184 OSTRICH-FARMING IN SOUTH AFRICA. 



gets a sort of eartli-mania, and buys farm upon farm, 

 only paying off a little on each ; even a rich man 

 thus soon becomes embarrassed, and if a commercial 

 crisis comes will be utterly ruined. 



But a far commoner mistake is this : a man has got 

 up as far as where we have just left Juvenis,with no debts 

 except a moderate mortgage : when an adjacent pro- 

 perty comes into the market — one that would make a 

 most desirable addition to his property — and he is 

 tempted ; the owner would probably accept a second 

 mortgage bond on the other property as sufficient col- 

 lateral security ; the chance, he thinks, may never occur 

 again in his lifetime, &c. But let him steadfastly resist 

 tlie temptation. True, the chance may never occur 

 again, but if he waits till he is in a better position he 

 will be surprised how many equally tempting things will 

 turn up, and if he purchases now he puts himself in 

 quite as dangerous a position as, he was in when he firs 

 purchased land. Besides which, he will not be able to 

 stock it : and if he lets it, it will in all probability not 

 bring him in the interest on the purchase money. 



It will be seen that there are only two periods in 

 a farmer's career when he should avail himself to any 

 considerable extent of credit : the first, w^hen he first 

 starts : the second, when he buys his farm. His whole 

 business is essentially different to that of the merchant. 



