Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-01-28
PROFIT IN FARMING.
SUGGESTIONS AS TO HOW THIS RE-
suit CAN BE REALIZED.
Mr.. Howard swineford's Paper Read BE-
fore the Tuckahoe Farmers Club
Mt 1ts Last Meeting.


MIR. President and Members OF the Tucka-
hoe Farmers Club:
The question uppermost in the minds
OF our entire agricultural population to-
day is. How can we make farming profit-
able?' In attempting 10 solve TINS
problem various elements must be con-
sidered.
In any occupation or department OF
life more depends upon the man than
the business. as regards the ultimate
sue, ass In order TO be successful IN any
undertaking there are certain requisites
necessary to be observed, and they are
Just as true in farming as in any other
branch Of business.
desire now to set forth. as clearly
as possible. some of the more important
characteristics of "A successful farmer.
1. He must love the business. He may
not feel al the start that he knows much
about IT, but his desire for Information,
derived from his own daily experience ard
observation and the study OF others
wavs and successes will make him AFTER
n while deeply Interested in IT, His ambi-
ton is aroused, he desires 70 keep abreast
Of the times. Profting by the improve
rnents and progress around him, he soon
becomes "A man to be envied.
In these times we expect the merchant
TO be uD with the demands of the people
introducing all the new-fashioned goods
as they appear. and ondeavoring, as far
az possible, to conform to the customs
and requirements Of the people, ana seek
ing to please them while he pieases hiin-
self and his pocket.
II is lust as essential for the farmer
10 meet the demand of the times as the
merchant. the manufacturer. or any other
businessman in order to insure success.
How can he accomplish TINS?
MUST STUDY THE MARKET.
He must be thoughtful and studious.
He must know the wants OF the market
raise such crops as are most in demand,
and then secure the highest prices; study
the nature of his soil. the methods OF
improving it. and the cultivating Of crops
so as to get the best results. All these
require n great deal Of thought, cult
waited mind, broad views and association
with the work that IL Obliged TO interest
as it prospers In his hands.
The time used to be that the most
stupid sons OF the family were left to be
the farmers. while the brightest ana most
intelligent We're usually put to the pro-
LESSONS and other callings. That time
has passed The farmer Of the present
and future must be well-informed COM
pctcut TO answer questions constantly
presenting themselves. capable of under
standing the nature OF the elements with
which he has to deal as well as their
laws. posting himself with the agricultu-
raj literature of the times. able 10 think
and willing 30 experiment for himself.
.. He must practice business princi-
ples. We would not expect a man TO be
successful in any vocation who ala not
practice method: for If he becomes slo-
venly ia his ways. oVcrlooks the value oil
time. the proper care OF farm animals,
leaves farm implements ana tools whefe
they were last used. fails TO keep at least
a rough account Of receipts and eXperdI-
lures. such a one Is not worthy ~ the
name farmer.
prudent merchant or other business
man would not think Of going through a
single day without making all the proper
credits and charges on his books. III
would expect soon TO be a banktup: II III
neglected this. OF how mucl greater nm
uortance is the farmers book keeping
for his information and guidance. Nhcrf
the margin of profits often $ small an"
the percentage the proof OF results. II
the same thought. c1crSy, business TACT
and principles are assJc1tei WIN III,
farmers life that are used In the sue
cessful prosecution Of any other O~sihtss
am sure the profits will compare 'a'na
bly with those of the latter: AMI While II
Is true that few farmers can he called
wealthy, there are perhaps Il l1TS"r pro
portion of them in the enioym"it OF
competence than any one class Of mel.
THE LABOR QUESTION.
He must economizc and direct his Ia
Dor. In the circular of a manufacturer
of lead pencils. We are told: "The great
est cost IN making first-class lead-pehcii'
IS not I'm the wood. even when the smooth
est and straighest grained Florida cedar
is used. nor in the finishing and stamp
ing of the pencils, though the finest var
nsh and purest gold are used. The great
est cost is in the time and labor spent II
manipulating the materials of which th'
leads are made"
How MANY farmers realize that this ap
plies 10 the products they sell? The mos
costly thing OH the farm Is the labor anc
If not personally directed large share o.
nrofits Is suuandered. We are too apt to owe
look the little leaks of time. labor, lack o.
suitable tools. and wasted crops after they
are grown. The waste on some farms, u
utilized would be enough to keep th'
family comfortable, and make them ulti
mately wealthy. our soil becomes so pro
ductive that we ignore. after while, th'
little economies which often turn the scale
from loss to gain.
PRODUCING THE LARGEST AMOUNT
5. He must produce the largest amount
from given area. When the price OF
manufactured goods begins to decline th'
maker uses his best endeaYOrs, by i'm
proved machinery and in other ways, Il
furnish the same goods in greater quaint
ties and at less cost TO him, thereby con
tinuing to realize a profit. or when th'
businessman. wishes to double his sale
he does 1t with a small increase OF cleri
cal force In addition to the already well
established management; so the farme
who has the land. necessary buildings
and machinery equipment can prepare TN
ground. SOW, cultivate, harvest. and mar
ket a large crop from Il given piece %
land with very little more cost than al
average one while the increased yield vii
be a clear profit. SO that 1t is the sur
plus production OF each acre over the cos
Of raising the crop, or the raising OF maxi
mum crops at a minimum cost, which con
stitutes the real profit OF farming. AnC
as to how this can be most successful!
practiced Is one of the objects of thi
Farmers Club.
6. BY raising crops best suited to land
and market. IL the rich low-lands OF oui
rivers produce better corn and timothy
hay, and more of IL than the uplands
or other portions of the farm yield the
smaller grains and fruits 10 perfection
we would, of course. be influenced by
these results as TO future planting. II
we find that tobacco, potatoes, and pea
nuts require soil OF particular texture
we would be very foolish TO plant then
in an entirely different one and ther
expect good returns. When the trucker
along the eastern coast and bays of oul
State hnds that to make very early
planting of potatoes, peas, ana berries
he can meet the wants and prices OF anx'
ious spring markets. and that he car
realize more money than by the raising
of corn and hay, he will be most likely
TO grow the former. Or IL he farms
little further in the interior, has by ex-
perience found that peanuts. sweet pota'
toes. and other vegetables grow In their
light ground and yield better returns than
the cereals. or the farmer who has a
heavy red clay soil is satisfied that the
grasses for pasturage and hay, grains
tobacco. and fruits, grow more perfectly
for him than the garden truck, would II
not be the height Of folly to reverse the
order? So that having made a selection
from the vast catalogue of products and
fully satisfied himself as to the crops best
suited TO his soil and market. as pru-
dent farmer he will cast about for the
best methods OF raising the heaviest crops
that yield the largest pecuniary gain.
THE MATTER OF DRAINAGE