Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1902-07-08

/ BUSINESS.
have read the letters on this subject
with great deal of interest, but without
any serious thought of giving my poor
opinion, but as no one has given my
idea | will give my opinion.
1t seems to me that what one farmer
has found to be his greatest need must
be the same with a host of Others.
have found that must be more thorough
in all my work, to give greater attention
to details or little things, to acquire a
better knowledge of my home markets
and my farm.
| l need this knowledge more than
money even, for understanding of this
kind will surely bring one money.
Special legislation and good roads the
farmer needs, as well as many other
things, but if the farm produce is sold
to poor advantage, everything bought at
the wrong time or place, and if one con-
ducts ones business in careless, slip
shod fashion, the best roads or the
wisest laws cannot keep that man from
going down the hill. Perhaps the
greatest need of all is to get into the
habit of looking out for little things.
attending to details, being thorough in
all ones work or doings. Farming is
made up of little things. A little profit
here and little there makes a nice sum
when all are together.
| The man who succeeds looks after the
details of his business, be he a farmer or
what he may. The farmers who closely
inspect everything and as carefully
attend TO every detail are few, but when
YOU find one be sure he is on the right
road to comfort in his old age. His
machines and tools are carefully cleaned
and housed. He doesn't leave expen-
sive machines in the fields year in and
out to rust and rot away. He has
learned that they will "rust out quicker
than wear out
know a Wood mower that has been
run ten years without break and to-day
looks nearly rs bright as when bought.
THE farmer who attends to the little
things sees every little brake in his fences,
every loose board or hinge, and promptly
Irepairs them all. This farmer knows
liz paws To run the harrow those last few
hours, and the weeder and cultivator
those extra times. He is thorough in
fitting his land for cultivation and
harvesting, and it pays him well for all
his care. His horses, cattle and pigs
show his care and attention. Cattle,
buildings and farm have the same we'll
groomed appearance. Nothing is for
gotten; nothing SO small as to be beyond
his care.
Drive ten miles through the country
lanywhere and notice the rickety fences,
roadsides and fence corners grown thick
with bushes and weeds. Many of the
fields are growing smaller year by year
as the bushes drive back the owner.
Ploughs, cultivators, tools and machines
of all kinds are left out of doors for the
winter. Manure is thrown out under
the caves of the barn to wash and waste
away. Surely these men are not
thorough. They cannot succeed with
all this waste. They must learn TO care
for what they have, to give attention to
| details. Nothing can really help them
till they get out of that slipshod rut.
| once heard a farmer say that he
hadn't time to fuss and run his machine
under cover every time he used it.
think if a thing is worth paying good
money for, it is well worth taking care
of: and how much nicer they look and
work if cared for.
1t is easy to raise fair crop of corn,
potatoes, ETC., and possibly to raise extra
good ones if intelligent care be given;
but | have found it another thing to
market the crop TO the best possible
advantage The farmer, to be success,
full, must also learn to be a good seller,
a good Judge of the market; and the only
way to do that, think, is to watch the
markets from week to week, and re-
member what they teach. Take good
papers, with reliable market reports and
forecasts. A good paper is worth many
times what it costs, not alone for market
reports, but also for the many valuable
suggestions, and experiences of Others II
will give. A good paper carefully read
is one of the farmers best friends.
We should also learn TO buy to the
best advantage. The farmer who can
do this is many dollars ahead at the end
of the year. One of my neighborS
bought early last fall carload of grain,
at time when wheat bran was under
SIS, and cornmeal less than $40 ton.
He looked happy when bran was at 81. 40
and meal 81 80 per hundred. Nearly
everything we buy can be got better, at
some one time of the year than any
other, if we read the markets and trade
conditions correctly. We should also
study our home markets, and cater to
them. Good goods, honest measure and
patience will usually bring the farmer
plenty of customers at top prices.
The man who finds out just what
chemical or chemicals his fields need
has gone a long way ON the road to
| success. He can then apply fertilizers
TO the best advantage. He knows just
what he is doing, and is sure of getting
his money back with interest. Not one
farmer in twenty ever looks or cares TO
know what commercial fertilizer an.
alysis is. Most of them want some
thing as cheap as possible; it may pay,
it may not. The past season l talked
at different times with two fertilizer
agents. Each told me that his brand
was the only thing to buy, and | asked
what it analyzed. Neither could tell
They had never been asked before
Now. few farmers like TO bother to ex
pertinent, and learn what the soil OF
their farms really needs. So l suppose
il doesn't matter to know the analysis
But this isn't good business policy. W.
should try to find just what we need
Then buy that and nothing else. Ane
after all, it comes down to the same
thing to be thorough and thorough
or pay strict attention to all things.
These have been my greatest needs
and are yet, for that matter; but L trus
that every years experience teaches M
at least a little.-L. j. WRIGHT, Cantor
Center, Conn, in Farmer Tribune.