Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1910-03-31

What They May Accomplish.
Especial Correspondence.l
1t is the intention Of the writer Of
this article to emphasize the impor-
lance Of the business side Of farming. |
OF the practical side of how to pillow
and SOW and reap and NOW and do |
the thousand and one things Of prac- |
teal nature on the farm every agri-
cultural paper is bound to speak. but
In the multitude Of communications
printed and editorials written compar-
atively little is ever said about the
business methods of the farmer or the
records of his sales and purchases, his
profits or his losses. 1t will be fair
test Of the farmers bookkeeping meth
DDS to answer with any degree Of ac-
curacy the questions which will be put
to him this year about his farm prop
erty and farm transactions. Too many
will find 1t necessary to draw upon
their memory for information required
or base their calculations on incom-
plete and trustworthy records.
The farmer will be asked for a state
ment of the acreage. yield and selling
price Of all crops harvested this year,
together with the value Of his live
stock, dairy products, poultry. eggs,
fruit, etc. In addition, he will be called
upon for an inventory of all live stock
poultry and bees ON hand April Is,
1910; how much he paid for farm la
Dor, what amount he paid for hay,
grain or other articles not raised on
the farm, but purchased for feed for
domestic animals and poultry; what
acreage he planted for each staple in
| 1909 and what acreage he intends to
plant for each in 1910; the number and
| value Of animals sold in 1909, the num-
Der and value of animals slaughtered
on the farm either for home use or for
sale, the number and value of wool
fleeces sold. the quantity of milk and
butter in pounds produced and COM
prehensive statement Of mortgage in
debtedness, etc.
Business organizations Of farmers
for cooperative buying and selling of
farm products and farm supplies. the
Farmers Mutual Fire Insurance com
panies, many Of which are connected
with the grange; organizations of
stockmen, fruit growers, poultrymen
and various others should all tend to
make the members thereof better bust
ness men, and we believe they do have
that effect. Reports of what some Of
these numerous organizations are do
ing may lead others to give the busi-
ness side of farming more attention.;
hence we shall have something to say
Of their transactions.
Here, for instance, are two mutual
fire insurance companies under grange
management-one in New York state
and the other in Maine. The Duchess
and Columbia Patrons Fire Relief as
ISOLATION Is business organization Of
farmers who seek lower fire insurance
rates. 1t now carries 2,753 policies, all
on farm property. the total risks being
$6,842 900. 1t cost precisely $1.656.74
to run this organization last year apart
from losses paid. The average annual
assessment for twelve years past is
81. go per $1,000. which makes won
derfully cheap insurance. The secret
Of the success Of this kind of farm in
surance is the slight expense for op-
Grating the business. Other similar In
surance companies in New York are
those Of Wayne county, carrying 49,,
765.S27 in insurance; the HerkimeI
county association, which has $4,173,
1884, and the Steuben and Livingston
Patrons Fire Relief association, car
rying $4,O35O0
The Maine association Is the ARGOS
took County Patrons Fire Insurance
company, which carries $4.15S, 1863. Z.
In risks, of which $1.356.0S1 was writ
ten during the year. The losses were
$24,9S5 last year. and the average an
nual assessment since the company
was organized is $3.50 on the $1,000
The officers salaries are only $1,0Ot
, all told.
New Jersey has some prosperous
, farmers who evidently do business &c
: cording to business principles. Thu
Monmouth County Farmers Exchang
Is an organization Of something owe
500 farmers doing a business last yea
!, Of $5OS,55O ON capital stock Of $31,
: 275. The exchange handled over 1, 40
= tons Of fertilizer. The increase owe
. the business Of 1908 was $54, 14O, tn
: gross profits $17,252 and the genera
expenses $10,549. leaving a net prof
Of over $1,000. 1t sold to 1872 custom
!. ers in 6S cities of II states and 1 fol-
= eign country.
!, At Vineland, N. j.. is another farm
ers' exchange which was organize
last year, but is forging ahead rapidly
In the season its speciality is swee
potatoes, and the prices the exchang
e has received run from Is to 25 cent
d per hamper more than Independent
q shippers secured in the New York maj
p ket The exchange charges 8 pc
Il cent commission for handling men
81 hers, goods In Connecticut the Pr