12 MINOK ARTICLES OF FARM EQUIPMENT. 



much nearer the actual necessities than the equipment of the resident 

 owner. To both of these classes, however, it is earnestly recom- 

 mended that following an inventory for the purpose of determining 

 the number and the value of articles on hand there should be pro- 

 vision made for keeping track of the various articles in a systematic 

 manner. Only in this way can loss tlu"ough theft and carelessness 

 be avoided and time saved through a knowledge of where the articles 

 can be found when wanted, while expenditures for the duplication of 

 items when the original articles can not be found for the time being 

 will be rendered unnecessary and depreciation on account of neglect 

 will be reduced to a minimum. It is unnecessary to dwell upon these 

 points, as they will be api^arent to the businesslike farmer. 



Tliis list also contains possibilities of great value to the prospective 

 farmer. To the ordinary person the compiling of a complete list of 

 articles necessary for use on an average-sized general farm becomes 

 almost an impossibility after he has listed the larger items, such as. 

 machinery, wagons, etc. This applies to the man with some farm 

 experience as well as to the one who engages in farming for the first 

 time. The experience of several men born and raised on a farm and 

 temporarih" separated from it during a college course will bear out 

 this statement. One of these was actually in charge of an experi- 

 mental farm for four years prior to taking up farming on his own 

 account, yet his initial allowance for small tools and sundries was 

 only S25. After going over an incomplete list similar to the forego- 

 ing he purchased a very modest lot of small tools, amounting to over 

 $100 in value, from a local hardware dealer, thereby obtaining a cash 

 discount of 10 per cent. 



A recent graduate of the Ohio State Universit}', before engaging 

 in farming on his own account on a portion of his father's farm, kept 

 in mind for four .or five months the problem of getting a complete 

 equipment within his means. He first noted all the items which he 

 considered necessary, basing his list on his previous experience. His 

 second step consisted of the task of obtaining the net retail prices of 

 the various articles. The result was a total so large that the third 

 and most difficult step, that of determining the actual necessities, 

 was pursued for a considerable time. Having finally reduced his list 

 to the minimum, he entered into negotiations with several of the local 

 merchants. Two of these made special efl"orts to obtain his order, 

 and each made the suggestion that he take a trip at the merchant's 

 expense to one of the cities in the State and select his equipment 

 from the large stocks in the wholesale supply houses. He accepted 

 one of these offers, and during the state fair spent a half da}^ in a large 

 warehouse selecting articles of the style and cjuality desired. The 

 goods were shipped to the local dealer, who obtained his profit and 



[Clr. 44] 



