SECRETARY'S REPORT. 33 



a business man. If a f!;ood workman at his calling, prudent and 

 economical in the management of his affairs, he is a thriving 

 man. He gradually acquires a corapetenc}', or it maybe, ■wealth, 

 but it is plainly upon his earnings, that he does this, and not 

 upon his profits. In it, he is not transacting business, but simply 

 disposes of his labor and skill at their market value. Business, 

 on the other hand, is not employment in which a man earns 

 wages simpl.7, but that in which profit is to be realized or loss- 

 incurred, as it is successful or otherwise, aside from, and inde- 

 pendent of, wages. As farming is conducted in this State, is it a 

 business or an occupation ? Is it looked upon by those engaged 

 in it, as that which simply affords remuneration for services ren- 

 dered, or as that which yields a net profit over and above 

 wages, interest upon capital, and all expenses ? It is believed 

 few will pretend, that as at present managed, with a very 

 few exceptions, it is an occupation of which profit or loss can be 

 fairly predicated, but is rather a calling, by means of which the 

 cultivator hopes to earn a livelihood. Few indeed are there 

 who can even tell what their crops, or any other farm products 

 cost, or whether when sold, they yield a profit or not : and what 

 should we think of a business man who did not know the cost 

 of the wares in which he deals ? 



Now I hold that imiil agriculture he pursued as a business^ 

 and until we have faith in it as a profitable one, it can never 

 attain the degree of improvement otherwise practicable, and 

 there arc some considerations going to show that farmers now 

 generally lack faith in their pursuit as a business, some of which 

 will be noticed ; and fif st, it is very common to hear farmers say 

 they cannot afford to hire help to carry on their farms. Why 

 this, if they have confidence in it as yielding a profit after 

 paying wages and other expenses ? It is not so with the 

 merchant and manufacturer, for they unhesitatingly employ all 

 the help necessary to carry on their business, and because they 

 have confidence in it, believing that those they employ will not 

 only earn their wages, but will themselves reap a profit as 

 the ultimate result of their labor. Another fact: suppose a 

 farmer with prudence and economy, by rising early and working 

 late, and eating the bread of carefulness, amasses some dol- 

 lars, what does he do with them ? Does- he, as do the mer- 

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