348 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



If it falls short, go to your grocer next morning and order a supply 

 of sugar for the next ten months, because sugar is sure to advance 

 in price and you will be able to save enough money on that article to 

 buy a piece of machinery. So we can find dozens of uses you can 

 make of 3'our gathered knowledge. You will all admit that farming 

 will not pay if you will have to depend upon brute force alone; it is 

 onh' the wide awake farmer that can make it a paying business. 



Now a few more words in regard to the keeping of your books. In 

 the first place for the sake of economy, time and ready knowledge, 

 you must have a system. Each one can make a system for himself. 

 But for example I will say that one of you has a note book. You 

 gather knowledge all day long. In the evening after you are through 

 with all your work, sit down, take your note book and make your 

 entries in your diary. Now all depends how earnest you are to gain 

 knowledge. If you are very earnest and want to specialize I would 

 advise you to have a good sized book for your diary and a common 

 size ledger, not ruled would be the best. Now suppose your notes 

 for the day would be about soil, horses, thistles, chickens, shrubs, 

 plowing, etc. I would put everything in the diary; then proceed to 

 your ledger, see on what page you are treating the subject of soils, 

 turn to it and write down whatever knowledge you have gained. 

 Take the next subject and do likewise and so till you are through. 

 Of course you want to note your topics alphabetically in the front 

 part of your ledger to save time in looking for the different ones. 



It will require some work to start it, but it is one of the simplest 

 things, and in a short time you will find it a source of constant 

 pleasure. It will only cost you a trifle to get an outfit, any note, or 

 blank books will do for a start. Those who will try it will never 

 be sorry for it I can assure you. It will be one of the best invest- 

 ments you ever made. 



Farmers who have boys and girls at home will find it of double 

 profit. Get the children interested in it by being yourself interested 

 in it and they will spend their evenings in the family circle instead 

 of going somewhere else to while away time. Not only that but you 

 help them to lay the foundation of success, self-seeking knowledge. 



I do not want any of you to have the impression that I only mean 

 the farmer, I mean all, women as well as men, regardless of what oc- 

 cupation they follow. And neither do I mean that you have just 

 to ^et your knowledge in the way I mentioned, but in any way. Read 

 good books, make notes from them. Any way just so that you get 

 knowledge. Did you ever think how much precious time is wasted; 

 why the majority of us are reckless spenthrifts of time. Now I 

 know that you will think lightly of this but if there is only one 

 father here who will start it for his son or daughter and help to carry 

 it on, I feel satisfied that my talking or rea4iDg what ever you want 



