The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1901-07-09
Living Issues.
RnsINRss METHODS IN FARMING.

Practical Experiences Of 8. W. A~llertOn-Blg
Profits Of Twentieth Century Farmers.
We have it upon the authority of
Farmers Voice, of Chicago, that
Mr.. Samuel w. Allerton is n of
the most extensive farmers in the
world. "With farms distributed
through three States and aggregat
ing about so, 900 acres all told, with
each farm paying him as handsome
an income as could be made, per-
haps, in any commercial or indus
trial line of business with equal in
vestment and attention, Mr.. Aller-
ton, when he speaks upon the prac-
teal side of agriculture, certainly
commands a hearing and, having
put his own theories TO the test of
years OF practice, what he has to say
of methods takes on the character of
valuable instruction and advice. In
. a recent issue of the Philadelphia
Saturday Evening Post, Mr. Allerton
has told briefly and entertainingly
his way of conducting his great
farms from his office in Chicago, and
incidentally has touched upon such
vital questions of division as to crops,
crop rotation, the farm hand prob
lem, live stock on the farm, the farm
telephone and the rural school in a
, manner so suggestive as to be worthy
a reading by every farmer in the
land" ror the benefit of those of
u readers who have not had oppor
tunity to read Mr.. Allerton's article
in the Post, we reprint herewith a
goodly part of it:
Does my farming pay? Yes, and
we'll, too. For the sake of definite
ness 1 can say that in one year, from
a farm of $500 acres, I have made a
net profit of $4,000. This tract of
land cost me but $40, 900. 1t was
bought at a time when faith in farm
values was low, and when the young
men of that region, at least, yer in
a hurry to get away from the farms
into the big cities, where they would
have a fair chance to make their
fortunes.
Whether there is a good, big future
in farming-enough to satisfy any
young man with a healthy ambition
TO get to the front and have a for
tune-is we'll answered by the fact
that quite recently three farmers in
Central Illinois left, at their deaths,
fortunes of more than So, 900, 900
each. This wealth was made in
farming.
In the same general region I can
find scores of farmers who are worth
from 800, 900 to $500, OCO. These are
the straws which go to show that
farming can be made to pay on a big
as we'll as a small scale, and that it
offers a satisfactory field of opera
ton for the millionaire as we'll as
the thrifty immigrant.
How can a large system of farms,
scattered over three States, be man
aged from an office in a big city? By
system. Lack of system is the curse
of the average farmer. He may,
and generally does, practice all man
ner of petty and exacting economies,
but he will never do things on a large
scale until he systematizes his entire
scheme of operation. This means
that he puts his economies and his
activities on an automatic basis.
Once established, they go on with
their work in a mechanical way,
leaving the man at the head free to
do the thinking for the enterprise in
a big way-if he is capable of it.
One of the most important things
in running a string of farms is the
long distance telephone. 1t would
be almost impossible to do farming
on the syndicate plan without this
e of quick communication. Sup
pose there is a sudden bulge in the
market for corn, wheat, hogs, sheep
IT cattle. By the telephone 1 can
instantly discuss shipments with the
foreman of every one of the farms.
This ability to move produce into
the market on quick notice and thus
get the benefit of a high figure means
thousands of dollars in additional
profits each year to the man who
has a large number of farms under
his control.
X
Chic 90 Il tho corEar Of +bo r.o;,