Milford chronicle., 1911-11-17
THE BUSINESS OF FARMING
An Address Delivered at Pomona Grange
by Prof. Harry Hayward.

Itmav seem strange to a gathering
Of this kind. representing the great /
basic industry of Agriculture, that
one who thoroughly appreciates the
intelligence of his audience should
have chosen this topic for discussion.
I am aware that at least a large
nercentage of the farms represented
mere to-day are conducted by business
men That most of the farms OF our
state however. are suffering from a
lack of what may be called business
management. no one will deny. And
most of YOU will also agree that un-
Nh the man who tills the soil knows
in detail whether or not his opera
tions are conducted on a money
making or money losing basis, Ag-
riculture can never reach the posi-
ton it should occupy in the progress
of civilization.
There is no business that is so
complex as farming How many
merchants would think Of buying
store and a stock of goods without
knowing in detail the condition OF
the store. the adaptation Of its loea-
ZION for certain kinds Of trade, the
business this particular store had
done in past years, the exact condi-
tion the amount and kinds of goods
ON the shelf or in the ware rooms
If the store was run down he would
make a close estimate of the capital
it would require to put it on pay
ing basis. and the cost OF a fresh
stock of goods that would meet the
demands of its patrons.
How different with the farmer, be
he tenant or proprietor, who contem-
mates going on to a new farm. Does
he take any steps to ascertain the
amount of available and potential
plant food in his land? Does DE
have any idea of the amount it should
contain to be classed rich or poor
farm? Does the average farmer have
anv exact information in reference
to the soil requirements OF the crops
he expects to grow? Or does he SOW
and reap in the dark, as did one
farmer | knew who came to the
southern part of the State from the
barley section of North Dakota. H'
had grown barley in the northwes
and he thought he could grow it IL
the southwest. He sowed but thu
harvest scarcely returned the seeC
that was put into the ground.
1t is not impossible for any on
who is in need of the exact informa
ton pertaining to the soil to Obtain
it from some one of the many pubh
service institutions that are accessible
to every one. However, in spite o
the fact that farmers welfare an'
that of his family is dependent upol
this sort of information, he does no
as vet appreciate its Importance, ant
continues in the same old rut tina
his father and grandfathers did be
fore him
What 7 have said applies wit
special force to the tenant farmer
Under existing conditions he is play
ing a losing game from a tinancia
point of view. Because the tenan
farmer does not realize the value Q
technical knowledge and Of busines
methods in his work, he and hi
family are forced to overburde
themselves, to produce crops tha
must compete unfairly with thos
raised by farmers who have a highe
standard Of living. Furthermore
because he does not appreciate hi
responsibility to the soil he cult
Yates, it is becoming depleted OF il
fertility, the most valuable natura
resource we have. In this cOnneC
ton it may be said that but fe'
farmers consider the amount OF fei
tility that is taken from the soil wit
each crop. They do not appreciat
the fact that the available plant foo
in the soil and the physical cond
tition of the soil is similar to ban
account, and should be treated 3
such. Whenever a certain amour
is drawn out, it is necessary to mar
a deposit if the balance is to RENAL
the same.
1t is also known that certain crol
as corn, timothy hay and millet, r.
move.much more of the elements
plant food than do other crops, sue
as fruits for instance. 1t is but re-
sonable, therefore. that one shOu
make study of.the various crOl
that can be grown on his farm frol
a fertility point Of view, to the Ell
that he may grow those that a
most profitable, considering the fe
tility removed as well as the labo
cost of growing and marketing.
Many consider this a minor detat
but it is Just such minor details tn
make for the success or failure