Year: 1875

The Farming That Pays.


A writer in the Duhhes Furnae,
upon the above topic, remarks:


The profit in agricultural, like the
profit in other business. depends upon
what they call in Wall street "mar-
gin," and very small one it is in
farming, as in all safe and we'll estab
Iished industries. When we sold
wool to the Bunnels, many years ago.
one Of the firm told us that they had
been making cloth without a profit,
and when they found waste Of about
a cent pound on their wool. and
managed to avoid that waste, their
business again became successful: A
quarter of one per cent. received ty
a broker, in large financial transac-
ton, has made him large fortune.
And though in the limited transactions
Of the manufacturer and farmer, 50
small a percentage would not avail
much, it is certain that the fortune of
the farmer, no less than Of the mer-
chant and manufacturer, is made up Of
small net profits OF his business, accu-
u.ulated by many years of labor and
caretulness. This net profit is so small
that it is liable to be impaired by any
trifling error in management, or lack Of
force. Any serioas defect in manage
mcnt, or any great degree of slackness
will spoil the profit altogether. There
are so many things to be we'll done in
order to succeed, that it is not strange
that so many fail. When every part
of farming is we'll done, there is no
mistake about the profit.


All OF which is true enough, and
we'll put 10 do everything we'll and
with the best economy, to add to the
moderate profits realized from one
kind Of farm produce the moderate
profits realized from other kinds Of
produce. will produce an aggregate
~esut witch will rarely fail to be in
favor of the farmers pocket. And
among ali the little leaks upon the
farm, which ad ed together make a
bic leak, we believe the most serious
will be found in the management, of
live stock seen on many farms. Some
thing is made upon the corn crop,
there has been good hay crop saved,
the growth of grass in the pastures has
been all that any one could have de
sired-apd SO far all the conditions
for a successful issue Of the years
work are present But there is main
tained upon the farm of a certain pro-
portion of stock which CONSUMES the
grass in the pastures, and portion Of
the hay and grain in the barns (if
there are any barns). With stock Of
proper character, the former would
get good price for the pasturage, a
good price for the hay and grain by
which it was supplemented, and made
handsome profit, above its cost Of
PRODUCTION, upoa his stock which would
leave him in thriving, prosperous
condition. However, upon many farms
the stock is Of very bad character,
it eats up the grass in the pastures
without gaining enough to pay for the
grass, and when it comes to the stable
and it is question Of putting on SO
many pounds more weight Of flesh,
more hay and grain are required than
the increased weight is worth. AS a
result the farmer gets little or no re-
turns for his pasture land, and his
scrub stock eats up very large share
Of the profits realized by the farmer on
his hay and grain crops.


OF course such farmers declare the
farm does not pay. But it is too sci.
dom the case that they ask themselves
the question, "Why does it fail to
pay y?' If they would ask themselves
this question, and then consider the
cost Of raising this scrub stock, and
what they get for it, they would not
fail to perceive one of the reasons why
their farm does not pay. How old
must scrub be before it is sold how
many acres of pasturage mnst be sur
rendered to it each summer, and what
is fair rate of interest on the land !
how much grain and hay will be con-
sumed during each winter, and what is
this worth ? how much is it worth,
aside from foed, to care for an animal
during the time this one is maturing
these and other inquiries, when an
swered in figures, will show that the
scrub stock on the farm costs more
than it sells for. 1t is not necessary
to ask whether the improved stock will
do any better-if the scrub stock viii
not pay its way, common prudence viii
demand that it be discarded. Thai
+ cannot be kept with profit, then try
something else. And when the far
mer has tried improved stock, he Cal
answer for himself the question as t.
whether it ways. But because he ha
not tried it, and for that reason doe
not know that it can be handled profit
; ably, is no reason why he should keel
.. scrub stock on the farm after he know
. it does not pay.


The Patrons Helper holds that tn
: Patrons dc not want to own and man
+ age factories, nor railway and steam
ship lines; that they do not want, a


farmers, to perform the services of tn
$ lawyer, physicians or clergyman; tha
y they know that cities are just as ra
b tional, useful and honorable as farms
T. It thinks the business agencies Of tn
= Order have this wotk : ITO help tn


farmers buy and sell in the best mai


kets, with lowest commission and leas
n fees, with smallest transfer charges


with least risk of loss, and with speec