The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-10-14
FARM AND
GARDEN ~
INTERESTS
Farm Profit and Loss.

Philadelphia Record.
With all that has been advanced in favor
OF soils, breeds and cultivation, the fact
Is always plain that success or failure de-
Ponds upon the farmer, and il is not out
OF place TO claim that the man is as IRE
quently subject for Improvement as the
stock. Fortunately, the breeds of animals
are forcing upon the farms better breeds
of men, with the~result that as each gener-
alton passes away new system Of farm
ing appear, and farms become more desira-
bic. The farmer looks for profit but in
that respect he may be fortunate. even
when no actual profit has been made, Tor
ne pays unto himself wages for his LABOR.
with employment and enables him to de-
rive living for himself and family
through the exercise of judgment and Ia
Dor. There is distinction between profit
ana loss on the farm, as compared with
other occupations. The merchant or me-
chanic must support his family from the
estimates his receipts from the farm with
out considering the fact that he has had
shelter and food for his family during
the time he has been producing his crops.
The real profit on farm is that portion
remaining after all expenses are paid, the
expenses being great or little, according
10 the degree of economy practiced. Like
the merchant, the farmer may make mis-
taxes, but he is not as dependent upon
the condition of the market as the mer-
chant, for the reason that the farmer has
a nome market for much that he pro-
duces.
Many of the losses in farming occur on
s siSo Iarm, and are not due entirely to out
SIDE influences. There are seasons of the
| year when 1t is difficult to curtail expenses.
put II the farmer will avoid entailing upon
hlInsen unnecessary expense he will have
performed FOR himself an important service.
For instance many farmers abuse the priv
lleges or credit. They are tempted to buy
! ana go into debt because they are not COM
Pelled TO pay cash; but there arrives time
Tor each when the obligations must be met,
! and such frequently happens when they are
/ least prepared for so doing. To purchase
| harvesting machine out OF season because
| no cash is required is to assume an obliga-
tlon In advance, and TO discard an imple
ment that can be made to perform more
service, In order to procure a newer one, is
| TO use certain amount OF capital invested.
| IL is possible that one of the greatest bless
| ings that could be bestowed upon some
| farmers would be to deny them credit. They
would then be more disposed to hold on to
| their cash and would also learn economy
that in after years might lead to success in
| puylng, selling and general management.
Every farmer should purchase what he re-
| quires, as il Is not economical to attempt
| to farm without the aid of the best imple-
ments, stock and fertilizers, but 1t is not eco
nominacal to purchase anything that is not
| absolutely necessary. The expenses include
| everything purchased. and the profits are
| decreased accordingly; hence the profit de-
| pends as stated, more upon the farmer
than upon the farm.
Many unnecessary expenses the farm
| are created by the farmer. To retain some
thing that is of itself an expense adds
to the expenses and lessons the profit
| and TO endeavor to force the farm beyond
| its productive capacity without compen-
| sation In the form of manure or fertilizer
increases the expense, because the item
| or labor may exceed the receipts When
| too many animals are retained i'm prefer
ence to few choice ones, the expenses
| become greater, because the farmer then
Keeps on his hands too many nonproducing
| individuals. If he can purchase two cows
4 tnat give only as much milk as one
| superior animal, he may enjoy the pos
| session or a greater number of animals
| but he has, at the same time, added to
| the expenses OF the farm by being COM
pelled TO bestow more labor, shelter, food
| and care than is necessary in order to
| derive certain product No farmer should
| be content to receive from a herd or flock
| only one-half of that which could be de-
| rived with the ID of better stock. for such
loss is very large one and can never
be recovered. Judgment is also necessary
| In determining how to derive the most
from certain soils or locations on the
farm. Farmers can be found who make
larger profits with poultry, and on small
| areas, than others with cows This is
! due to the poultryman having the best
breeds to be obtained while the farmers
nerd or cows are incapable of giving more
| than enough to pay expenses The fault
| with the large majority of farmers Is not
| that they are unwilling to reduce ex-
| penses, but that they unwisely increase
| tnem Dy miSmanagement.