FARMERS' INSTITUTES. 273 



ruled ill ledger form, so that both debit and credit of each account would be on 

 one page, and the balance would be always before me. The first would be 

 "Farm Account," the same that the merchant or manufacturer would call 

 "^ Stock Account." On opening my books, this would sliow the cost of my 

 farm, stock, tools, and everything belonging to the business, in short, a com- 

 plete invoice of my farm property, and to tliis would be added from time to 

 time whatever was bought, and opposite what was sold. This account alone 

 would be a great aid to the average farmer as it would show him the total profit 

 or loss at the end of each year; but it is not enough, for some parts of his work 

 may yield liini a profit, and other parts incur a loss, and it should be his aim to 

 know the exact result in each department, so that future losses may be avoided 

 and gains increased. I Avould therefore make a map of my farm, naming or 

 numbering each field, and open an account with each the same as though it were 

 a neighbor, charging it with tlie cost of labor expended on it and the cost of 

 seed, and giving it credit for wliat it paid me back, and also an account with 

 my dairy cattle, my stock cattle and teams, my sheep and liogs, and my fowls. 

 To be perfectly exact in these accounts scales would be necessary, but without 

 them a farmer can estimate very nearly, and all estimates should be made with 

 the balance, if any, against you, so that the disappointments when they come 

 will be happily in your favor. These with a cash account will be all that is 

 necessary, and at the end of the year each one is balanced into the farm account, 

 and you know just how much you have made or lost and can tell just where 

 your losses have occurred, on what crops or stock your gains have been made, 

 which knowledge will guide you in making your plans for the next year. In 

 the same book, or another kept for the purpose, I would advise that a memo- 

 randum be kept of items of interest, and especially of variations in the market, 

 as certain products almost ever bring larger prices at certain seasons than at 

 others, and by carefully watching and noting these variations you can, in a 

 few years, know almost to a certainty what time to expect the most from a dis- 

 posal of your products. As your experience will tell you of the mistakes you 

 must expect to make at first, so will it also point out to you wherein you may 

 advantageously open new accounts. One thing you will find absolutely neces- 

 sary to your success as an accountant, and that is to promptly attend to it. 

 Make it a duty at first as regularly as you eat your supper, and it will soon 

 become to you a necessary part of your work and pleasure. 



I have thus endeavored to give you briefly my idea of such accounts as are 

 absolutely essential to success, and hope the time is near at hand when every 

 farmer will consider it as much a part of his business to keej) books as it is to 

 plow his land, or sow liis seed, or harvest his crop. 



DISCUSSION. 



Mr. Mann, of Adrian, thought it a good plan for farmers to have their chil- 

 dren keep their farm accounts for them. 



Mr. Drake, of Anibo}-, thought tlie diary the most convenient book for 

 farmers to keep their daily accounts in, and then they could be transferred at 

 the leisure of the fanner. 



Pres. Abbot tliought that in keeping an account with each field the best 

 mode would bo to keep the account open through the whole rotation of crops, 

 as it would not be fair to charge manure to a single crop. 



Mr. R. W. Freeman, of Litchfield, read a short paper on "Farm Manage- 

 ment," after which Mr. A. Hewitt, of Allen, read the following paper on 



