The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-02-11
Education and Business Meth.
ods Count in Successful
Farming.

Washington. d. c., Feb. 5.-Farrn-
ers with high school education make
nearly double the average income Of
those with merely common school
education, and those who start ear
Hest make the most profits according
TO the department Of agriculture's in
Vest'gators. The departments Of
ice OF farm management has been
conducting q series OF investigations
IN the eorn-belt. which have brought
OUT many details that should be of
practical value to all agriculturists
These results have just been published
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 10 spend his working life In
the country should start early, for
success is not gained In q moment but
by many years OF persistent effort. II
Ii 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 80
usually needed n lifetime in which to
work. Through skill in management
and by hard labor q comfortable liv-
Ing and moderate profits may be ex-
pected. Those persons who are turn
ins to the farm with the idea Of
reaping large incomes are doomed to
severe disappointment.
Those making the poorest incomes
were rs years OF age when they
started farming and were past 80
when they became owners. On the
average the oldest men are making
the least profits
Many farmers with very little
schooling succeed. but these same men
would do better " they had the op-
portunity OF further training. No one
ever hears OF farmer regret that he
spent part OF his early life In
school.
Those mon having the best train
Ing made the largest incomes. al
though they were materially help
ed In doing this by much larger farms
and greater capital
Profitable Farming Keeps tho Roy
on Tho Farm.
Farming 10 a. business tho same
as any other industry. and until
our schools teach some OF the funda-
mental principles governing profitable
farming. the farm boy Is likely to
seek work elsewhere. Considering
that the farm boys of today will be
the farmers of tomorrow. too little
attention Is given to their training.
Many boys leave the farm because
they see no future In II. Another
important reason Is the lack OF prof.
table work at home. a moderate
sized farm Is necessary to give en-
ployment 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 ard there will be an
Incentive to- remain. First make our
farms profitable. aud the question Of
keeping the boys there will solve it,
self.
successful farming Is an. individual,
ecnomic problem. The farm Is a COM
bination OF enterprises. and their in
dividuai organization will determine.
In large measure, it's proiitabieness.
Sufficient area and a proper organiza-
ton OF well-selected farm enterprises
TO permit the maximum use Of men.
horses and machinery are the essen
tial characteristics of the most sue
cess,ul farms
Sire OF tho Farm Busincss.
NO one expects a small grocery store
which has only few customers
day To be "A great financial success.
The total amount OF business is In
sufficient to earn the operator a sub-
stantial income. Exactly the same is
true with the small farm. The vol.
ume of business is limited by the
area In crops and tho capital invested.
The small farm furnishes a home as
well as much Of the produce consum-
ed by the family. III Il wero not for
these factors the mon on the small
area would hardly be ablo TO live.
Wages are reward for labor. and
" ~ farm does not provide work the
pay must be correspondingly small