The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1895-08-09
PROFITS ON THE FARM

The profit is that left over after all
expenses are paid, which includes rent
or interest on land and buildings,
capital invested in stock, labor and
food, but the opportunity offered he
farmer of selling his own labor In The
form of some product must be con-
sidered as one of the advantages.
Where a farmer makes only small
profit, but has derived ii fair sum for
the labor he personally bestowed, his
gain is greater than the actual profit.
On the farm the item of labor must
be considered according to its actual
c.st as an expenditure. Though the
labor of the farmer himself Is an item
Of cost, and must be paid for, yet he
pays it TO himself, and it really Is pro-
titable because OF the employment Sc
cured by him on the farm. For that
reason small farm, or small flock
or herd, will always pay more, IN pro-
portion to expenses incurred, than
larger areas or an increase of stock.
The personal supervision of the farmer
or the interest taken in he work per-
formed by him will also add to the
gains because of the closer applica-
ton given and the economy practiced
in every department. The labor on
the farm, therefore, is the heaviest OF
all expenses and 1t IS the principa
standpoint f'om which all prof S
must be estimat ID
INCREASING THE YIELDS.
Expenses are reduced when the
vie DIS are increased, because in many
instances it requires but little more
labor to secure IA large vie d than IA
small one, and expenses are also | So
ened when fertilizers are used to in
crease the yield because tn. st of
the fertilizers will be more than re-
gained as well AS assist in securing
greater results from h, labor. Labor
cannot alone make ii crop | h, soil
must be fitted to derive the largest
possible product by the proper use Of
plant food, which permits of applica-
ton of labor to the best advantage.
Small farms Can be made to largely
increase their yields more easily and
rapidly than large areas, because the
manure or fertilizer can be concen-
trated of spread over wide surface at
an increased cost of labor for men and
teams hence. proportionateiy, as the
yields increase the expense decreases.
BENEFITS TO THE SOIL.
The profits and receipts from a farm
cannot easily be computed for Il single
year. Labor given this season may
bring IN results for year or two after
the work is done. Manure on some
soils is lasting, and the beneficial
effects of some fertilizers are more APP
parent the second year than the first.
A crop of clover that gives yield AS
hay may leave in the roots and sod
much valuable nitrogen as il supply
for some succeeding crop, all of whic b
lessen expenses in the future by re-
ducing the proportion of manure Or
plant food that would otherwise be
required, with the necessary labor.
Profits on the farm are consequently
much greater when the averages for
several years are compared, as each
year must bear its proportion of ex-
pense, and failure to secure profit
this year may not be a loss, becaus
there may be IL corresponding reduc-
ton of expense next year. The best
mode of reducing expenses Is to cult
va'e no more land than can be KEEP
up to its highest limit of fertility SC
as to secure the arges yields possible