The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1914-11-09
PITFALLS FOR THE CITY
man who Wants TO farm
Department of Agriculture Advises Him
to Try Out As Farm Hand for
Training and Experience Before Ty-
ing Up His Savings in a Farm

Washington, ID. C. Nov. 9.-The De.
partment of Agriculture receives many
letters from city people who have read
glowing accounts of the wealth that
may be made on farm. large per-
centage of these people have already
bought farm land. Some of them ap-
pear to believe that the reason all farm
ers are not rich is because of extrava-
gance, wastefulness, ignorance and a
lack of business ability, To these let
ters the Department s specialists reply
as follows:
AS matter of fact, farmers as
class are intelligent, industrious and
economical, and many of them are men
of good business Judgment. Further,
those who have made thorough study
OF the business side of farming know
that 1t is not an easy matter to make
money On the farm. Only the most prac.
tieal and experienced farmers are max
ing any considerable profit out of their
business. Most of the money that has
been made on the farm in recent years
has been made, not by farming, but by
the rise of price on farm lands. In the
nature of things this rise can not con
tinue indefinitely and some one will own
this land when the price becomes prac-
tlcally stationary or perhaps starts to
decline.
While it is true that occasionally
city bred family makes good on the
farm, this is the exception and not the
rule. 1t is always risk to invest in a
business without first making a thor
ough study of that business. Many city
nnnnln who 70 h,,,
dred dollars and who have had little or
no farm experience, but who are imbued
with rosy vision of the joys and prof
its in farming, buy poor land at high
prices and thereby lose the savings they
have been years in accommodating. One
city family paid 900 cash and as
sumed a $4,000 mortgage on a farm
worth only about $11 200. Another
paid 81 1000 cash and signed mortgage
for $4,000 on farm that was later APP
praised at $4,000. A city family that
had saved $4,000 used this money to
make first payment on cheap farm
land, and when their eyes were opened
found they still owed considerably more
than the farm was worth For seven
years they have worked almost night
and night to meet the interest, without
being able to reduce the principal. These
instances could be multiplied almost in
definitely.
"In purchasing a farm great care
should be taken to get good farm at
fair price. To pay or agree to pay more
than the farm is worth is to invite fail
ure. From business standpoint no
farm that does not pay interest on the
total investment, depreciation on equip
ment, and wages for all labor performed
on that farm is successful.
''Even when great care is taken in
making the investment only in excep-
tional cases should the city bred fami
ly attempt farming. Generally the best
advice that can be given to the city
pred man who desires to become a
farmer is that before purchasing farm
he work as farm hand for two or
three years This will give him an OPP
portunity to learn at first hand many
things about the business, as well as the
practical side, of farming. In no other
way, as rule, can he get good farm
training and experience at less trouble
and expense or without danger from
financial disaster.