bygone era that will never
return. -Gallia Co., Ohio.