Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1909-07-27
That Tired Feeling.

from a friend who says, "Give US a rest"
He seems cross and irritable like small
boy who has gone to sleep on the couch,
when his mother is trying to wake him
and get him to bed. 1t can't be that it
was any of my advice or criticism that
made him so weary, for I have never
written anything for publication on the
subject he mentions.
As have practiced for many years
these same methods that he SCOTS at 80
Justify as impractical, l must write just
a few lines even at the risk of being
classed with those who "know nothing
of the complications of farm operations"
While there are always many small
things to attend to about the farm house,
stable, etc., an itemized account of which
would not be worth the paper it is writ
ten upon, some of them might more
properly be charged as family expenses
than farm expenses. am firm believer
in keeping accurate accounts with each
crop that is grown to any considerable
extent as market crop.
II one does a small business, employ
ing little or no labor besides his own,
don't think accurate accounts are so i'm
perative. 1t would hardly pay to spend
a dollars worth of time to figure out
where one made fifty cents profit, unless
he is planning on larger operations in the
future.
Where several men are employed at
the high wages now demanded by farm
hands, as is the case on the writer's farm
often having to hire some of the men
boarded-the running expenses of the
farm amounting to from S2500 to $4,000
each year, fancy that without an accu
rate account with each crop l would be
in much the same condition as ship at
sea without chart or compass. l would
not know where | started from, nor
where am going. would without doubt
have feeling in my bones that the first
port would make would be the insol-
vency court.
Our tired friend says, "Tell us, you
wise ones who criticize us, how much it
costs to milk cow, scald the milk pals,
ice the refrigerator or feed pigs, or what
part of the contribution to the minister's
salary or dues to the Grange should be
charged up against the COW. Yet these
and many more are all a part OF the
running expenses of raising the hay,
corn and potatoes and carrying on the
farm"
Doesn't this sound strange? l can
think of but one word fit to describe the
mental condition of one who pens such
wild words as these. He must be
"looney." We have cats that catch mice
in our orchards and bees that gather
honey from our large fields of berry
bushes-thus aiding US in protecting our
trees and fertilizing the blossoms. |
never kept account to see how much
time it cost cat to catch mouse nor
counted the number of licks he made
with his tongue in drinking his saucer of
milk which he always gets at night.
never lick the cat and never charged him
cent for board or lodging. In fact l
never knew him to have scent about
his clothes but once and as that one was
given him by skunk, I'd do without my
pay rather than take the last scent he had.
once worked for manufacturer who
would occasionally get gloriously drunk.
He was an expert bookkeeper, and yet
never saw any part of his large whiskey
bill charged on the books when figuring
the cost of any product of his mill. Yet
think the whiskey had much closer
connection with his business affairs than
the amount l pay the minister or the
Grange has with my crop of potatoes
and berries If one has the figures at
hand to show just what each operation
has cost it may set his wits at work to
try to find some cheaper or more effect
i've method. He will get improved ma
chinery and produce more with the same
amount of labor.
1t takes about five minutes each day,
when keeping the time of the men, to
charge each item of expense, whether
cash or labor, to its proper account.
Isn't it time profitably spent Those who
prefer "the bookkeeping of their heads"
are quite welcome to use it, but when
wish to look up an account four or hve
years old the account carefully written
on the page of a book fits my case very
well. Though the work be done in my
unsystematic manner it seems to be a
more reliable guide to me.
l cannot hope to coax this weary
brother to keep accounts. He is prob
ably too tired. Perhaps, however, he is
not so lacking in hospitality that he will
not entertain an idea.
II some young man who has made up
his mind to keep accounts with the diff
ferent branches of his farming should be
influenced by the article referred to, to
give it up, can but feel that he is tax
ing step in the wrong direction. Last
season raised two acres of sweet corn
and three acres of potatoes. The &C
counts total as follows:
SWEET CORN.
Total expense for labor, fertilizer, etc. IS
Cost Of fodder In the barn...--.---------- $42 ~
Profit (O
POTATOES.
TOTAL recelpt5- v -
Cost of growing and marketing .----------- 2i5.l5
Net profit. -si56io
For all except those used at home and
charged at market price this was hard
cash right in my pocket. 1t has gone
from it now, but is not forgotten.
The corn may beat potatoes this year,
hut [ won't plant another hill of it here