The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1914-09-11
FINANCIAL SUCCESS ON
THE FARM A SCIENCE,
(By w. d. Nichols, Kentucky
Experiment Station.(

Il
Frm management may be defined
as the science OF the organization and |
management OF the farm enterprise |
for the purpose Of securing the great
est continuous profit. According TO
this definition 1t is evident that an
understanding of this subject is alb
solutely necessary for financial sue
cess on the farm.
Our agricultural colleges and eN-
pertinent stations have devoted most
of their energies to studying and eX-
perimenting along scientific lines, en-
deavorng to discover methods where
by the greatest possible yields OF
crops and the greatest gains in hNe
stock might be secured. In other
words, they have treated farming prl-
marily as a science, when as mat
ter of fact, it is more properly an art
requiring the application of large
number and variety of science, ana the
exercise of large amount of Judgment
on the part of the farm operator. For
this reason, knowledge of science,
however thorough, does not necessar-
ily insure success in farming.
Business Management is Necessary,
To illustrate: Some years ago the
writer knew a young man who had
received thorough training in
science in one OF the best agricultural
colleges in America. Completing his
course with distinction, he was em-
ployed by the National Government as
an expert in dairy farming investiga-
tions in which capacity he worked for
nearly two years At the end of this
time, having come into possession OF a
considerable sum of money, he took
advantage of the opportunity to go into
dairy farming on his own account.
But, unfortunately, he had failed to
get grasp OF the importance of bust
ness management and its relation TO
successful dariying, and at the outset
he made a number of fatal mistakes.
In the first place, he built very
elaborate dairy barn which cost, when
completed, nearly $4,000. Now, the
experience of successful business far
mers and dairymen demonstrates that
the best thing for the beginner to do is
to start with the buildings which he
has on hand, and TO add to these or TO
i build new ones as the dairy income
provides the funds, II is very SER
ious mistake to invest too much money
in expensive buildings and equipment
because money expended for high pric-
ed and elaborate buildings is seldom
recovered when the farm is placed on
the market.
Money invested in dairy barn
should be required to pay at least 10
per cent a year. This is necessary
to cover interest, depreciation, taxes,
insurance, etc. Good substantial
barns, answering every requirement
of sanitation and convenience may be
built for one tenth of the money
which was expended by the young
man referred to.
In the case of this young man, not
withstanding the large amount of
money expended for the dairy barn II
was found, after completion, that the
arrangement of the barn was faulty
and required great deal OF unneces-
, sary labor which added greatly to the
expense of operation,
, Barn Bigger Than the Farm.
Another serious blunder was made
! in locating this barn upon too small g
/ tract of land. The farm was so SINAI
that the feed needed for the cows
could not be raised. This necessitateC
q the buying Of large amount of feed
: and the expenditure Of large sums o
4 money.
Profitable dairying depends very
a largely on the growing of most of tn
feeds, especially roughage feeds, on tn
farm.
Another serious mistake made b!
d this young man was in buying a larg'
a e.. n a..