The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1895-01-19
THE OHIO DEMOCRAT
FARM AND GARDEN.
some Farm Economics.

Some Farm Economies.
In business life the difference be-
tween success and failure is person
al attention to details. The men
who build up aud successfully con-
duct great financial interests are
they who keep In touch with the
minor, everyday details as we'll as
direct the general course of busi.
ness. It is the little expenses or
the.littlesavings that make success
or bankruptcy. No item Is too pet
ty to be looked after. In great
business enterprises the thousand
and one little economies, each in It.
self Insignificant, unite to pour in a
golden stream to profit.
On the farm the opportunities for
practicing little economies are al
most unlimited, but in no other
business are they go generally over
looked. The waste both of oppor-
tunity and material resources on
the average farm, IT allowed in any
other business would bring ruin.
Generally 1t is carelessness, occa-
sionally lack of inclination to look
after little things, but in either case
the result is the same. Individual
failings can only be found and cor
rected by those interested, but there
are some sins Of omission and COM
mission that, unfortunately, are
only too general.
Lack Of attention to the material
comfort Of farm animals is perhaps
chief. Horses and cattle are allow
ed to suffer from stress of weather
during the winter months which a
little attention might obviate or
greatly lessen. In those districts
where animals are or should be
housed during winter, barns are un-
necessarily cold or exposed, wiz.
dows are out, doors off or too fre.
quently left open. Such things not
only entail suffering, but positive
cash loss in feed expended. Where
surroundings are not comfortable a
large part Of the daily ration goes
to keep up animal heat and is in u
measure dead loss. Again, lack
of ventilation and unsanitary sur
roundings, which a little care and
labor might remedy, result in loss
of thrift and health.
In the feeding of stock there Is
much waste easily avoided. This
is especially true where stock is
fed in open barnyards or feeding
pens. Hay is trampled into the
mud where feed racks could be had
at q first small cost and q perma-
nent saving. Hogs are allowed to
waste fair per centage Of the corn
or wheat given them when simple
self-feeding devices could be built
In spare moments, which would al
low them to get all they wanted to
eat with little chance to waste any
thing. Sheep are allowed to run
In all weather, subject to rain and
snow, when inexpensive sheds, or
even straw shelters, would keep
them in good condition.
Another common carelessness is
the treatment of farm machinery.
Farmers invest large sums in cost
ay implements, often more than can
be really afforded, and then allow
them to 60 to ruin for lack of at
tention. Wagons, moving ma.
chimes, plows, and harvesters are
left exposed to the inclemencies ot
weather, woodwork to rot and met.
al to rust. The plow is left stand.
ing where the last furrow was turn.
ed until it is wanted again. Deli.
cate machinery stands outside, pos.
sibly drawn up under a tree or with
a few boards set over II to turn the
rain. II machinery can be Afforded
then shed to cover 1t can, with an
occasional coat of paint for the
wood work. The saving in cost Of
new parts and new machines will
more than pay for the little outlay
The manure pile Is another point
of waste. When saved at all 1t IL
frequently piled In the open, where
ills allowed TO leach in the rains
till only bulk remains with the sub,
stante gone. A little extra work
in composing, using wood mould
swamp land, house refuse, etc.
with animal droppIngs, would give
q fertilizer superior to the CONNER.
cial product purchased each year
II each farm had its compost pile
the Expenditure for commercial
fertilizers would be much less, and
the condition Of the farm much bet
ter. The successful management
Of the farm requires the same care
full attention to little economies
that is practiced by the merchan,
and the manufacturer. Withou,
It hard work may accomplish but
little. The leaks may each be small