The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1915-11-20
RECORDS
GOOD FARMING,
'-.-.
sAYs,PRoF MCGUIRE
Agricultural School Professor Tells
Farmers at Institute to Find Out
What They Make.
SHOULD GO. DvERp
! LAST YEARS BUSINESS
Rejoices With Farmers That Pros
pered, symp.thized With Those
Who Did Not; System Needed.

keeping records is good farm
ing"
This was the statement made
by Prof. A. j. Mcclure, professor
of dairying at the College of Agri-
culture, St. Paul, in an address this
morning at the Farmers Institute at
the high school.
J. Brennan Of the Bemidji fire de-
Mr.. Mcclure said in part:
II have been coming to Bemidji
for ten years and am always sup
posed to give some information in
matters pertaining TO farming. In
the early years I used to tell what I
thought could be done. Later I al
ways had an eye, and ear for every
farmer I met here, to find out what
was being done in farming. Today,
after ten years, 1 would like to know
what has been done. The year is in
the fall. The crop has been gathered
in. 1t is we'll to take time to go over
the business of the year and whether
good or poor, to find out just where
we stand. l would like to know, to
rejoice with the farmers who have
prOspered, and to sympathize with
those from whom fair success still
withholds her gifts.
Failing Not Recognized.
"Of course, it may be said that it
is easy to know whether you have
prospered or not. If the bills are I'M
paid and the house cold and empty
OF the common comforts of life, 1t
needs no one to help us find out that
we have not prospered. True, dear
friend, but there still stands before
us that big question "Why." Few
there are but who recognize failure
and want when they force in the
door, but how many really know the
true reason for their being there and
what should be done to put them out.
1t is for this that we can well afford
to take time to go over the work and
the business of the year.
Have on Paper.
''How much do we need to make
in the course of the year to meet our
obligations; $500, $500 or $1,000 or
more? We ought not only have
this on paper, but we'll fixed in our
minds. How much do we need to
make from the farm, what must our
sales for the year amount to if we
are to break even? Then follow
ing right on the heels of this big
question is: just what means have we
for making this amount? How many
acres under the plow? What will the
crops we are growing make per acre
under average conditions? How
much pasture have we and what
number of animals will it feed? How.
many cows and what is their pro-
duction? Do they bring an income
of $25 or SIS per COW a year? How
many hens and how much money do
they contribute to the support of the
house? What expenses have we that
are unnecessary expenses? How
much do we buy that might be pro-
duced on the farm? How many hours
actual productive labor do we put
out during the year or rather on an
average each day?
Not Single Year.
misfortune or conditions over
which we have no control may occa-
sionally have the better of us, but
let us be sure that it is not something
else; something that is within our
power to change and control. We
cannot judge our results by a single
year, or even two or three years, but
ten years should give us a pretty