MAINE STATE SOCIETY. - fj^ 



ESSAY ON FARM ACCOUNTS. 



BY J. M. CARPENTER. 



The most correct mode of keeping accounts is by double entry, 

 especially if more than one kind of business is followed by the same 

 person or firm. If a farmer connects with his farm another, or vari- 

 ous kinds of business, as is frequently the case, such for instance 

 as shipbuilding, manufacturing, lumbering, brickmaking, &c., this 

 method should be adopted. 



As many persons who are engaged in business do not understand 

 this system, and if they did, would not devote the time necessary to 

 carry it out fully, and as it is very important that some more simple 

 and expeditious method should be adopted generally, especially by 

 farmers, the undersigned takes this opportunity to recommend a 

 very simple mode, which he will endeavor to describe. 



Take an inventory of all your estate, both real and personal. If 

 you have more than one farm, or separate piece of real estate, with 

 which you wish to keep an account, place them separately in the 

 inventory, and designate each by some name or number. The "live 

 stock," "farming tools," "carriages and harnesses," "household 

 furniture," and "produce and provisions" on hand, should also be 

 placed in the inventory separately. 



Make a list of the amount that may be due you, either by note or 

 account, and also of your debts, if you have any. 



Open an account with each inventory or separate piece of real 

 estate, also with live stock, householcl furniture, carriages and har- 

 nesses, farming tools, cash, and "general expenses." To this latter 

 account, charge the amount of produce and provisions on hand. If 

 you wish to keep an account with any experiment, such as draining, 

 or clearing land, cultivating any particular crop, rearing different 

 breeds of cattle, or with any one field, person, &c., a separate ac- 

 count should be opened, and all the items of cost and expense charged 



