EIGHTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART X. 723 



waste is that of time, the most valuable asset on any farm. Any man 

 can see buildings decay, feed go to waste or machinery constantly de- 

 preciate unnecessarily, but it is so easy to let a little time slip by 

 unaccounted for and unimproved that it becomes the greatest enemy of 

 success on the farm. There is a prevalent idea among so many farmers 

 with but a small amount of stock that as soon as the fall work is done 

 and the grain all hauled to town that they are at liberty to hibernate 

 for the winter months, only coming out of cold weather quarters oc- 

 casionally to look around and see if everything is alive. If the average 

 city business man should pursue such a course it would soon mean ruin 

 and bankruptcy. Is it to be wondered at, then, that such farmers are 

 compelled to move from farm to farm each succeeding year with less to 

 move each spring save the debt? These winter months which are so often 

 wasted should be devoted to at least two things: (1) — Careful attention 

 should be given to all stock on the place to see that they have every 

 possible advantage in the way of food, water and comfortable sleeping 

 quarters, and if they must shift for themselves at any time during the 

 year let them do it in the summer when feed is to be had for the 

 picking. In other words, give your stock a square deal and it will make 

 you some money. 



And again the winter season is the time to get ready for the spring and 

 summer work. "In time of peace prepare for war" is advice particularly 

 pertinent to the farmer. All seed for spring planting should be carefully 

 selected and cleaned, machines should be overhauled and repaired, feed 

 for spring and summer use should be placed most conveniently for 

 saving time in the busy season, and all the plans for the summer's 

 work should be carefully worked out. 



This leads me to speak of the lack of system on many farms as an 

 aid to the waste of time. Work by a carefully arranged plan instead of 

 leaving every phase of the work to be prepared for after it is time to 

 do it. 



Too much time is spent in town and this is double waste, since it 

 adds to the expense and diminishes the revenue to be derived by the 

 man who is always on the job. 



The question of hired help must almost be considered under this 

 head also, and is one which is constantly facing many farmers. 



Now I am a hired man myself and shall speak with that idea always 

 in mind. For the man who goes out to work on the farm for wages, 

 willing to give his employer honest, intelligent service, 1 have the greatest 

 respect. But the time server who makes it his boast that he will not 

 work hard enough to hurt himself, or that he will do just what he is 

 paid for doing and no more, or who entertains similar ideas and who 

 constantly attempts to slight his work and do as little as possible for 

 the most pay, that kind of a man is an expensive luxury to have on the 

 farm even if he works for his board, for his own time is largely wasted 

 and much of his employer's time is wasted in looking after his work. 



May not the arrangement and management of the crops be such that 

 the farmer will be able to handle them with the minimum of hired 

 help? Especially if he has taken advantage of the winter months in 

 getting ready for and planning his summer's work. 



