Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1909-12-03
THE FARM INVENTORY

year in general among manufactur-
ers and merchants. 1t shows the mer-
chant where he is at" 1t guides
his plans for the coming year and,
makes it possible at the close of the
year to determine whether the bust
ness has been conducted at profit
or at a loss. A carefully prepared.
inventory is of even greater value
to the average farmer than to the
merchant, for the reason that the
merchant usually keeps an accurate
daily record of all his business trans
actions and hence is less dependent
upon an inventory for his annual
balance sheet than is the farmer, who
ordinarily keeps no books and who
commonly invests his surplus income,
as fast as it accrnes, in additional
land or equipment.
1t makes little difference whether
the annual inventory is taken on
January / April IS, June 1, or some
other date. The date decided upon
by congress for the census of 1910,
is April 10. 1t marks the beginning
of the crop year for the greater part
of the country and for this reason
is logical time to take stock.
The advantages of always having
on hand for ready reference detail
ed written statement of ones farm
property are readily understood by
everyone and will be most keenly APP
preciated when the census man calls
around with his long list of questions
next April. The value of the census
figures of farm wealth depends upon
their accuracy, and accuracy can on
ly be secured through the co-opera-
ton of the farm ers themselves. In
no way can the farmer extend more
practical assistance to the census
bureau, and in no way can he rem
der himself greater service than by
getting out his pencil and notebook
on the evening of April the fourteen
tn next and making up a statement
of his farm property.
In order that this inventory may
meet the census requirements, have
obtained from Director Durand an
advanced statement of the questions
to be asked concerning farm proper
ty. They are as follows:
/. Total value of farm, with all
buildings and improvements.
2. Value of all buildings.
3. Value of all implements and
machinery, including tools, wagons,
carriages, harnesses, etc, and all APP
planes and apparatus used in farm
ing operations.
A. Number and value of domestic
animals, classified as follows: Cattle:
(A)-Born before January /, 1909.
Cows an dheifers kept for milk Cows
and heifers not kept for milk. Steers
and bulls kept for work Steers and
bulls not kept for work. (B)-Born
in 1909: Heifers, steers and bulls,
CC)-Calves born in 1910.
Horses: All horses born before
January /, 1909. Colts born before
January /, 1909. Colts born after
January /, 1909.
Mules: All mules born before
January l, 1909. Mule colts born
after January l, 1909. Mule colts
born after January l, 1910.
Asses and burros all ages.
Swine: Hogs born before January
l, 1910. Pigs born after January
1, 1910.
Sheep; Ewes born before Janu-
airy /, 1910. Rams and wethers
born before January /, 1910. Lambs
born after January /, 1910. Goats
and kids Call ages).
8. Number and value of poultry
over three months old; Chickens.
ducks, geese, turkeys, Guinea fowls.
pigeons.
6. Number and value of swarms of
bees.
The census does not ask the value
of household goods, nor that of hay,
grain, or other farm crops on hand
on April 10Th. These items should
be included, however, by all desiring
complete inventory of their farm
property.
The value given to the farm should
be, as nearly as can be judged, the
amount that could be obtained for If
if it were offered for sale under nor
nal conditions Current market
prices should be carefully considered
in estimating the value of livestock
Although the census merely re-
qulres a statement of the total value
of all implements and machinery If
is believed that classification Of
these Items under the following four