Newark post., 1911-04-12
FARM ACCOUNTS.

Ii We were to believe al that we
hear OF the business methods o. farin-
ers, we should infer that they are gem
orally lax in keeping systematic rec
ords OF their farm operations. With
out such records it is impossible to
reckon cost or 10 have fixed basis
in an effort to reduce it. WITHOUT
some sort OF accounting one cannol
tell which branch OF his business is
costing the most to maintain, or which
is bringing i'll the largest returns. |
have found it satisfactory in my ex-
perience to divide the work OF the
arm into departments. and keep the
account OF each on a card held loosely
on its edge in box Of convenient size.
On one side OF the ca, d were record
ed the charges against The Depart
merit, and on the other side all OF the
credits were kept. 1t was simple
matter at any time to see jusr how
any department stood. This system
requires but a few minutes each day TO
keep. and enables the farmer TO tell
which line OF his efforts is bringing i'll
a rair return and which is losing
| money.
| be complete without some rc.erence to
| the problems OF marketing These arc
more complex and more difficult to
| solve. | believe, than in almost any
| other business. A large part OF far
mcr's produce is pcrishabc and mist
be sold when ready, regardless OF the
| condition OF the market, while most
manufactured goods can be aid on
the shelf, and, in the case OF a glCt,
the factory can be shut down until
| there is a profitable demand. Again,
| i'll reference to transportation, the far
mer is often at disadvantage. Rate,
are higher on high class perishable
goods than they are on imperlshable
commodities. Furthermore single
farmers crop OF any one thing i:
| either SO large or so small chat it is
| impossible for him in most cases to
| sell direct to the consumer, or even to
| the JObben In consequence. 1t is
necessary for him to put the crop upon
| which he has spent much time, thought
| and labor, into the hands OF someone
else to dispose OF. The middle man IS
a necessity under conditions that gov
crn modern exchange. But he ha:
proved to be so unreliable in the past
and has in innumerable instances SC
utterly disregarded the producers in.
tercsr that some States are now en-
acting laws regulating his operations
and responsibility.
| In this connection too much cannot
be said in commentator OF your pro,
duce exchanges in this parv OF the
State. and the community o. interest
that has been the means OF bringing tc
your very doors buyers who have moi
only paid you cash for your produce
but the highest price possible, allowing
only fair profit for assuming the
risks after the goods leave the grow.
crs hands. 1t has been my privilege
to know some of these buyers | be.
lieve most OF them are honest and viii
deal fairy with the farmer il he VII
deal fairly with them. They know the
markets are under great expense fol-
transportation, refrigeration, carting
etc. 1t is not only honest, but it is
good business for the producer TO gel
the highest possible price for his crops
and then to give the purchaser. whe-
ther he be an independent buyer or
the manager OF an exchange, an hon
esly packer article. Why any farme.
vii! be so short sighted rom dollars
and cents point of view, and why he
should so disregard the welfare Of his
brother farmers as to cheat in putting
up his goods, is more than | can see
1t is bound to react sooner or later
and no maxim contains more truth
than that time-worn on
esty is the best policy"
| believe it is the editor OF the Ru,
raj New Yorker who has suggest I'd
that it would be good thing for the
farmer when packing his produce ro
put in a slip of paper on which is
printed his name and address, tile
date OF packing, and the price he re-
ceived ior the package. II the goods
are satisfactory to the consumer, q
connection might be established that
would be mutually beneficial to both
parties. 1t is good business to grade
farm produce where it can be done, tc
pack honestly, and to try to get as