The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1901-09-27
FARM NEWS AND VIEWS.
SOME OF THE SMALL WASTES THAT EAT
UP THE PROFIT.

SOME OF THE SMALL WASTES THAT EAT
UP THE PROFIT.
Having for long time been of the
opinion that the reason so many small
farms do not pay is that they arc
worked in wasteful and unbusiness-
like way, have ventured with some
diffidence, to make a list of wasteful
methods that have come under my Oh
servation, not attempting to classify
them, but setting them down in the
order in the order in which they oc-
Cured to me.
Keeping and feeding an animal, or
fowl, or tree after it has ceased to he
profitable.
The keeping Of sickly, undersized or
otherwise inferior stock. 1t costs but
little, if any more, to keep COW that
gives twelve quarts of milk than to
keep one giving but half that amount,
and the farmer who could own the bet
ter animal and doesn't is, to all in
tents and purposes, throwing away six
quarts Of milk day, to say nothing Of
the loss on the calf of the poorer COW,
which is fit only for veal. The same
principle applies to poultry. II the
farmer is so situated that he could sell
sitting-eggs and breeding fowl, and
contents himself with keeping mon
grels or understood fowl, he really
wastes the difference between what he
does get for eggs and poultry.
Keeping fowl confined to small
yards, when, by little outlay of mon
ey and some ingenuity, unused pasture
or grass land could be opened to them,
with benefit to both land and hens and
saving in the expense for grain.
Growing a small crop of grass on
naturally good grass land that could
be made to produce immense crops.
Neglect to study the available mar
ket for crops, to learn what it demands
that can be proftably raised and
marketed.
Neglect to study the soil and learn
what it's capabilities are.
Leaving manure ont to be leached
by rain, or putting it on the land in
Jumps and piles, and leaving it so for
any length of time.
Using green manure on crops that
will not do we'll on green manure.
Making no use Of the fertility in
poultry yards.
Leaving chests, barrels and bags Of
grain open to the depredations of rats
and mice.
Overlooking of animals, fowls and
land.
Undertaking OF the same.
Not feeding balanced rations.
Uncleaning habits in the barn, caas-
ing the milk to be "cowy" and thus
hurting the sale of milk and butter,
and injuring the health Of people and
animals.
In not doing thing at the time it
ought to be done, as leaving the cult
walton Of crop till the weeds have a
strong hold, not attending to the dis
posal of crop when days delay
may make great difference in price,
etc.
Leaving till the crowded spring
work that can be done as we'll in the
fall or winter.
Neglecting to obtain the Govern
ment bulletins, or to take one or more
good farm papers, and not learning
the latest approved methods Of farm
ing, how best to avoid or get rid of
particular diseases, insect pests, etc.
The neglect Of some necessary de-
tail in the raising and harvesting offs
crop, and thus lessening, if not destroy
ing, its value, as letting bugs and
worms get the upper hand, leaving
potatoes in the sun after digging un-
til they sunburn, pulling onions too
early or too late, leaving some tender
crop out through frost or letting it
stand till it begins to spell.
Using poor seed.
Neglecting to make the most of
fruit trees and vines by cultivation,
spraying, pruning, cutting out borers,
fertilizing, etc.
In not marketing fruit that can not
be used profitably in the family.
In dealing with customers who have
bad reputation for paying their bills.
In being turned aside from ones
course by triding distractions.
In not being willing to take pains.
In not stopping to calculate on
whether it will really pay before be-
ginning a certain course or certain
piece of work, like moving bushes,
getting out rocks, killing weeds.
In neglect Of tools.
In neglecting crop after it is har-
vested.
In letting cattle cattle be troubled
unnecessarily by flies and mosquitoes,
in letting fowls fight, in neglecting to
curry COWS and horses, in allowing
fowls to be lousy, in letting fowls or
animals suffer from excessive cold in
winter.
In not going about and seeing how
other farmers do things.
Tn the mans not keeDinu himself in