BUSINESS METHODS IN FARMING 115 



ciently grown so that they no longer have to be fed. 

 They are ready, usually, for the market from the end 

 of August to the first of October. Many farmers sup- 

 plement the grass feeding by beginning to feed the 

 immature Indian corn as soon as it is suitable for that 

 purpose, which is about the middle of August. The 

 corn is simply cut in the fields and scattered in the pas- 

 tures for the cattle to eat. These cattle usually take on 

 about 300 pounds in weight during the summer months, 

 so that they weigh from 1,000 to 1,200 pounds at the 

 time of sale. If the average cost is about $45 a head 

 in the autumn, they bring from $70 to $90, say an aver- 

 age of $80 a head, when sold. 



It is the universal custom for the farmers to reckon 

 their profits on the actual difference between the pur- 

 chase and selling price. For instance, it is not unusual 

 to hear the farmers say that they made from $25 to $40 

 per head. In point of fact, if they should keep a rec- 

 ord of the interest on their money, taxes, attention, cost 

 of food and cost of pasture, the presumed profits would 

 dwindle to a very small sum or actually disappear. 

 In my own case, counting all of the expenses as above 

 indicated, I lost from $5 to $7 per head on two succes- 

 sive years and made from $10 to $15 profit in the 

 next succeeding years, due largely to an increase in 

 the price of fat cattle. Something, of course, should be 

 allowed for the value of the manure of cattle on pasture. 

 As this is widely scattered in the urine and feces of the 

 cattle, or collected under the trees where they chew their 

 cuds, it can be dismissed as of but little importance. 

 My observation shows me that the growing of beef cattle 

 under such conditions as those mentioned above is rather 

 an uncertain business in so far as real profit is con- 

 cerned. 



