The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1909-09-13
THE BASIS OF GOVERNMENT
- REPORTS.


ly to crop and general conditions of
the farm has for many years been a
source of constant discussion among
the farmers. While this discussion
has in the main been directed against
the efforts of the government, it
should be remembered that princi-
| paIly through the farmers, indirectly
i if not directly, it derived the basis
of the information furnished, mas
much as upon individual local reports
|are founded the tabulated statements
of crop conditions at various times
and the general statements embrac-
| ing periods of several months each.
| Like the reports of newspapers,
the information gathered by the
government comes first through the
hands of local representatives who,
| if their efforts are properly directed,
| are prompted by the farmers them
selves. The chief differences occas-
Toned by such reports may be attrib-
iuted to an extent to the different
views of the producers, the spotted
conditions of the crops, varied
weather conditions and the inability
of the representatives of the depart
ment to cover the territory as close
| ~ as it should be covered in gather
! ing such data.
Another feature of no small i'm
portance and one which adds mater
| tally to the formation of results. is
! the lack of systematic accounting
upon the farm. Those acquainted
with farm life will admit that not
more than one farmer in ten has in
the past put forth the least effort
toward the retention of an accurate
account of his operations. Haphaz-
ardness along this line often places
the owner of the farm in a position
of little value to the statistical gath
erer, as well as to a knowledge of his
own affairs.
The census department contem-
plates the formation of reports i'll
system, in which the services of every
farmer i'll the country will be enlist
ed Among other questions to be
propounded by the enumerators will
be the following: Value OF the farm;
acreage of the farm, cultivated and
uncultivated; acreage and quality
of each crop: number of domestic
animals, poultry and swarms of
! bees on April Is, 1910; number and
kinds of animals sold during 1909;
number OF cows and amount of
milk and butter produced; quality
and value of eggs, honey, beeswaX
etc produced in 1909; amount of
expenditures, including labor feed
Tor live stock, fertilizers, etc,
These questions, will relate to
the present calendar year in so far
a. the receipts and expenditures are
iccnCNned, to which will be added
an III, eutory OF the farm taken on
iNpril 10, of The coming year, all of
which is to be held in the strictest
Icouudence by the department, and
tie ase Of which for other purposes
than the compilation of census re-
y, ports Will in no instance be per
mitted.
The necessity of some written or
permanent record by the farmers
themselves of farm operations is
obvious, and its value in furnishing
data more reliable than guesswork
is equally evident.
Through individual cooperation
in the formation and maintenance
of this system alone may an accur-
ate record be provided, and upon its
.pccess and the reliability OF future
reports will necessarily depend the
Iefforts of the farmers.
That it is not only possible but
profitable to maintain a record of
such operations will be witnessed by
every progressive farmer who has in
the past made bookkeeping part
lof his daily task, and there are many
OF tnlS class. W Without SuCH SSoltlu
the farmer not only places himself
in an unbusiness like position, but
he is neglecting work which means
much to his own efforts and TO his
family. TO such practices more than
to eny other one cause may be at
tributed large percentage of the
failures of the past.
There are farmers who exist from
season to season without an accurate
| knowledge of their own business con-
EDITIONS, but they may be reliably
ciassvd IN ninety of each one hun
drew instances, among the most un-
successful inhabitants of the COM
lnuIity.-Dallas News.
Lives in the Wrong Cottage.
/ ApuappliS Md Sent 3-By the