38 VERMONT AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 



By the successful farmer please understand that I mean 

 one who has achieved success upon the farm, not some wealthy 

 man who has taken up farming as a pastime. 



The balance sheet between profit and loss is often heaviest on 

 the wrong side by reason of waste. It is waste to pay two hired 

 men when you need but one, or to pay one when you don't need 

 any. It is waste to keep cheap help around. Don't do it. If 

 you need a hired man get one who will earn good wages. Don't 

 waste your time. I know a man whose mortgage is as heavy as 

 it was ten years ago, and whose farm is no better than it was then. 

 He has always been to town with his butter twice a week when 

 once would have done as well. This means a loss of 26 working 

 days or at least $50 per year for the whole time. During that 

 time he has kept one more horse than he had any use for, which 

 means another $50 a year wasted. His stable manure has been 

 without a roof over it, and his hogs and fowls kept in a cold, un- 

 comfortable place. This means another $50 a year wasted. The 

 result is that bad luck has been continuously on his trail, and his 

 future prospects are not encouraging. 



Don't rely too much on astrology, mythology, or other spook 

 management. I have never known a successful farmer who allow- 

 ed the moon to regulate his farming operations, yet I have known 

 those who would not kill a hog, or plant beans, or take a young 

 calf away from the cow unless the moon was just right, or the 

 "sign" where it ought to be. Some are afraid of Friday, and 

 some of the number thirteen. I tell you that Friday is one of the 

 best days in the week, and I would rather have thirteen dollars 

 in my pocket any day than to have twelve. L,et the man in the 

 moon manage his own farm and we will take care of ours. If the 

 sign is not right when you get ready to butcher, burn up your 

 almanac, and go ahead. There is no such thing as luck. Good 

 luck is but the reward of industry and care, and bad luck the 

 logical result of carelessness and bad management. As a matter 

 of business, if you offer anything for sale let it be neat and attract- 

 ive in appearance. See that the eggs are clean — wash them if 

 need be ; see that the potatoes are free from dirt, that turnips and 

 beets are free from roots, and that leaves and pieces of bark do not 

 get into the barrels of apples. See that the tops of your syrup 

 cans are screwed down tight, and that the outside of every can is 

 washed clean. If your maple product is to be shipped away crate 

 it in neat boxes of planed wood. The nice clean package makes 

 a pleasing impression upon the customer. And do not depend 

 upon a lead pencil or cards tacked on for addressing your packa- 

 ges. Get a separate-letter stencil from your hardware dealer, and 

 with it you can set up anj' name or address and change it at your 

 pleasure. It will come handy for marking blankets, bags and 



