The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1914-02-28

Win merely common ScnOO1 eQucd'
ton, and those who start earliest
make the most profits, according to
the Department of Agriculture's in
Vestigator. The Departments Office
Of Farm Management has been con-
Quoting a series of Investigations in
the corn-belt, which have brought out
many details that should be of prac-
tical value to all agriculturalists.
These results have just been pub
1ished in new bulletin.
Under average conditions the farm,
according to this bulletin, is no place
for the weak or for those unable to
direct work. The man who intends
to spend his working life in the coun-
try should start early, for success is
not gained in moment but by many
years of persistent effort. 1t is true
that some farmers have made small
fortunes in a short time, but this is
usually through a phenomenal rise
in land values. Few men have become
rich from the real profits OF the land.
Those who have done SO usually
needed a lifetime in which to work.
Through skill in management and by
hard labor a comfortable living and
moderate profits may be expected
Those persons who are turning to
the farm with the idea of reaping
large incomes are doomed to severe
disappointment.
Those making the poorest incomes
were % years of age when they
started farming and were past so
wi IN, I,
average the oldest men are making
the least profits.
Many farmers with very little
schooling succeed, but these same
men would do better if they had the
opportunity of further training. No
one ever hears farmer regret that
he spent part Of his early life in
school.
There were only eight men, four
owners and four tenants, who never
had a school training. OF the own
ers and tenants, Il per cent attended
a common or district school. About
Is per cent attended a high school,
one out of every 80 went to college
or to some institution of similar
grade.
On the whole the tenants had re-
ceived more education than the own
ers, 23 per cent of them having more
than a district-schooI education, while
only 20 per cent OF the owners had
such training. Those men having the
best training made the largest in
comes, although they were materially
helped in doing this by much larger
farms and greater capital.
Farming is a business the same as
any other industry, and until our
schools teach some of the fundamen-
tai principles governing profitable
farming, the farm boy is likely to
seek work elsewhere. Considering
that the farm boys Of today viii be
the farmers tomorrow, too little at:en-
ton is given to their training.
Many boys leave the farm because
they see no future in it. Another i'm
portant reason is the lack of profit
able work at home. A moderate
sized farm is necessary to give en-
p1oyment to the farmer and his sons.
The small farm does not provide
work; hence, the boys must find en-
ployment elsewhere. Let them fully
understand how farm profits and
losses are made and there will be an
! incentiFeeto remain. First make our
farms profitable, and the question of
keeping the boys there will solve it
self.
Successful farming is an individual
economic problem. The farm is
! combination of enterprise, and their
| individual organization will determine.
| in a large measure, its profitable
ness. Sufficient area and a proper
organization of well-selected farm en-
terprises to permit the maximum use
| Of men, horses and machinery, are
the essential characteristics Of the
most successful farms
No one expects small grocery
| store which has only few custom
'ers a day to be great financial sue
cess. The total amount of business
is insufficient to earn the operator
substantial income Exactly the
same is true with the small farm.
The volume OF business is limited by
the area in crops and the capital in
lEEested The small farm furnishes a
home as well as much of the produce
consumed by the, family. II it were
not for these factors the men on the
small area would hardly be able TO
Live
Wages are a reward for labor, and
if a farm does not provide work the
pay must be CORRESPONDENCE SMALL
The family-size farm, which in the
corn belt should be above 100 acres,
! is unquestionabIy a more efficient
unit than an area of 40 acres or less.
Crops can be grown cheaper, labor
viii be better paid, and the farmer
and his family will enjoy mere of the
benefits OF modern civilization
The farmer may have sufficient
area and growstfie right kind. of crops