BUSINESS METHODS 177 



and he has a somewhat rustic cast of mind. But under another 

 aspect, so it is true, he differs very materially from our corresponding 

 tiller of the soil. For he is not anything like as tightly bound by 

 tradition and long-established custom. On the contrary, he comes 

 to his business with an open mind, whatever his past life may have 

 been ; also, of course, he is bound by no sort of caprice of a landlord, 

 for, so far as he is a tenant, his landlord is a speculator, who does not 

 care how his tenant farms, whether he " conserves " the quality of his 

 soil or not, since his own profit is to be made purely on the sale on 

 the ground of " unearned increment." Many of these, to a great 

 extent newly settling, farmers know little ; but the little that they 

 know is not enclosed in a hard crust of prejudice. Instead of 

 priding themselves upon their supposed knowledge, insisting, in 

 the words of the late Mr. Buckmaster, that " what I know I know, 

 and what I don't know I don't want you to teach me," they are 

 thoroughly conscious of their ignorance as applying to their new 

 surroundings, and distinctly desire to be instructed. In contrast 

 with our typical farmers they are downright eager and anxious to 

 receive instruction. For the most part American farmers are occupy- 

 ing owners, and if otherwise, generally speaking, tenants only pro 

 tern., until they will have made sufficient money to be able to 

 purchase their own holding. Presently the chrysalis will emerge 

 from its husk a full-grown butterfly. In any case, with none of the 

 shackles, or else aids, of an inherited land system tying, or else 

 supporting, them, they have taken up their farm from the very outset 

 as a " business proposition." Otherwise they will lose their stake. 

 How thankful they are, under such circumstances, to learn from 

 competent instructors the remarkable success of " farmers' insti- 

 tutes," demonstrations, county agents' visits and consultations, and 

 similar means devised to eke out their modicum of knowledge 

 shows. Distance is no hindrance to their attending " institute " 

 meetings in their hundreds, up to a thousand or more, miles away from 

 their homes. Well, to instruct these people, among a variety of 

 useful methods of teaching resorted to, this one of " costings " or 

 " analysing farm business " has been invented, and has been freely 

 applied. It means that certain officers — appointed by the Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture, but paid, apart from the money made available 

 under the Smith-Lever Act (spoken of elsewhere), also by the several 

 States and other bodies — officers expert in the matter, visit farmers 

 on their farms, or else, at any rate, revise their accounts, talk things 

 over and inquire into particulars, point out, not wh.ii is the average 

 cost of growing a quarter of wheat or maize or potatoes or whatever 



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