Macon beacon., 1910-02-04
Agricultural Information.

in Mississippi. They will not only emu
merate the number of citizens, but
we'll the farm products for the past year.
1t is very desirable that Mississippi have
full census report in this particular,
and for the information of the readers
of this publication in general the follow
ing has been sent out by the Census Bu-
reau as list of inquiries that will be
made concerning crop, live stock, etc.
Every reader is urged to study this list
carefully and make up list, so that
when the enumerator comes around the
information will be ready as we'll as full
and correct:
1t is highly desirable and important, if
an approximately accurate farm census is
to be made, beginning April IS next, that
the farmers of the country heartily and
tntelligently cooperate with the prelimi-
nary efforts of the Census Bureau. This
can be done by preparing written records
or memoranda by means of which they
can give the enumeratOrs as nearly exact
and complete information as can be eX-
Pected concerning their farm operations
during 1909, and their farm equipment
on April Is next. Not only will this
plan produce farm statistics of incalcu-
liable value and benefit to the farmers
themselves, but it will make it possible
for the enumeratOrs to trespass no more
upon the farmers working time than is
absolutely necessary.
The enumeration must be completed
within thirty days. The enumerators
are held responsible for the general ac-
curacy of the schedules carried by them,
and they are required to give farmers
such time as is necessary to answer fully
and accurately each question asked.
To assist farmers in preparing the re-
quired data, the following suggestions are
offered:
purposes, is all the land operated by, or
under the personal direction of, one indi-
vidual, regardless of whether he owns it,
leases it from others or operates it as a
hired manager. The farm may consist
Of one tract, Or two more tracts. A
farmer who leases land to others must
not include such land in his report of
farm acreage. He must include the land
only personally operated by him.
Farms That Have Changed Hands
A farmer who is operating a farm on
April IS, 1910, which he did not work
during 1909, must confine his report to
the land operated by him at the time of
the enumeration. He must not report
any crops grown by him in 1909 on land
which he is not farming in 1910. A man
who takes possession of a new farm
prior to the date of enumeration should
secure from the farmer who worked it in
1909 a statement of the products raised
nv in hot nd fn
the enumerator.
Main Objects of Farm Census-There
are two principal objects of the farm CEN
sus. The first is to obtain a complete
statement or inventory of the farm
wealth of the United States on April IS,
1910; the second is to obtain as complete
and accurate statement possible of
the farm operations III the calendar year
1909.
The Farm Inventory-The following
suggestions regarding the best method of
preparing a farm inventory may be of
assistance to those farmers who desire to
be ready for the visit of the enumeratOr:
The practice of stock taking, or taking
an inventory, at least once year, is gen
eral among manufacturers and merchants.
It shows the merchant where he stands.
It guides his plans for the coming year
and, in connection with his accounts,
makes it possible at the close of the year
to determine whether the business has
been conducted at profit or at loss. A
carefully prepared inventory is of even
greater value to the average farmer than
to the merchant for the reason that the
latter usually keeps an accurate daily
IS
and hence is less dependent upon an in
ventory for his annual balance sheet than
the farmer, who ordinarily keeps no
books, and who commonly invests his sur
plus income as fast as it accrues, in ad-
ditional land and equipment.
It makes little difference whether the
annual inventory is taken on April Is or
some other date The date decided upon
by Congress for the farm census of 1910
ig April IS. 1t marks the beginning of
the crop year for the greater part of the
country, and for this reason is a logi-
cal time to take stock.
The advantages of a farmer always
having on hand for ready reference de-
tailed written statement of his farm
property are readily understood by every
one, and will be most keenly appreci-
ated when the census enumeratOr calls
next April.
Farm Property Questions-The ques-
&ions to be asked concerning farm prop
erty are as follows:
1. Total value of farm, with all build
ings and improvements.
g Value of buildings.
3. Value of all implements and ma
chinery, including tools, wagons, car
riages, harness. etc, and all appliances
and apparatus used in farming opera
tions.